Two separate hits by one player lose the point. A low scoop or push is not automatically a double hit just because it feels unusual: under the 2026 International Padel Federation (FIP) rules, it can be a correct return if the ball is not hit twice, contact happens in the same movement, and the ball’s natural exit does not change substantially.
This guide is for club players and coaches settling a close call on a low ball, a volley near the net or a ball played after a wall rebound. The key distinction is between one continuous stroke and a second, separate hit. An accidental second hit is still a second hit; the rule does not make a separate contact legal just because it was unintentional.
What counts as a double hit?
The FIP lists hitting the ball twice as a lost-point fault in Rule 13.1(i). Rule 14.1(h) explains when a return involving a scoop or push can still be considered correct: the ball must not have been hit twice, the impact must take place during the same movement, and the ball’s natural exit must not vary substantially.
In practical terms, a scoop or push is one continuous racket action that carries the ball through the stroke. It is different from striking the ball, resetting the racket, and striking it again. “One movement” by itself is not a blanket exception: all the conditions in Rule 14.1(h) matter.
| What you see | How to assess it |
|---|---|
| One continuous push or scoop; no separate second strike; the ball leaves on a natural path | It may be a correct return under Rule 14.1(h). |
| The racket makes one clear hit, then a second distinct hit on the same return | The player loses the point under Rule 13.1(i). |
| The ball seems to graze the racket during a cramped or awkward stroke | The sensation alone does not establish the ruling. Check whether there were actually two hits and whether the movement and ball exit meet Rule 14.1(h). |
| Both partners swing and their rackets collide | That is a different question. Check whether both players hit the ball; see our guide to two partners hitting the same ball. |
A quick way to judge a close call
Work through these questions in order:
- Was there one contact or two distinct hits? If the player hit the ball twice, Rule 13.1(i) says the point is lost.
- Was a scoop or push made in one continuous movement? A pause, reset or second swing points to a separate hit rather than one carried stroke.
- Did the ball leave naturally? Rule 14.1(h) requires that its natural exit does not vary substantially. A pronounced change from a second strike does not meet that condition.
The rule does not define a particular sound, feeling or slow-motion frame as proof of a double hit. If the action is disputed and the players cannot agree what happened, use the umpire or the competition’s call procedure. In a friendly match, state what you saw and agree a fair decision rather than treating uncertainty as certainty.
Two examples from the court
A low ball at your feet: you keep the racket moving forward and upward through one controlled scoop. There is no distinct second hit and the ball leaves on a natural path. That may be a correct return under Rule 14.1(h). For practice, the beginner volley-control drill can help you work on a compact, balanced contact before increasing the pace.
A mishit that you try to rescue: the first strike sends the ball off the racket, then you make a second swing and hit it again. That is two hits, so your pair loses the point even if the second action was an instinctive attempt to keep the rally alive.
If the awkward contact happened because you and your partner reached for the same ball, practise a clear “mine” or “yours” call and give the hitter space. Our middle-ball guide and padel positioning basics cover that shared decision before the swing begins.
Can video settle the call?
Video can help you review the racket path and whether the action looked continuous, but an angle that hides the contact cannot prove how many times the ball touched the racket. Treat footage as a useful review aid, not a substitute for an umpire’s decision.
Padel Coach App can help you revisit a recurring contact or positioning problem after a session. Use the clip to agree on a practice focus; use the official rule and the event umpire for a competition ruling.
Sources
- International Padel Federation: Rules of Padel, reviewed for application from 1 January 2026 — Rules 13.1(i) and 14.1(h).
- LTA Padel: official padel rules — player-facing summary of the rule against hitting the ball twice.
Learn how our guides are researched, prepared and checked in our editorial policy.