Padel Rules & Etiquette: The Complete Guide (2025)

Padel’s surge in the UK isn’t just about power smashes and trick lobs. It’s the social side that keeps people coming back. Knowing the official rules helps you play the game correctly; mastering etiquette makes every match more enjoyable for you, your partner, and the pair across the net. This guide gives you both: a clear, up-to-date summary of the rules plus a practical etiquette playbook you can use from your very next match.

Contents

• Quick Primer: Official Rules
• Padel Etiquette Playbook
• Typical Tricky Situations (and what to do)
• Beginner Mistakes to Avoid
• Safety & Equipment Basics
• FAQ
• Final Word

Quick Primer: Official Rules

The international rule framework comes from the International Padel Federation (FIP), while the LTA provides UK-friendly explanations and competition conduct. Here’s what matters most in everyday play.

Scoring, Sets & Tiebreaks

• Game scoring: Same as tennis so 0 (love), 15, 30, 40, game. A set is usually first to 6 games with a 2-game margin; at 6–6 you play a tiebreak to 7 (win by 2) unless your event says otherwise.
• Golden point (deuce): Many pro events (e.g., World Padel Tour) adopted no-advantage scoring at 40–40; the receivers choose the side for the deciding point. Social matches often use traditional advantage—agree before you start.

Serving: The Essentials

Keep this checklist in your head—most disputes start on the serve.

1. Bounce, then underarm: You must bounce the ball before hitting the serve underhand. You may only strike the ball at or below waist height and must keep at least one foot on the ground.
2. Feet & position: Your feet must stay behind the service line and within your half ( between the centre mark and side wall) until contact. Touching the line or stepping over = foot fault.
3. Direction: Serve diagonally into the opposite service box. The first serve of a game is from the right; you then alternate sides.
4. What the ball may hit: After bouncing in the box, a legal serve may touch glass and the rally continues; if it touches the fence (metal mesh) after the bounce, it’s a * fault*.
5. Net-cord (“let”) on serve: If your serve clips the net and then lands correctly in the service box (without touching the fence before the second bounce), it’s a let—retake the serve.

During Rallies: What’s In/Out

• Ground first: For a shot to be good on your side, the ball must hit the ground first before any wall or fence. A ball that hits your glass/fence without bouncing is out for your opponents.
• Use your walls: After the bounce, the ball can hit your glass or fence and remain live. You can also play off your own glass back over the net.
• No volley return: You cannot volley the return of serve—it must bounce first.

Lets, Hindrance & Conduct

• Let the point: If a stray ball rolls in from another court or there’s an unexpected interruption, stop immediately and replay the point. Safety first.
• Receiver not ready: If the receiver isn’t ready when you serve, that’s a let—replay.
• Code of Conduct: UK competitions apply the LTA Code of Conduct—a useful reference even for social play.

Padel Etiquette Playbook

Etiquette is the unspoken glue of padel. Share this with your group and you’ll halve on-court friction overnight.

1) Be early, be ready

Arrive 5–10 minutes before your booking to check in, hydrate, and warm up. Finish your last rally on time and vacate the court promptly for the next players.

2) Warm up with your opponents, not against them

The warm-up is cooperative: trade a few forehands/backhands/volleys/lobs, and each player hits some serves/returns at gentle pace. Save winners for the match.

3) Announce the score clearly

Call the score before every serve (e.g., “30–15”). If there’s confusion, pause and agree the last known score calmly. It keeps everyone aligned and speeds up play.

4) Doors & entry etiquette

On multi-court venues, wait until the current point finishes before opening doors or walking behind a glass wall. Always close doors fully after entering or exiting.

5) Ball courtesy across courts

If your ball rolls onto a neighbour’s court and it affects a point, call “Let!” and stop play. Wait for a safe moment, then roll or bounce-pass the ball back to the server—never blast it.

