⚡ Padel Rules & Lookup Guide — Study App

Free padel rules & referee study guide — independent, not affiliated with the FIP
🎾 Quiz Trainer → Order of Play Trainer →
🏟 Court Diagram — tap the coloured dots
Padel court with side out-of-court play / safety areas OUT-OF-COURT PLAY / SAFETY AREA (court sides) 8 m 3 m out-of-court play area glass glass NET Service box Service box Service box Service box 20 m 10 m 6.95 m Net 0.88 m centre · 0.92 m posts · lines 5 cm · min free height 6 m Out-of-court play through 2 side openings per side · safety area 3 m × 8 m × 3 m high, free of obstacles
Full padel court layout — playing area, service lines, net & the out-of-court secure area
🔴 Net Specs
Length10 m
Height — centre0.88 m
Height — ends0.92 m
Tolerance± 0.005 m
Post max height1.05 m
Cable max ⌀0.01 m
White top strip5.0 – 6.3 cm
Max strip (incl. ads)≤ 11.0 cm
  • Net post outer edge = court lateral limit
  • Net painting ✅ allowed · Canvas covering ❌ prohibited
  • No items affixed to net strings
🟠 Enclosures
ZoneWallFenceTotal
ENDS3 m1 m4 m
SIDES — Variant 1 (Step)
End step3m × 2m
2nd step2m × 2m
Centre 6mup to 3m
Both endsup to 4m
SIDES — Variant 2 Crystal
End zones3m × 4m
Extreme 2mup to 4m
Mesh hole diagonal5 – 7.08 cm
Wire thickness2–3 mm (max 4 mm)
Door (2/side): min0.72 × 2.00 m
Door (1/side): min1.05 × 2.00 m
Door max2.20 × 2.20 m
Wall bounce
REGULAR ✅
Fence bounce
IRREGULAR ❌
🎾 Ball & Racket
Ball
Diameter6.35 – 6.77 cm
Weight56.0 – 59.4 g
Bounce drop height2.54 m onto hard surface
Bounce (standard)135 – 145 cm
Bounce (>1000 m altitude)121.92 – 135 cm
Internal pressure4.6 – 5.2 kg/2.54 cm²
Racket
Handle max20 cm × 50 mm × 50 mm
Total length (max)45.5 cm
Head max width26 cm
Head max thickness38 mm
Thickness tolerance2.5%
Central holes9 – 13 mm
Edge holes (within 4 cm)max 20 mm
Safety cordOBLIGATORY · max 35 cm · non-elastic
🏆 Scoring — Option 1: Advantage
0
15
30
40
GAME
40–40 (Deuce)
Advantage
GAME
Set: first to6 gamesmin margin: 2
At 5–5→ play to 7–5
At 6–6→ Tie-Break (7 pts, margin 2)
MatchBest of 3 sets
⭐ Scoring — Option 2: Star Point
Deuce 1
Adv 1
Deuce 2
Adv 2
⭐ STAR
  • 3rd deuce = STAR POINT
  • RECEIVER chooses which side to receive
  • Only 1 serve — no 2nd serve at Star Point
🔄 Alternative Score Methods
TIE-BREAK
7 pts
margin 2 · set=7-6
ends every 6 pts
SUPER TB
10 pts
margin 2
replaces 3rd set
MINI SET
4 games
margin 2
4-4 → TB (7)
🔁 Change of Ends & Serve Order
Change of ends
After game 1, game 3, then every odd game
Tie-break ends change
Every 6 points — continuous play, 20 sec only
Serve in tie-break
1st server: 1 serve from right · then alternating 2-2-2
New set after tie-break
Started by player who did NOT begin serving in tie-break
Coin toss winner
Choose serve/receive OR side; other team gets the remainder
Order errors
Correct when discovered; all past points stand
⚠️ Key Rulings
  • Ball hits net post during rally → play continues normally
  • Ball hits net post during serve → LET (replay)
  • Player touches net post (body/clothing) → loses point
  • Voluntary interference → point to opponents
  • Involuntary interference → LET / replay point
  • Accidental drop: did not touch net & point not decided → LET
  • Lanyard breaks = NOT accidental → player loses point
  • Ball breaks during play → LET (replay)
  • All 4 players agree on a fact → referee may accept & change decision
  • Referee did not see event, no chair umpire → replay the point
  • Walk-over: after 10 min, by main referee only (never a player)
  • Warm-up (3 min) counts as 2 games for ball-change counting
  • Correction: umpire acts on own realisation only — not via player appeal
  • Spotlights / lighting = NOT an element of the court
✅ Valid Serve Requirements
  • Contact at or below waist height
  • At least one foot on the ground at moment of contact
  • Contact behind service line AND behind centre-line extension
  • Ball bounces in server's service box first
  • May bounce, run, walk or jump before contact — only contact moment judged
  • Two serves per point (1st & 2nd)
  • Ball dropped — not thrown upward; must be struck below waist
❌ Fault — Server Takes 2nd Serve
  • Ball bounces outside receiver's service box
  • Ball hits fence before 2nd bounce (even above 3m glass — "fence is fence")
  • Ball contact above waist
  • Server misses the ball on the swing
  • Ball hits server, partner, or their equipment before landing
  • Ball bounces directly out of court into safety area
On 2nd serve fault → point to receivers
🦶 Foot Fault
  • Touches service line at moment of contact
  • Touches centre-line extension at contact
  • Both feet off ground at contact
Result: 2nd serve. On 2nd serve foot fault → point to receivers.
🔄 NET Service (Replay)
  • Ball clips net → lands in correct boxNET — replay
  • Net → correct box → ball hits fence before 2nd bounce → FAULT
  • Net → correct box → hits side wall → outcome may differ (LET possible)
Chair Umpire Calls:
  • "Net, first service" → server retakes 1st serve
  • "Net, second service" → server retakes 2nd serve
💡 LET — Point Replayed
  • Serve executed before receiver is ready
  • Foreign object enters or flies onto court
  • Ball breaks during play
  • Unintentional hindrance (object drops, no net touch, point undecided)
  • Exceptional circumstances at Chair Umpire discretion
Umpire: "Let" → replays the point → announces the same score.
🏥 Medical & Interruptions
Per treatable condition / body part3 min
Blows to intimate parts5 min
Allergic reaction / respiratory crisis15 min
Suspension <5 min restartNo warm-up
Suspension 5–20 min restart1 min
Suspension >20 min restart3 min
⏱ Time Limits — Continuous Play
SituationMax Time
Between points20 sec
Change of ends — game 1 of set30 sec
All other changeovers90 sec
End of set / between sets120 sec
Tie-break ends changeContinuous — 20 sec only
Net meeting (pre-match)60 sec
Courtesy rally — Cupra3 min
Courtesy rally — Promises5 min
Match start (post-rally)60 sec
  • Umpire calls "Time" after 60 sec of changeover → 30 sec to resume
  • Umpire calls "Time" after 90 sec of set break → 30 sec to resume
  • No food or drink between points
🚨 Code of Conduct — Escalation
⚠️ WARNING
POINT PENALTY
GAME PENALTY
DEFAULT
  • Chair Umpire acts independently or on Supervisor/Referee direction
  • Immediate default → umpire must call Supervisor/Referee
  • Supervisor default decision = final & unappealable
  • Appeals: within 21 days of notification
  • Time violation 1st offence = Warning
  • Time violation 2nd+ = €50 fine
📢 Chair Umpire Calls — tap to mark learned
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20 questions · Core padel rules · Module I (Court, Net, Rules)