A serve near the net can look like one situation, but the rules distinguish what happens after contact.
First, the serve must be valid
The serve starts behind the service line and must cross the net diagonally, bouncing in the receiver’s service box. FIP also specifies the ground bounce before contact and that the ball is hit at or below waist height. If a requirement is broken, it is a fault; after an invalid first serve, the server has a second attempt.
Where the ball bounces matters too. If it lands outside the receiver’s box, or touches the metal fence before the second bounce, the serve is a fault. The rules do not say that every serve brushing the net must be replayed.
Net: what happens after the touch matters
If the serve touches the net or a support and then lands in the correct service box, it is a “net” under FIP’s conditions. The ball must not touch the metal fence before the second bounce. When those conditions are met, the serve is replayed.
Let: when play stops and restarts
A service let can occur, for example, if the serve is made before the receiver is ready and they do not attempt a return. The rules distinguish a replay on the first serve from a replay on the second serve. For officiating decisions, use the current official text and the referee’s interpretation.
- Fault: a service requirement is broken, the bounce is outside the box or there is prohibited contact.
- Net: the ball touches the net, lands in the correct box and makes no prohibited fence contact.
- Let: a replay is required under the rules, for example when the receiver is not ready.
A quick check courtside
After the point, reconstruct the sequence: serve, net contact, bounce and any fence contact. Separating these steps helps distinguish a net from a fault. This article summarizes the rules; it does not replace a referee’s decision.
International Padel Federation: Rules of Padel, applied from 1 January 2026