WHEN it is LEGAL to hit OVER THE NET! Padel Rules

The are so many specific padel rules about playing with the net, here we talk about when you can and cannot reach over the net, when it is ok to touch the net and even which parts of the fence you CANNOT touch!
If you are playing any competitions, it will be really helpful to know these rules! If you would like to know the padel serve rules, you can find that here: • Padel Serve Rules
Want to learn to smash down and out of the court - check out this video: • How to SMASH OUT of th...
To play better matches you need to understand the tactical principles in padel, so in this course we breakdown all the tactics: thepadelschool.com/courses/ta...
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[@rojo3385]

Needed this!

[@theodorepapoutsas3904]

Hello from Greece very helpful video thanks !!!!!

[@KanterLo]

Aha, I didn't know you're not allowed to touch the fence of the 'other side'. Good stuff!

[@danielpolitanolocutornacio7182]

In Argentina, a ball that is in doubt, we play 2 more again and go one. Hugs Sandy!

[@Domizza]

Very nice and complete explanations !

[@ThePadelSchool]

Glad you liked it!

[@joesepu]

Excellent clarification and explanation of the rules! Do one about serving and hitting the ball across the vertical line. So it bounces on your serving side but your contact point is on your partners side. This is one I get a lot, and a lot of players aren't sure if it's allowed. It definitively is, but I do have to clarify that the rules can be very confusing regarding this. Thank you for another great video. Keep it up!

[@ThePadelSchool]

Great suggestion! Will do!

[@gianlucamb9]

Hi Sandy! Great video as always. Could you do a video about what happens when things fall in the court, say a cap or a ball that falls out of your pocket or a shoe that came off (happened to Stupa in a tournament with Sanyo). Maybe this doesn't need a full , lenghty video as I believe the rules are quite straight forward but would be nice to know for sure what the rulebook says. Thanks and cheers from Mexico!

[@juanpreve6597]

1st time warning and reverse the point, 2nd time point to opponent

[@qatar573]

i’ve been waiting for this video since i started playing padel. now make a video if the ball hit a 45 degrees between the floor and the glass.

[@ThePadelSchool]

This might help: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nYHNoo2lp7-GZsk

[@pauldb9194]

Thanks! Needed to know this 😉

[@ThePadelSchool]

You bet!

[@rickmackay1]

Very clear explanation!

[@ThePadelSchool]

hope it helps your game 👊

[@nunocorreia5570]

Thanks for sharing 👍

[@ThePadelSchool]

My pleasure :)

[@petterranefall3294]

Hi Sandy, Thanks for clarifying these things. I once had a situation where I hit a shot that I was quite sure would not make it over the net, but the opponent smashed it anyway and I said that he must have been on our side when he hit it. He started to argue that he was allowed to do so if he started the swing on his side. I said that he was wrong, since it is the contact point of the ball that is important and not the start of the swing. If he would had claimed that he contacted the ball on his side, I could not be sure that he was wrong and we would probably have played a let, but now when I was sure that he was wrong about the rules, I insisted. We also had a bystander who was in line with the net and he said that the opponent was over the net and that he was wrong about the rules. The time was almost out for this game and they had a clear lead in the set (4-1 or something like that - we had won the first two sets) and they would win the set as long as they had a lead of at least two games when the time was up, so this point did not mean anything to the final score. The next time I met the same guy, we had a set point in the first set and he claimed that I was over the net even though I was clearly on my side according to myself and my partner. This time we played a let since we could not prove who was wrong.

[@ThePadelSchool]

Haha I have had many "discussions" out of principle, but the let is almost always the best way...

[@andresoares2275]

This is so good! Just the other day we were sort of arguing about this! Thank you so much! "WHOSE call is it?" btw :)

[@ThePadelSchool]

Happy to help!!

[@vreesje]

Hi Sandy, excellent video as always Learning a lot from you as a beginner. A question that crossed my mind: When a ball bounches back on your side (ground + glass) and you’re thus allowed to reach over the net, but your opponent is also there to contest the ball, what happens if your rackets clash?

[@CardNox]

I think the opponent can't obstruct you in any way hence if you touch it's there fault.

[@thelorenz2269]

Great video!

[@ThePadelSchool]

Thanks

[@michelraveyts8081]

The little clip with you touching the floor with your racket made it clear to me. Also didn't know about the net-post nor the fence.

[@rifote6]

Happened to me a few days ago. Lost balance after jumping to hit a ball returning after a opponent’s smash, and I had to use the racket on the opponent’s floor to avoid touching the net. I thought right away that was probably not allowed, but this video made it clear

[@ThePadelSchool]

Welcome :)

[@MelodicHeroes]

Hi Sandy, great video thanks! I have a question regarding the part where the fence goes over into the glass. On the court I play on, the glass sticks out just a little from where the fence goes. It's not a 'smooth' transition. We've had the situation where during a serve it hits the edge of the glass (which sticks out) and then bounces away. What are the rules for this? Is it 'out' when the ball does not continue its assumed trajectory or is it 'in' because it technically hits the glass?

