Doors, side gaps and the safety area
Courts have one or two openings in each side. Playing outside the court is only possible where there are two openings on each side and a clear safety area beyond them.
Openings in the sides
The way onto a court is through gaps in the side walls, placed evenly either side of the net, with or without doors. One opening per side is between 1.05 m and 2.2 m wide; with two openings per side, each is between 0.72 m and 1.1 m wide. Door handles sit on the outside so nothing sticks into the court.
Doors are part of the wall
A closed door counts as wall. Where a court has no door, a metal bar on the floor across the opening, or the line of the frame above it, marks the edge of the court.
The safety area
To allow play outside the court, each side needs two openings and an area beyond them free of obstacles, at least 3 m wide, 4 m long and 3 m high. The edges of the openings and the net posts are padded. If light poles stand inside that area, outside play is not allowed on that court.
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Perguntas
Can you play outside every padel court?
No. Only courts with two openings on each side and a clear safety area beyond them, and only when the competition allows it.