You get 2 serve attempts per point. Two consecutive illegal serves = double fault, you lose the point.

Below are all scenarios that count as an illegal serve (fault), updated to the latest 2026 international padel rules：

一、Core technical violations (most common for beginners)

1. Wrong hitting height (the biggest padel serve rule difference from tennis)

Illegal: Strike the ball above the hip/iliac crest (top of hip bone); overhead/tennis-style serving is totally forbidden

Legal: Contact point must be at or below waist/hip height (underhand only)

2. No mandatory ground bounce before hitting

Illegal:

Hit the ball straight out of your hand without letting it bounce once

Ball bounces twice before you swing

The ball bounces forward across the service line before you strike it (2026 new strict rule)

Legal: Drop the ball, let it bounce once behind the service line, then swing

3. Foot fault (2026 adjusted rule: only 1 foot needs behind the line, but still strict)

At the moment you hit the ball:

Illegal:

Any foot touches or steps over the service line

Jumping serve (no foot touching the ground during contact)

Standing outside your designated serving half (cross the imaginary extension of the center line)

二、Ball landing & trajectory violations

1. Fails to land in the correct diagonal service box

Illegal:

Lands in the wrong service box

Lands outside the service box entirely

Hits the net and bounces out of the box

Special case (Not a fault = Let): Serve clips the net cord, then lands perfectly inside the correct box → replay the serve without penalty

2. Ball hits walls/fences BEFORE bouncing in the receiver’s service box

Critical rule: Walls cannot be used on serves

Illegal: Serve hits side glass / back wall / metal fence first, then drops into the box

Even if it eventually lands inside, it is still a fault

3. Lands in the box but hits metal fencing before the second bounce

Illegal: Ball bounces once in the service box, then touches the surrounding metal mesh before bouncing a second time

Legal: Bounces in box → hits solid glass wall → second bounce = valid rally start

三、Other official illegal serve situations

1. You swing and completely miss the ball (whiff attempt) → fault

2. The served ball hits you, your partner, or any equipment you are wearing/carrying

3. The ball bounces inside the box then flies straight out through the court gate (no safety zone)

4. Serving from the wrong side/order (corrected once noticed; finished points remain valid)

四、What is NOT an illegal serve (Let: replay serve)

Net cord serve that lands correctly in the diagonal box

Receiver is clearly not ready when you serve

External interference (ball from adjacent court enters the playing area)

Quick Memory Cheat Sheet

Under hip + bounce first + one foot back + land diagonally inside box + no wall contact before first bounce = legal serve

Break any rule = fault; two faults = lose point