Out-of-Court Play
Also known as: out of court play padel, playing outside the court padel, running out of the court padel, leaving the court in padel, padel out-of-court rule
Out-of-court play lets you run out through a side opening to return a ball that has left the court, where the court has the clear space the FIP rules require. You must play the ball before it bounces a second time or touches anything outside. A ball that bounces in your court and leaves over the back wall still wins the point for the hitter. Where out-of-court play isn't allowed, any ball that leaves after a legal bounce wins the point.
FIP rules allow players to leave the court to play the ball when the court meets set safety conditions. Each side needs two access openings. The area outside must be free of obstacles for at least 3 m wide (4 m is recommended), 4 m long and 3 m high. If light poles stand in that area, out-of-court play is not allowed. Check with the club or event before you play.
When it is allowed, a ball that bounces in your court and leaves over a side wall or through an opening is still live. You can run out after it and return it, as long as you play it before it bounces a second time or touches anything outside. Your return must still be a good shot under the normal rules. Above 0.92 m, the post between the side openings is a neutral zone that any player may touch or hold. A ball that bounces in your court and leaves over the back wall still loses you the point.
When it is not allowed, any ball that bounces correctly and then leaves the court, over a wall or through an opening, wins the point for the hitter. You also lose the point if you hit the ball with a foot or any part of your body outside the court. Out-of-court play is what lets defenders chase an x3 that kicks out over the side wall.
Tips by skill level
Before a match, ask whether out-of-court play is allowed. If it isn't, don't chase a ball that leaves the court, because the point is over.
When out-of-court play is on, start moving toward the opening as soon as you read a kick smash heading for the side wall. Aim your return high and deep to buy time to get back in.
Example
An opponent's smash kicks out over the side wall. Because the court allows out-of-court play, the defender sprints through the opening and lobs the ball back into the opponents' court before its second bounce. The rally goes on.
Why it matters
Out-of-court play turns some winners into rallies. Knowing whether it applies changes how you attack and how far you chase.
Common mistakes
- Running out for a ball that left over the back wall
- Chasing out of the court where it is not allowed
- Letting the ball bounce twice outside before hitting it
Frequently asked questions
Can you run outside the court to return the ball in padel?
Yes, where out-of-court play is allowed. You can chase a ball that left over a side wall or through an opening and return it before its second bounce. A ball that leaves over the back wall still wins the point for the hitter.
When is out-of-court play allowed in padel?
When the court has two openings on each side and a clear safety area outside them, as FIP rules set out. Check with the club or event before you play.
Can I touch the post between the openings when I run out?
Under FIP rules, the post between the side openings is a neutral zone above 0.92 m. Any player may touch or hold it there.
Sources
Related terms
- x3 and x4 SmashAn x3 is a smash that bounces in the opponents' court and leaves over the side wall. An x4 bounces and leaves over the back wall. To hit either, take a short, high lob close to the net, turn sideways and hit hard and down. Use kick spin for the x3 and a flatter strike for the x4.
- Por TresA "por tres" is an overhead that bounces, rebounds high and exits over the side wall. Unless the event allows play outside the court, it wins the point, which is why attacking overheads aim at the glass.
- 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.
- 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.
Related guides & benchmarks
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