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Your lob hits the roof. What happens?
The roof and the lights are out. A lob that touches them loses the point, wherever it lands.
On an indoor court you lob high and the ball touches the roof structure before coming down on their side. Whose point?
The roof and the lights are out. A lob that touches them loses the point, wherever it lands.
Why
Indoor padel adds a ceiling to the rules. Any ball that touches the roof, the lighting or any structure above the court is out, and the point goes to the other pair immediately, regardless of where the ball then falls. On a low-roofed court this genuinely changes tactics: the very high defensive lob that works outdoors becomes a liability, and the flatter, faster lob over the net player's shoulder becomes the default.
What this means at your level
Beginner
Look at the roof before you play indoors. If it is low, lob lower and longer rather than higher.
Intermediate
A flatter lob is harder to smash anyway, because it gives the net player less time to set up under it. The low roof just forces a good habit.
Advanced
Use the roof against them. A pair used to outdoor courts will send two or three lobs into the lights before they adjust: notice it and stay at the net.
Common questions
On an indoor court you lob high and the ball touches the roof structure before coming down on their side. Whose point?
Theirs: a ball that touches the roof or lights is out. The roof and the lights are out. A lob that touches them loses the point, wherever it lands. Indoor padel adds a ceiling to the rules. Any ball that touches the roof, the lighting or any structure above the court is out, and the point goes to the other pair immediately, regardless of where the ball then falls. On a low-roofed court this genuinely changes tactics: the very high defensive lob that works outdoors becomes a liability, and the flatter, faster lob over the net player's shoulder becomes the default.
Why not play on. The roof is just an obstacle?
The roof, the lights and anything above the court are out of play. Touching them ends the point.
What should a beginner do here?
Look at the roof before you play indoors. If it is low, lob lower and longer rather than higher.
How does this change for an advanced player?
Use the roof against them. A pair used to outdoor courts will send two or three lobs into the lights before they adjust: notice it and stay at the net.
What do the rules say?
A ball that touches the roof, the lights or any element above the court is out of play and the point is lost.
Puzzles like this one
Both of them are at the net. What is the highest-percentage ball?
Only the lob moves a net pair backwards. Everything else invites them forward.
intermediateWhat do you do with the return of serve?
The return lob is how the receiving pair steals the net. Aim over the player who is still moving.
intermediateCross or down the line: which way should the lob go?
Lob cross-court by default. It is the longest line on court and it makes the far player run.