Net and posts rarely come up when people plan a padel court. The conversation is usually about glass grade, steel frame spec, and whether to go panoramic — and then someone bolts on a net at the end and calls the court done.
That works until the first session, when experienced players notice the game doesn't feel right. The net is too tight, the centre dip is gone, and the tactical balance the sport is built on doesn't quite work. Or a year later, the windlass can't hold tension and the centre creeps up past 0.90 metres. These are fixable problems — but entirely avoidable if you know the spec going in. You don't need to be an engineer. You just need a tape measure and three numbers.
What the FIP Net Spec Says
The FIP specification for a padel net is exact: 10 metres wide, 0.88 metres at the centre, and 0.92 metres at the posts. The suspension cable connecting the net's upper edge to the posts must be no more than 10 millimetres in diameter. Maximum post height is 1.05 metres.
FIP is the International Padel Federation — the body that defines the rules the sport is played to everywhere from Madrid to Mumbai. These numbers aren't suggestions; they define the game. A net at the wrong height changes which shots clear and which don't, the same way a wrong net height on a tennis court would alter every rally.
| Specification | FIP Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Net width | 10 metres | Matches court width exactly |
| Height at centre | 0.88 m | Intentional dip — not sag |
| Height at posts | 0.92 m | 4 cm higher than centre |
| Suspension cable | ≤10 mm diameter | Top edge of net |
| Max post height | ≤1.05 m | Post sits inside this, net at 0.92m |
Why the Centre Dips (and Why It Matters)
The 4-centimetre drop from posts (0.92m) to centre (0.88m) is intentional game design, not a sag. Cross-court shots travel over the lower centre; down-the-line shots must clear the slightly raised edges. This asymmetry is what gives padel rallies their tactical character.
A net tensioned too tightly — centre at 0.90 or 0.92 — looks neater to the eye. It is wrong. Players who've played on correctly-specced courts notice immediately that balls clip the net differently. Beginners just find the game harder to read. Either way, the sport you get is not padel as FIP defines it.
This is not a theoretical problem. It is easy for a contractor to over-tension the net for aesthetic reasons on handover day — a flat net looks professional and taut. Measure before you sign off, not after.
Post Specifications and Material
Padel posts are galvanized steel tubing that mount into sockets bolted into the perimeter RCC anchor beam. They sit exactly on the court's 10-metre width lines and hold the net to 0.92 metres at the attachment point. The quality marker to look for is an adjustable tensioning mechanism — a ratchet bar or windlass — built into the post itself.
Cheap posts have a fixed hook-and-cord system that sets one tension at installation and then slowly loses it over a season of thermal cycling. North India's temperature swings — 45°C days and 3–5°C winter nights in Delhi — expand and contract the cord continuously. Without an adjustable windlass, correcting the tension means re-rigging the entire cord assembly, which requires a technician and usually gets deferred.
Posts should be hot-dip galvanized for outdoor courts — the same durability standard as the rest of the steel frame. Powder-coat-only posts will hold appearance for a few seasons but corrode faster at the base socket where rainwater pools, particularly after monsoon events. See our guide on the padel court fencing and mesh system for how the post fixings integrate with the wider enclosure.
What Comes in a Padel Kit
Most padel courts in India are assembled from Chinese kits: steel frame, glass panels, turf, LED lights, net, posts, and stainless hardware all ship in one order. Indian contractors are primarily importers and installers — they assemble the kit, not fabricate the components themselves.
This means the net and post specification is set by the kit manufacturer, not the Indian contractor. Ask to see the spec sheet before you sign — it should list net width (10m), net height at centre and posts (0.88m / 0.92m), cable diameter (≤10mm), and post material. A credible supplier has this document and hands it over without hesitation. Someone sourcing ad hoc from three different suppliers often doesn't.
The net material should be UV-stabilised synthetic — polyester or polypropylene cord — with a stated UV-resistance rating. A net that fades and becomes brittle in 12 months means UV stabilisation was absent from the spec. White nets that yellow or go cream by the second season on a North India court are a red flag on the original specification.