[@marcofernandez8723]

From the rules I read on a Spanish portal it depends on the angle that the ball takes from there, if rebounces where it came from at serve, then it is a mistake and second serve as the ball cannot be expected or almost answered, however if it bounces onwards towards the back of the court in whichever angle, then keep playing or point, if it is not reached, as it could be reached.

[@MelodicHeroes]

@@marcofernandez8723 thanks Marco! That’s what I thought as well but was always a point of discussion during play. Thanks!

[@ThePadelSchool]

@@MelodicHeroes yes, Marco has it there. Unusual for courts these days to have that but some of the older ones still do 👍

[@jadmokaddem6513]

hello sandy amazing video, i just wanted to ask about the foam part of the fence, is it considered in or out if it touches it and goes back to the opponent. Been arguing about for so long and im not finding answers.

[@ThePadelSchool]

The foam part would count as the fence. Therefore same rules apply as to the fence: directly onto it would be out, a bounce and rebound during play (post-serve), would be in. Hope that helps!

[@MTWS1000]

This was necessary!!

[@ThePadelSchool]

Happy to help!

[@7Karabas]

Well expleined! I have another question about the rules. What about if the ball bounces on top of the sidefence. For example, lets say that i lob to the other side and it hits the top of the sidefence then bounces in to the court. Is it a dead ball or do we keep playnig?

[@TehFeast]

If there is no outside of the court play allowed it's a dead ball, if you can play outside of the court you can keep playing.

[@torintorintorin]

The ball can bounce multiple times on top of the fence, return to the court, and then you continue playing. The only exception is if it hits any external object - light post, security fishnet, etc. - while it bounces on top, in that case, that's the end of the point.

[@tmnrwg1]

Is there any rule if u hit the opponent with the racket? when ur allowed to play on their side of the court? :)

[@Larsen__]

Great video, thank you! Are you allowed to touch the fence on your own side, either your body or racket? For example if the ball goes close to my fence, when returning my racket might touch the fence, but without the ball touching the fence. Is that fine or do I lose the point? Many thanks for all of your videos!

[@ThePadelSchool]

yes thats fine

[@ThePadelSchool]

glad you're enjoying the vids!

[@yagaroso]

Amazing video! I have a question about a situation that happened to me in a professional game. I smashed the ball, it bounced on the court, hit the glass and came all the way to my side of the court, without any of my opponents touching it! It was a golden ball for a set point so we celebrated imidiately! But to my amazement one of the opponentes statter arguing that it was their point because once the ball came to our side of the court it went directely at my partner and he bounced it on the rakette and catched it without it hitting the court! And the opponent argued that since the ball hit my partner before hitting our court that it was their point, and so their game! This was a pretty important game that actually changed the outcome of my team but i still cant find a rule that talks about this! Could you enlighten me pls?

[@ThePadelSchool]

Unfortunately your opponent was right. If you or your partner touch the ball on your side before it contacts the ground then you lose the point.

[@jekmoha3]

What if you smash the ball so that it is coming back to your side and you see your opponent trying to reach the ball over the net... If you're able, can you hit the ball again before your opponent does? Or do you have to wait for the ball to touch the ground/wall or for your opponent to hit it?

[@jekmoha3]

I found the answer... you have to wait.

[@p.s4677]

Complex question: I was standing at the net and smashed a ball on the court that after hitting the glass wall bounced back over the net. This ball was in my reach but I didn't hit because opponent reached over net and I found it dangerous to swing with my racket then. Thus opponent reached over net charged direction of the ball so I could not hit ball and they won. If I would have just irresponsibly slammed my racket at the ball I would have hit the ball in a way that our opponents would not have been able to take the ball. Problem would however be that my racket would probably have hit my opponent after hitting the ball, however on my side of the net. The ball would probably also have hit the opponent. What would a refery have ruled if i would have hit the ball, and then struck the opponent with my racket on my side of the net? Would a refery perhaps have ruled replay or similar of point in this case since I chose not to engage in dangerous situation?

[@ThePadelSchool]

This is difficult to answer, because it really depends on the situation and what the referee thinks is interference. Did the player interfere with play? Was it a legitimate attempt at the ball etc? This is a grey area in padel, so most of the time a let is played.

[@DanNetProject]

I was to a Americano couple of weeks ago and the opponent player hit my return directly (volley) and hit on my side of the court and I told it was not allowed and the point is for us, but they(both) insisted that its legal volley. Even the trainer(americano coach) said. What todo, when they do like that. I didnt know about this video, then I would have shown to them :)

[@ThePadelSchool]

You’ll know for the next time 😉😉

[@ThePadelSchool]

so glad to hear you found this useful!

[@ealzaabii]

what about if i the touch my side of the court and the i played it back but before it reaches the other side of the court it touched the top side of the side mesh on my court side will that still be legal ? please i have been looking so long for somebody to answer this question :P

[@ThePadelSchool]

The top side of the mesh counts like the front of the mesh - no different...does that help?

