If your shot hits the roof, a beam or the lights before bouncing in your opponents' court, you lose the point. If it bounces in their court first and then goes up into the roof or lights, it counts as your point, because it is treated like a ball leaving the court. Some indoor clubs have their own local rules for low ceilings, so check before you play.
The two situations
The FIP Rules of Padel do not have a separate section for roofs, but two rules cover them:
- Before the bounce: a shot that goes directly into anything that is not part of your opponents' court, without bouncing on their floor first, loses the point. The roof, beams and lights fall into that category.
- After the bounce: if your shot bounces in your opponents' court and then goes out and hits the ceiling, the lights or any other object, the rules count it as a correct return. Your opponents have to play it before that happens, so in practice you win the point.
Why this comes up so often in the UK
Many UK padel courts are indoors, in converted warehouses and sports halls. High lobs and big smashes that bounce up off the floor can reach the roof. The rules say the minimum height above an official court should be six metres, but some venues are close to that limit, and lights or beams can hang lower than the roof itself.
Club and local rules
Because buildings differ, some indoor clubs add house rules. Common examples include:
- A ball that clips a low beam during a lob is replayed as a let.
- Certain fixtures, such as lights over the side of the court, are treated as out of play.
These are local arrangements, not official rules. If you are playing somewhere new, ask at reception or agree with your opponents before the match starts.
How to avoid losing points to the roof
- Flatten your lobs indoors. A lower, deeper lob is still effective and less likely to clip the roof.
- Know your court. Take a couple of practice lobs in the warm-up to see how much height you have.
- Aim your smash to bounce up, not out, if the roof is low. A smash that kicks up into the roof after bouncing is your point, but a mistimed one that hits a beam before bouncing is not.
For outdoor courts, weather is the bigger worry. See how long a court takes to dry after rain.
The bottom line
Roof before the bounce: you lose the point. Roof after the bounce: your point. Check for local rules on low ceilings, and adjust your lobs to the building you are playing in.
Related questions
Is it a let if the ball hits the roof in padel?
Not under the official rules. Some indoor clubs use a let as a house rule for low beams or lights, so check locally.
How high should an indoor padel court ceiling be?
The FIP rules say the minimum height should be six metres throughout the court.
What if a smash bounces and then hits the roof?
Once the ball has bounced in your opponents' court, hitting the roof or lights counts as a correct return, so you win the point if they cannot play it first.