Padel Rules: Changes introduced 2026

If you’ve ever been stuck in a never-ending deuce game that turns into a slow-motion battle of nerve, you already understand the problem the sport is trying to solve. From 1 January 2026, the International Padel Federation (FIP) is introducing updates aimed at speeding up play, improving clarity for officials, and tightening up safety. The biggest talking point is the new Star Point scoring format, which is being rolled into the official rules and adopted across top circuits in 2026. 

The Star Point, explained like you’re five

The Star Point is basically a compromise between classic advantage (which can go on forever) and golden point (which can feel a bit brutal). The FIP describes it as an alternative option once a game reaches deuce, and it runs in three stages. 

First, you play a normal advantage point. If the team with advantage wins it, game over. If they lose it, you’re back to 40–40. Then you do the same thing again for a second advantage. If the advantage team wins, game over. If they lose again, you don’t loop back into infinite deuces. You go straight into a single deciding point: the Star Point, and the winner takes the game. 

That’s the core mechanic: two chances to close it out the “traditional” way, then one decisive point to end the debate. 

The part that changes tactics (and arguments)

Where it gets spicy is the control it gives the receiving pair on the deciding point. In the Star Point moment, the receiving pair chooses whether to receive from the right or left side. 

But, and this is key, players are not allowed to switch positions for that decisive point. So you can’t suddenly shuffle your best returner across and pretend you’ve been there all game. You have to live with the structure you built earlier in the game, then make a smart side choice when it matters. 

There’s also a specific rule called out for mixed matches: on the deciding point, the receiver must be the same sex as the server. 

Net effect: the Star Point doesn’t just shorten games, it creates a new “decision moment” that rewards teams who plan their patterns and match-ups instead of drifting into deuce and hoping.

Why the sport is doing this now

FIP frames Star Point as a modernisation that doesn’t change padel’s essence, while improving player welfare, broadcast predictability, and fan engagement. It was approved by the FIP General Assembly and rolled out after consultation across stakeholders. 

And they’re not being subtle about where it’s going first. FIP states it will apply in 2026 across Premier Padel, CUPRA FIP Tour, FIP Promises, and FIP Beyond, with named debuts including FIP Bronze Melbourne and Premier Padel’s Riyadh P1.

The other 2026 tweaks you’ll actually feel in matches

The Star Point gets the headlines, but the “pace of play” changes are going to show up everywhere.

Warm-ups are shorter. A summary of the 2026 regulations highlights that warm-up time drops from five minutes to three, and that restart warm-ups after interruptions are also reduced.

Eating and drinking between points is prohibited (with changeovers being the obvious practical window). 

Ball rules get more flexible too. Ball colour is no longer restricted to white or yellow, as long as it contrasts with the court surface. 

Service rules are clarified in a way that’s clearly designed to make officiating easier. The update introduces the idea of an “imaginary line” extending the service line, and states the ball must not cross the service line or its extension before impact. In plain terms, it tightens what’s allowed in the service motion and what referees should be looking for. 

Safety gets a proper bump as well. The same summary notes an increased outdoor safety zone requirement (from two metres to a minimum of three). 

And finally, one of those rules everyone thinks already exists is now written clearly: if the safety cord breaks or the racket leaves the player’s hand, the pair immediately loses the point. 

What we’d bet happens at club level

Some groups will adopt Star Point immediately because it keeps sessions moving and makes “one more game” actually mean one more game. Others will stick to classic advantage because they like the grind, or because they don’t want another rule debate at 9pm on court 3.

Either way, if you play competitive social padel, it’s worth agreeing your scoring format before you start. The Star Point doesn’t just change the scoreboard, it changes how you manage pressure, who returns what, and whether you’ve built the right side match-ups before the big moment arrives.

Have a good 2026,
The NS Team