You’re on the court, sweat dripping from your brow, your eyes fixed on the ball. You hit a beautiful lob, the ball whizzes through the air and… hits the fence. Your heart sinks into your shoes, because you think this means an immediate fault. But is that really the case? In this article, we explain when hitting the fence during padel is allowed and when it isn’t.
What is padel?
Padel is a fantastically fun sport that began in Mexico in the 1960s and has since grown enormously, particularly in Spain and South America. Here in the Netherlands too, padel is rapidly gaining popularity. The game is played with two or four players, with everyone holding a special padel racket. This racket looks like a tennis racket, but smaller and without strings; instead, it has holes. Read more about the differences between padel and tennis here.
The padel court itself is 10 by 20 metres, with a net in the middle and surrounded by glass walls and a fence that is four metres high. These glass walls aren't just decorative – they are an important part of the game. You can let the ball rebound off the glass, which leads to very tactical shots. Ultimately, you have one main objective: to hit the ball over the net and ensure your opponent cannot return it.
How do you play padel?
Padel may seem complicated, but it really isn't. It's actually very simple to learn. Here we give you a brief summary of the rules of the game.
The game begins with a serve from the right-hand court. The ball must first bounce behind the service line, with one foot behind the line. You can then hit the ball over the net, and it must bounce diagonally into the opponent's service box before they return the ball. If you serve from the right-hand side, your ball must land in your opponent's left service box. If you serve from the left-hand side, the ball must land in your opponent's right service box.
After the service, the rally will start. The following rules apply during the rally:
- The ball may only bounce on your side once.
- After serving, you can also hit the ball directly out of the air, without it touching the ground or the wall.
- You may return the ball via the glass wall on your side. This is not allowed via the fencing!
- The ball is still in play if it's hit out of bounds, so chase after it quickly!
- The ball must not touch the glass on the other side before it hits the ground.
- You score a point if the ball bounces twice in the opponent's court. If that happens on your side, you lose a point.
- The scoring in padel is the same as in tennis: 15, 30, 40, and then a winning point for a game.
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Wat zijn de regels voor het raken van het hek tijdens padel?
A frequently asked question among padel players is: can the ball hit the fence during padel? The answer depends on the specific moment in the game. During the serve, hitting the fence with the ball is always a fault, and you lose a point.
However, different rules apply during a rally. If the ball bounces on the ground within the boundaries of play first, and then hits the fence, the ball remains in play. The fencing therefore does not negatively affect play as long as the ball hits the ground first. This means you can simply continue playing without it being considered a fault.
Er zijn geen specifieke regels voor het raken van het glas tijdens padel. In feite is het glas een integraal onderdeel van het spel en wordt het vaak gebruikt om strategische slagen uit te voeren. Het is alleen belangrijk dat de bal na de eerste stuit op de grond komt voordat hij een muur raakt. Dit betekent dat als de bal direct na het stuiteren tegen de muur stuitert, dit een geldig schot is. Een bal mag ook de muur raken en vervolgens afketsen om te winnen. Als je een speler bent die regelmatig padel speelt, zal je al snel herkennen wat een geldig schot is en wat niet. Maar hier zijn een paar vuistregels op een rijtje: * Je mag de glaswand raken bij het opnemen van de bal. * Je mag de glaswand raken na het opnemen van de bal. * Je mag de glaswand raken voordat de bal op de grond stuitert. * Je mag de glaswand niet raken voordat de bal op de grond heeft gestuiterd. Dit is een punt voor de tegenstanders. * Een bal die in een keer door de glaswand gaat, is een punt voor de tegenstanders.
The glass, on the other hand, is indeed a fully integrated part of the game. The ball may hit the glass on your side as well as on the opponent's side. This makes the game tactical and challenging, as you can execute unexpected shots via the glass.
Why are you not allowed to touch the fence during padel?
You might be wondering: why aren't you allowed to hit the fence during padel service, but it is sometimes permitted during a rally? And what's the difference with the glass? The answer has to do with the dynamics of the game. Padel is a sport that revolves around speed, reflexes, and strategy. The glass and the fence have a different impact on the ball. The glass causes the ball to bounce back, with a change in direction and speed. The fence causes the ball to slow down, with a loss of energy and height.
If you were allowed to hit the fence during padel, the game would become too easy and boring. The fence would slow the ball down too much, making rallies shorter and less exciting. Glass, on the other hand, actually makes the game more fun and challenging. It creates unexpected effects, forcing players to be alert and creative. Yes, the glass makes padel a sport that never gets dull.
How can you avoid the fence in padel?
Now that you know you're not allowed to hit the fence during padel, you naturally want to know how to avoid doing so. Hitting the fence during padel is a common mistake, especially among beginners. Fortunately, there are a few tips and tricks to avoid the fence during padel. Here they are:
Watch the ball carefully.
This may sound obvious, but it's the foundation of any sport. Keep your eyes on the ball and track it with your racket. This way, you can better judge where the ball is going and how to hit it.
Choose the correct stroke.
Depending on the situation, you can use different shots to play the ball. Some shots are more suitable for avoiding the fence than others. For example: if the ball is low and close to the net, it's better to hit a lob; a high ball over the net. This way, you avoid hitting the fence and put your opponent under pressure. If the ball is high and far from the net, it's better to hit a bandeja; a diagonal ball with spin. This keeps the ball low and fast, making it difficult for your opponent to use the glass. Read more about the different padel strokes and techniques here.
Use the glass.
As mentioned, you are allowed to hit the glass in padel. In fact, you can use the glass to avoid the fence. If you play the ball off the glass, the ball will change direction and speed. This way, you can keep the ball in play and surprise your opponent. You can also use the glass to defend the ball if your opponent hits a hard or high shot. By hitting the glass, you can slow down and control the ball. This way, you avoid the fence.
Practise a lot.
The best way to avoid the fence in padel is to practise a lot. The more you play, the better you'll get a feel for how the ball behaves, and the easier it will become to avoid the fence. Practice makes perfect, and that's certainly true for padel.
Read also: Padel Mate Club: the ideal place for padel for children