Court & Equipment
Paddle tennis is played on a 50-by-20 court, which is used for both singles and doubles. The court is marked into four service areas, each 22 feet long by 10 feet wide, with a baseline 3 feet behind the service line.
The net is 31 inches high and is stretched taut between two posts, each 18 inches from the sidelines. The rules call for at least 15 feet of space behind each baseline and at least 10 feet of space on each side of the court.
If there is less than 11 feet of back space, a special "lob area" rule goes into effect. Service lines then become the baselines, and the baselines become lob lines, marking a 20-by-3 lob area. A shot landing in this area must be a lob--that is, it must have reached a height of at least 10 feet above the court surface; otherwise it is out.
The paddle's striking surface must be made of wood, but metal is allowed on the edging, throat, and grip. Maximum dimensions are 17 1/6 inches long and 8 1/2 inches wide. The surface may be perforated or solid, but virtually all players use a perforated racket, since it allows them to put more spin on the ball when desired.
Progress of Play
In general, the rules of paddle tennis are the same as the rules of lawn tennis, with these exceptions:
- Service must be struck at a point no higher than 31 inches above the court surface.
- Only one service is allowed; if it is a fault, the server loses the point.
- The server may toss the ball up, or bounce it once behind the baseline, before striking it. Once one method or the other is employed, it must be used for the entire set.
- In singles, the server must let the return of service bounce before returning it. (This, of course, prevents the server from rushing to net as soon as the serve has been made.)