[@9ub7i]

How about if the ball hits the lights and returned back to the opponents court after smashing it to their court and back glass ?? Should we continue or its a point for us ?

[@ThePadelSchool]

If it hits the lights after bouncing that is point to the smashers...

[@Kurzardo]

Hi Sandy, this morning i reached over the net After a rebound on our side. I threw the Ball against the net of our opponents. Normally it's a Point for us. But the Ball bounced on the net and hit the ground out of the door. Is it Point for us or for the other team? It was a friendly match and we agreed it was a Point for us.

[@ThePadelSchool]

Yes your point

[@Shiprex]

It's probably moot, but I was playing recently on a very sandy court and slipped when I ran and slipped to get a drop shot which went over and beat the opponents BUT I did slide into the net. We took the point BUT it seems we shouldn't have.

[@ThePadelSchool]

Interesting!

[@gilkey4799]

Is the point always considerd finshed as soon as the ball is smashed over the 4 meter fence. Or are you allowed to run out and get it into play? (Even tho it is almost impossible)

[@marcofernandez8723]

From reading the official rules, if am not mistaken once it passes over the 4m fence at the back, the ball is over, even if you could theoretically potentially reach it, however the back side fence where it is also 4m at times not yet, for instance if it passes there from a rebound from the back glas and goes over and out, that can be recovered outside and continue play.

[@oscarhellberg]

One question, what happens if a player has run outside the court and hit's the ball into the opponent's net, the ball drops down to make a short bounce, are you allowed to play on that ball, or is it considered dead.

[@TehFeast]

If the ball bounces after touching the net you can still play it before it bounces the second time.

[@ThePadelSchool]

The Lit King is right :)

[@mohammedalali7533]

2;38 you will lose the point if you scored but does your opponent get a point?

[@ThePadelSchool]

If you lose the point, then your opponent gets the point, yes...

[@Cruzmotorvlog]

Can you jump over the net? For instance you run to the net, you play the ball but can't stop in time and jump over the net, while the game is stil going on?

[@-Rune-]

Maybe. If you are able to play the ball and the point ends by any means (double bounce, out of court, opponent touches net etc) before you hit the ground then yes you win the point. If the point does not end before you touch the ground you lose the point because it's not allowed to touch the opponents side of the court.

[@specialjeffreyke]

If a ball bounces and returns back to your own side, the opponent can reach over the net but is it true that the opponent can hit it directly into the net and win the point?

[@ThePadelSchool]

It's true that they could hit it directly into the net, but it's not an automatic point just because. You could still recover that either before it bounces on the court or after (without letting it bounce twice and without touching the net). The maneuver is very difficult, requires a lot of reflexes, technique, and vision of the game but it is doable.

[@atti333]

Hi all! I can not find anything about double hitting the ball with the padel bat accidentally but with one continous motion. This is legal in tennis.

[@torintorintorin]

According to the official rules (13.g.), you can't touch the ball twice. No exception. I guess the difference from tennis is that in padel there are a lot more "was it a continuous movement or wasn't it" situations, especially in dropshots next to a glass.

[@tarmouustalu2741]

can the ball be hit if the ball has not crossed the imaginary vertical line of the net, that is, if the ball hit by the opponent has reached the imaginary net line, I can already hit it from my side of the game?

[@ThePadelSchool]

I think you've answered your own question, haha. If the ball hasn't crossed over the net (vertical line as you put it), then you're not allowed to contact with the ball. It has to cross, not just "touch" the imaginary line.

[@mateusz2486]

1:10 hitting ball in net from opponent site gives me point ?

[@ThePadelSchool]

Only if the ball has already bounced on your side, you may reach over and contact the ball on your opponents side. As for the net - hitting into the net doesn't automatically give you the point, HOWEVER, hitting into the net makes it hard for the opponent to contact the ball before a second bounce or for them to contact the ball without touching the net with their racket.

[@filippocalenti3926]

Clarification - you CAN touch the post if the posts are placed outside the field of play. Correct?

[@ThePadelSchool]

I’ve never seen posts outside the field of play…doesn’t sound like an official pádel court. You can touch the post only if it’s one of those that joins net to fence and you touch the post above net height and the game allows you to run out. Otherwise its not allowed to touch the net.

[@filippocalenti3926]

@@ThePadelSchool you can find an example here... padelstar.es/reglas-de-padel/puedo-tocar-el-poste-que-sujeta-la-red/

[@mostafahaggag7305]

Is it allowed to jump over the net? It happened once that I ran too fast to catch a short ball on the net and I had to continue running by force but I had no option except to jump into their court. Example: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mHbVqHuPhcaCqZo

[@ThePadelSchool]

Unfortunately not...

[@awyrdyhazylp]

One more question: can you lift up your partner with your hands, or let him climb over you in order to reach for the ball? :-)

[@ThePadelSchool]

Haha theoretically yes...if you've got the time to do that

[@erhankesken]

it seems some referees are not aware of the rule about the feet in opponent’s field: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oWSXYn-eatKcqck

[@torintorintorin]

That was a show, not a real game.