Rule 6The service

Where to stand, how to hit the ball and where it has to land.

Points a to kPlain-English notes marked In practice

a
If the first serve is a fault, the server has a second serve.
b
The server stands with at least one foot behind the service line, between the imaginary extension of the centre line and the side wall, and stays there until the ball is struck.
New in 2026: one foot behind the line is enough. Older editions required both.
c
The ball is bounced on the ground inside that area. It may not cross the service line or the centre line before it is hit.
d
The server may not touch the service line or the centre line with either foot.
Standing on the line is a fault.
e
Contact is made at or below waist height, with at least one foot on the ground.
No overhead serves and no jumping.
f
The ball travels diagonally over the net and bounces inside the receiver's service box. The first point of a game is served from the right; after that the sides alternate.
The lines belong to the box, so a ball on the line is in.
g
Once the server swings at the ball, or clearly intends to, the serve counts.
h
Serving from the wrong side is corrected as soon as it is noticed. Points stand, and a first-serve fault still counts.
i
Before each set, each pair decides who serves first. The order holds until the set ends.
j
If a player serves out of turn, the correct player serves as soon as the mistake is found. Points stand. If the game has already finished, the altered order stays.
k
The server waits until the receiver is ready. A receiver who attempts a return cannot then claim to have been unready.

Questions

Can you serve overhead in padel?

No. The ball must be hit at or below waist height after bouncing it on the ground.

How many serves do you get?

Two. Two faults in a row lose the point.

Do both feet have to be behind the line?

Not since 2026. One foot behind the service line is enough, but you may not touch the line.