6) Honest line calls

Call balls promptly on your side. If you and your partner are unsure, give your opponents the benefit of the doubt or offer a let. For leagues/tournaments, the LTA conduct framework applies.

7) Mind your noise & celebrations

Enjoy the energy, but don’t shout during opponents’ shots. Celebrate winners, don’t taunt errors. Keep sideline coaching to a minimum unless asked.

8) Partner communication = better padel

Use simple calls—“mine,” “yours,” “switch,” “leave,” “lob”—and keep feedback supportive. Agree basic tactics (who takes middle balls? lobs vs. drives?) before you start.

9) Keep the tempo

Be ready to receive at the server’s pace. Retrieve stray balls efficiently between points. Avoid long delays and excessive rituals.

10) Safety > heroics

Call “mine/yours” early to avoid racket clashes. Don’t sprint blindly into glass or doors for a hopeless ball. If a ball from another court enters, stop immediately and replay.

11) Respect equipment & the venue

No racket throwing, net hitting, or wall smashing—ever. Keep food/water off playing areas and take your rubbish. Venue staff notice—and remember.

12) End well

A quick handshake/fist-bump at the net, a friendly “good game,” and a prompt exit so the next booking starts on time—classy, simple, appreciated.

Typical Tricky Situations (and what to do)

“My serve clipped the net and landed in—what now?”
That’s a let. Replay the serve (first or second, whichever you were on), provided the ball didn’t touch the fence before the second bounce.

“The serve bounced in and hit the fence—live or fault?”
Fault. A serve may bounce and then hit glass and be live; if it hits the fence after the bounce, it’s out.

“We keep reaching deuce. Do we play golden point?”
Only if agreed or specified by your league/event. In golden point, **receivers choose the side **; the winner of that single point wins the game.

“A ball from next door rolled in mid-rally.”
Stop immediately, call “Let!”, and replay the point. Safety first.

“Return of serve—can I volley it?”
No. The return must bounce first.

Beginner Mistakes to Avoid

• Volleying the return: Let it bounce first.
• Foot faults on serve: Keep at least one foot on the ground, behind the service line, and strike below waist height after a bounce.
• Fence confusion: In rallies, a ball that bounces then touches fence can still be live; * on serve* any post-bounce fence contact is a fault.
• Over-hitting the warm-up: Treat warm-ups as cooperative—you’re easing everyone in, not winning the match early.

Safety & Equipment Basics

• Shoes matter: Most courts are sand-dressed artificial turf; padel/“clay” shoes with * herringbone or hybrid* soles improve grip and reduce slips. Check the venue surface and choose accordingly.
• Doors & glass: Close doors; never rush in/out mid-point. Alert others if you see a hazard ( loose bottle, ball stuck under glass).
• Conduct: The UK’s LTA Code of Conduct sets expectations for behaviour in competition; the spirit is helpful for social play too.

FAQ

Is the fence ever “in” on a serve?
No. If, after a correct bounce in the box, the serve hits the fence, it’s a fault. If it hits glass, the point is live.

Do we always play golden point at deuce?
Not always. Many pro events do, but social matches often use advantage scoring—agree before you start.

What happens if my opponent wasn’t ready to receive?
If the receiver was not ready, replay the serve (a let).

How long should a warm-up be?
Typically a few minutes of gentle, cooperative hitting so everyone finds rhythm; don’t blast winners.

Final Word

Padel’s charm is the blend of simple rules and social spirit. If you remember nothing else: serve underarm below the waist; return after a bounce; glass is your friend; fence is not on serve; call lets for safety; be generous on line calls; keep doors shut; start and finish on time. Do those, and everyone leaves smiling.

Ready to put it into practice? Find and book courts near you with Playskan and play the right way today.

Sources & Further Reading

• LTA Padel – Official padel rules explained – clear UK overview of serve, let, and fence/glass interpretations.
• FIP – Official Rules of Padel – technical serve and positioning details.
• LTA Code of Conduct – behaviour standards for competitions, useful spirit for social play.