Paddle Tennis Rules

Rule 1:   Dimensions & Equipment

LENGTH 50' Base line to base line 44' Service line to service line 20' Side line to side line A basic court shall be 50 feet long and 20 feet wide. There shall be a line 3 feet within the base line, known as the Service line. LINES (1) Service Line:   22' from net, 3' in front of base line, 20' wide with closed ends matching side lines, on each end of the court. (2) Center Line:   Longitudinally through center of court, from service line to service line. (3) Restraint Line:        (Where Authorized) 12' from the net, parallel to base line on each side of the net. (4) Base Line:   3' behind the service line, 20' side with closed ends matching side lines, on each end of the court. (5) General Requirements:   (a)   All lines shall be 2" wide. (b)   All dimensions shall be measured to outside of lines, except for center line. (c)   Lines for doubles and singles are identical. COURT DIAGRAM   (Click here for court diagram.) NET POSTS AND NETS The top of the net shall be exactly 31" above the surface for the entire width of the court, pulled taut by a steel cable which shall pass over the tops of two posts which shall be 18" outside each side line. There shall be no more that one inch allowable sag at center if there is no steel cable and ratcher. The net shall be 22' long by 2'6" wide. NET CONSTRUCTION (Recommended) Heavy cotton, tarred, or Deluxe braided polyethylene; similar to Gold Medal Paddle Tennis Net; Douglas Net, and Carron Net with steel cable. FENCE (1) Height: Minimum of 10' high (2) Length & Width: Dimensions fence to fence are:    Tournament 40' wide x 80' long. COURT SURFACES   (The same as for conventional tennis courts.) (1) Composition: Textured acrylic finish, similar but not limited to Plexipave, Laycold, Kemiko, Play-On, etc.; also Clay, Har-Tru, Omni-Turf and Mod-Sod. (2) Color (Suggested): Hard court playing surface to be green or light-blue; side and rear areas to fencing to be Terra-cotta. (3) Lighting: (1) Height: Pole mounted lighting fixtures to be not less than 20' high. (2) Brightness: 30 footcandles reading at court surface evenly distributed. (Recommended) BALL & PADDLE (1) The Ball shall be a pressurized tennis ball approved by the United States Tennis Association for tournament play which has its internal pressure reduced by being punctured so that when dropped from a height of 6'0" to the playing court surface, the bounce will be not less than 31" nor more than 33". Puncturing with a hypodermic needle or safety pin is a simple method of achieving the required bounce. (2) The Paddle shall be made of solid material or materials, and shall be not more than 9 1/2" x 18". It may be perforated and/or textured, but shall contain no strings; all paddles are subject to approval by the U.S. Paddle Tennis Association. ATTIRE   (1)   Shoes must have non-marking rubber soles.   (2)   Players must wear proper court attire.

Rule 2:   Permanent Fixtures

Permanent court fixtures include: The net, posts, cords, or metal cable, strap and band, back and side stops, chairs and their occupants, umpires, judges, linesmen, ball persons when in their assigned positions and all other fixtures above or around the court.

Rule 3:   Server & Receiver

The players stand on opposite sides of the net. The player who serves the ball shall be called the Server. The player receiving shall be called the Receiver. (Serving team or Receiving team)

Rule 4:   Choice of Side & Service

The player who wins the toss or paddle spin may choose or require his opponent to choose -

(1)	The right to serve or receive, in which case the other player shall choose the side; or
(2)	The side, in which case the other player shall choose the right to serve or receive.

Rule 5:   Service

Only one serve is allowed. The Server shall stand behind the base line and within the imaginary extensions of the center and side lines. The server shall then project the ball by hand into the air and strike it with the paddle at a point not higher than 31" above the court surface at the instant of impact; or, the Server may bounce ot drop the ball to the court surface behind the base line and strike it with the paddle upon its rebound at a point not higher then 31" above the court surface. Delivery shall be deemed complete at the instant of impact of paddle and ball.

The Server may choose either method of serving, that is bouncing the ball or projecting it into the air before striking it with the paddle. However, whichever alternative he chooses, he must continue to serve in that manner for the entire set. In other words, he cannot switch from a bounce serve to the projecting serve at will; although he may change his manner of serving at the commencement of a new set.

The serve must land within the service area on the Receivers side diagonally from where the Server stands. If the serve fails to land within said area or if the Server strikes the ball higher than 31" above the court surface at the instant of impact the serve is a fault and the Server loses that point.

One ball only shall be used during a set. Server may not substitute another ball during an unfinished set without consent of opponent or tournament official, nor may Server hold another ball when serving.

Rule 6:   Footfault

The Server, shall throughout the delivery of the Service:

Not touch, with either foot, any area other than behind the base line within the imaginary extensions of the center line and side line before contact is made between the ball and paddle.

If this rule is violated, a Footfault shall be called and the Serving Team will lose the point.

Rule 7:   Alternate Courts

Rule 8:   Fault

It is a Fault if:

(1) The Service breaches any part of rules 5 or 6.

(2) The Server, in attempting to serve, misses the ball.

(3) The ball served touches a permanent fixture (other than the net, strap or band) before hitting the ground.

Rule 9:   Receiver

The ball may not be served until the Receiver is ready. If he attempts to return a serve, he is deemed "ready." If the Receiver indicates he is "not ready", and the service is a fault, he may not claim the point. The serve is replayed as a "let" ball.

Rule 10:   Let

When a "let" is called under the rules, or to provide an interruption to play, the point shall be replayed.