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The baseline boundary where serves must originate; crossing it during serve is a foot fault.
Definition
The fault line is the baseline from which the server must serve, located at the court's end. The server's feet must remain behind (outside) the baseline when serving; stepping on or past the baseline during the serve constitutes a foot fault. A foot fault is treated like a serve error—the server loses the point. In doubles, only one partner serves; the other stands behind the baseline as well. The fault line is critical to serve integrity and prevents server momentum from crossing into the service box. Modern padel enforces strict foot fault rules through chair umpire observation. Some tournaments use electronic line calling on the baseline.
Origin: Derived from tennis foot-fault rules, adapted to padel's half-court service geometry.
Enforced on every serve; chair umpire watches for baseline violations.
Yes. Any part of the feet on or over the baseline during service is a foot fault.
It counts as an error; the server gets a second serve. A foot fault on the second serve is a double fault.