Short answer:

You cannot freely walk/stand outside the court during rallies normally, but you are allowed to exit temporarily through the side doors to chase & hit a live ball — only on certified courts with designated safety zones, and under strict FIP official conditions (2026 rules).

Core Official Rules Breakdown

1. When leaving the court IS LEGAL

Conditions all must be satisfied:

1. The ball first bounces once inside your half of the court

2. The ball then flies out of the court through the side access doors / above the side wall mesh

3. The ball has not bounced a second time anywhere (inside or outside the court)

4. You exit only via the official side doors (you cannot climb over glass walls/mesh)

5. After hitting the ball from outside, you send it back across the net to land legally inside the opponent’s court

6. The court is FIP-certified with sufficient safety space outside (standard for professional clubs/tournaments)

Once you successfully return the ball, you can step back into the court to continue the rally.

2. When going outside is NOT allowed / you lose the point

Ball flies over the back wall after bouncing once: Point over immediately; you cannot run out to retrieve it

Exit the court with no live ball to chase (walking out casually during play)

Climb over glass/mesh walls to get the ball

The ball bounces twice before you hit it outside

While outside the court, you touch the net, net posts, or the opponent’s court area

Small residential casual courts without official safety corridors usually ban out-of-court play entirely

3. Key difference between side exit & back wall exit

- Side doors / side wall escape: Legal chase permitted

- Ball goes over the rear back wall: Point ends instantly; no out-of-court play allowed

Simple Scenario Examples

Legal:

Opponent hits a deep lob → ball bounces once on your side → drifts out through the side door → you run outside, strike it before the second bounce, send it back over the net = valid rally continues

Illegal:

Ball bounces once then flies over the tall back wall → you run out to hit it anyway → you lose the point

Extra Important Notes

- You may only leave to play the ball; once the point finishes, players must return fully inside the court

- Casual community courts often simplify rules and restrict out-of-court chasing for safety reasons

- Hitting from outside still follows normal padel rules: no double hits, cannot strike walls first before the ground on the opponent’s side

Quick Summary

Run outside through side doors = permitted only to retrieve a ball that bounced once then exited sideways (before second bounce).