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The ball lands on the line. In or out?
The lines belong to the court. Any part of the ball touching any part of the line is in.
Their serve lands right on the service line, half on the paint and half over it. Is it in?
The lines belong to the court. Any part of the ball touching any part of the line is in.
Why
Every line on a padel court is part of the area it marks, so a ball touching a line is in: on the serve, on a return, on any ball. The lines on a padel court only matter for the serve anyway, since the walls mark the rest of the court: once the point has started, the only way to be out is to hit the walls or fence before the bounce, go out of the enclosure, or touch the roof. Line calls in padel are rarer than in tennis and mostly about the serve.
What this means at your level
Beginner
If you are not sure, the ball is in. That is the etiquette everywhere, and it saves the afternoon.
Intermediate
A serve that lands on the line arrives deep and close to the glass. Give yourself room by receiving from behind the line.
Advanced
Aim serves at the back of the box, not the middle. The line is in, so the target is bigger than it looks.
Common questions
Their serve lands right on the service line, half on the paint and half over it. Is it in?
In. The lines are part of the court. The lines belong to the court. Any part of the ball touching any part of the line is in. Every line on a padel court is part of the area it marks, so a ball touching a line is in: on the serve, on a return, on any ball. The lines on a padel court only matter for the serve anyway, since the walls mark the rest of the court: once the point has started, the only way to be out is to hit the walls or fence before the bounce, go out of the enclosure, or touch the roof. Line calls in padel are rarer than in tennis and mostly about the serve.
Why not in on a serve, out during a rally?
The lines mean the same thing all the way through the point: in.
What should a beginner do here?
If you are not sure, the ball is in. That is the etiquette everywhere, and it saves the afternoon.
How does this change for an advanced player?
Aim serves at the back of the box, not the middle. The line is in, so the target is bigger than it looks.
What do the rules say?
The lines are part of the areas they mark. A ball touching a line is in.
Puzzles like this one
Can you volley the return of serve?
The return of serve must bounce. It is the one ball in padel you are not allowed to volley.
beginnerThe ball bounced then hit your own back glass. Still in play?
One bounce on the floor, then any number of walls. Only a second floor bounce ends the point.
advancedThe smash sent the ball out through the side opening. Chase it?
If the court has an opening, you may leave through it and play the ball back, before it bounces a second time.