The International Padel Federation rolled out the biggest rule update in years, aimed to shorten match duration, speed up gameplay, clarify ambiguous rulings, standardize safety & equipment rules. Core padel fundamentals (court size, doubles format, underhand serve, wall bounce rules) remain unchanged.

1. Star Point (Biggest Scoring Modification – Most Important)

Designed to end endless deuce loops and speed up matches

How it works:

1. Game hits 40-40 (1st deuce): Play traditional advantage scoring normally

2. If the score returns to 40-40 a second time: The Star Point triggers

3. Receiving team picks which side to receive serve for this single decisive point

4. Winner of this one point wins the entire game

Old rule: Unlimited deuce/advantage rallies; tournaments could also use sudden-death golden point directly. Now Star Point is the official standard for pro tours (Premier Padel, FIP Tour).

2. Strict Safety Wrist Cord Regulation

Clear safety enforcement (no more grey area disputes)

If your racket wrist strap breaks, detaches, or you drop your racket during a rally/point → you immediately lose the point

All rackets must be fitted with a compliant non-elastic wrist cord during competitive play

3. Serve Rule Clarification

Core underhand serve rules unchanged; only strict boundary enforcement added

At the moment you strike the ball:

Only one foot needs to stay behind the service line (eases forward body movement for faster net transition)

The ball cannot travel across the service line (or its imaginary extension) before you hit it; crossing early counts as a serve fault

4. Strict Time Control to Speed Up Play

1. 20-second rule between points fully enforced

Players must serve within 20 seconds after the previous point ends; excessive ball bouncing, towel breaks, chatting will receive warnings then point penalties

2. Pre-match warm-up cut: 5 minutes → 3 minutes

3. No eating/drinking between points: Food & hydration only permitted during set breaks

4. Fixed 120-second maximum rest time between sets

5. Padel Racket Specification Update

Frame edge perforations relaxed for manufacturers

Peripheral holes around the racket frame no longer need to be perfectly circular

Maximum hole width capped at 20mm

All other racket dimensions (max length 45.5cm, solid face) stay identical.

6. Court & Venue Construction Standards (for new courts)

Outdoor safety perimeter zone expanded: 2m → 3m width behind side/back walls for safer ball retrieval

Net top binding width increased to 11cm

Court surface must be single solid color; wall color cannot hinder visibility of the ball

Ball pressure specs adjusted for high-altitude venues above 1000m elevationFederación...

7. Minor Supplementary Updates

Mandatory 5-minute heat break between sets for extreme hot weather

Tournament draw sizes optimized for professional events to improve competitive balance

Unified senior age group naming standards worldwide

Simple Summary for Casual Players

Social club games usually adopt these rules loosely; competitive/pro matches strictly follow the Star Point scoring, 20-second serve timer, wrist cord penalty and shortened warm-up rules.