La height of the serve in padel is one of the most discussed points on the courts. Yet, on this specific subject, the International Federation of Padel (FIP) did not change its rule in 2026. The regulatory framework remains the same: the The ball must be struck below a specific anatomical landmark..

What exactly does the official FIP regulation say?

In the Official FIP regulations – Rule 6 (The service)It is specified:

"The ball must be hit at or below waist level."

The key concept therefore rests on the term "size", at the heart of padel service rules.

The FIP specifies that the size corresponds to an imaginary line located at the level of the the highest point of the hip boneCalled iliac crest.

This anatomical landmark is the authoritative one in the official padel regulations.

The precise area allowed to hit the ball on the serve

At the exact moment of impact between the racket and the ball:

La The ball must be positioned below the imaginary line corresponding to the top of the hip..

This is not:

  • du navel
  • du middle of the belly
  • du lower ribs

This is only the highest point of the hip (iliac crest).

This detail is essential to comply with the padel service rules in 2026.

Difference between navel and iliac crest in padel

Many players use the navel as a visual referenceHowever, this point is not a regulatory reference.

Navel :

  • A useful but unofficial guide
  • Position varies depending on morphology
  • May be located above the permitted level

Iliac crest (top of the hip):

  • Official benchmark according to the FIP
  • Stable anatomical base
  • The only valid reference in the padel service regulations

The rule leaves no room for ambiguity: the The strike must be below the anatomically defined size.

Padel serve: what is the exact height at which the ball should be struck according to the FIP?

“At or below the level of”: what does the FIP rule mean?

The official text specifies that the ball can be struck at or below the exact waist level.

This means that the strike can be aligned with the top of the hip, but never above it.

In refereeing practice, to avoid any dispute during a match professional or amateur padelIt is recommended to strike clearly below the hip to ensure compliance with the FIP service rule.

One rule remains unchanged in the 2026 padel rules.

Unlike recent adjustments regarding the imaginary lines at the service, the padel shot height has not changed.

The official rule remains:

The ball must be hit after it bounces. at or below the highest point of the player's hip.

In summary, in the padel rules in 2026The area permitted for striking the ball on the serve is located under the iliac crestThe navel is not a regulatory marker. To serve in accordance with the FIP regulationThe strike must clearly remain below the top of the hip at the moment of impact.

Franck Binisti

Franck Binisti discovered padel at the Club des Pyramides in 2009 in the Paris region. Since then, padel has been part of his life. You often see him touring France to cover major French padel events.

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