Ball Hits the Net Post in Padel
Also known as: padel net post, ball hits the net post padel, ball hits the post padel, net post rule padel, padel ball off the net post, serve hits the net post padel
A ball that hits the net post is still in play if it then lands in the opponents' court. FIP rules count the net and its supports as part of the court. If the ball comes off them and strikes the other side's glass or fence before bouncing, you lose the point. A serve that clips a post and lands in the box is replayed.
Padel's FIP rules treat the net and its two supports as part of the court. A ball that touches either one and then lands on the other side is a good return. Play goes on.
The bounce still has to come first. If your shot glances off the mesh or a support and then flies straight into the opponents' glass or fence, you lose the point. That matches the normal padel rule that every shot must bounce on their side before it meets their walls.
On the serve, a ball that touches the net or a post and lands in the right box is replayed. The exception is when it then touches the fence before its second bounce. That makes it a fault.
Your body is a different matter. If you, your racket or your clothes touch the net or a support while the ball is in play, your pair loses the point. The supports stand at the edge of the court, so watch them when you chase wide balls.
Tips by skill level
If the ball glances off a support and lands in, keep playing.
When you chase a wide ball near the net, slow down before the upright. Touching it with your body or racket costs the point even if your shot was good.
Example
Sara's crosscourt shot clips the top of the upright and drops into the opponents' court. It is a live ball, and they scramble to return it.
Why it matters
These touches are rare but cause arguments. Knowing which ones count saves points and keeps social games friendly.
Common mistakes
- Stopping play when the ball clips the upright and lands in
- Calling a let on a rally ball that touched a support
- Brushing the post with the racket while chasing a wide ball
- Forgetting that a ball off the net still has to bounce before the walls
Frequently asked questions
What happens if the ball hits the net post in padel?
If it then lands in the opponents' court, play goes on. If it flies from the post straight into their glass or fence, the hitter loses the point.
Is it a let if the serve hits the net post?
Yes, if it lands in the correct box. It is replayed unless it touches the fence before its second bounce, which makes it a fault.
Sources
Related terms
- Padel Rules for BeginnersPadel is played in pairs on an enclosed court, and scoring follows tennis. Serve underarm after one bounce behind the service line, diagonally into the opposite box. In a rally, your shot must land in the opponents' court before it touches their walls. After that bounce it may come off the walls and still be played.
- Padel Serve Faults and Net ServesA padel serve is a fault if it lands outside the diagonal service box, if the server misses the ball or breaks the serve rules, or if it hits the server or their partner. A serve that bounces in the box and then touches the metal fence, the mesh, before its second bounce is also a fault. It may come off the glass. A serve that clips the net and lands in is replayed unless it then touches the fence.
- Padel Court DimensionsA padel court is 20 m long and 10 m wide inside the walls, with the net across the middle. The net is 0.88 m high in the centre and 0.92 m at the ends. The service lines sit 6.95 m from the net. At each end, a 3 m wall, usually glass, is topped with 1 m of metal mesh, making 4 m in total.
- Reaching Over the Net in PadelOnly in one case. If your opponents' ball bounces on your side and then spins or blows back over the net, you may reach over and play it. You must not touch the net, the posts or their court. Reaching over to hit a ball that has not yet crossed to your side loses the point.
- Court EnclosureThe Court Enclosure is the full perimeter structure of a padel court — glass walls at the back and sides, metal fencing above and at certain sections — which defines the unique enclosed environment that makes wall play possible.
Related guides & benchmarks
Have a question about this?
There is nothing here to film. Ask SwingVantage a follow-up question, or keep reading the related terms above.