It is one of those questions almost nobody asks until it happens on court: halfway through a rally you feel the strap give way and you do not know whether the point is still alive. The rules settle it in a single line, and here it is word for word, together with what to do straight afterwards. All the gear is in our Padel Accessories category.
We are talking about the safety strap: the cord that links the racket handle to your wrist. Not the strings, which a padel racket does not have, nor any other part with a similar name.
Is the point lost if your padel racket strap breaks?
- What happens: if the safety strap breaks while the ball is in play, the pair immediately loses the point being played (Rule 13, section r, of the FIP rules).
- Same penalty if the racket slips out of the hand: the same rule covers it.
- You lose the point, not the game: the score carries on and the match resumes once the player has a strap in good condition again.
- It is compulsory: the rules require a non-elastic cord or strap attached to the wrist, 35 centimetres long at most. You cannot play without it.
- What to do: accept the lost point, fit a new strap or take out your spare racket, and check the strap before every match.
Racket strap broken during a point: FIP 2026 rules ↑ index
If a player's safety strap breaks or the racket slips out of their hand while the ball is in play, they and their partner lose the point immediately. It is not replayed, there is no let and it does not matter whether the racket hits anyone: the point goes straight to the opposing pair.
The exact wording is in Rule 13 (“Point lost”), section r, of the FIP Rules of Padel in their 2026 version, the one in force: “In the event that one of the players breaks their safety cord or drops their racket, the pair will immediately lose the point in dispute” (official English text).
The point being played is lost: only that point. The game and the set continue with whatever the score is. If the strap breaks between points, with no ball in play, the rules say nothing, because they only cover the point being played: in practice no point is lost, but it must be replaced before the next serve.
The pair loses it: padel is played in pairs, so the point goes to the opposing pair even if only one of the two players has a broken strap.
It is immediate: the rules say “immediately”. The rally does not have to finish and the racket does not have to fall: the strap breaking is enough. So even if the ball from that shot clears the net and lands in, the point is already lost.
Same thing if the racket slips: the same rule gives the point to the opponents if the racket slips out of the player's hand during the point.
And throwing the racket at the ball does not count either: touching the ball by throwing the racket at it is also a lost point (Rule 13, section m).
Why the racket safety strap is compulsory in padel ↑ index
The safety strap is compulsory in padel because a racket flying out of a hand is a projectile inside an enclosed court. The FIP rules ask for the strap “as protection against accidents” and state that its use is compulsory: it must be non-elastic, attached to the wrist and 35 centimetres long at most.
Point 9 of “The racket”, in the same 2026 Rules of Padel, sets three conditions:
A non-elastic cord or strap: a strap that stretches does not hold the racket, which is why the rules ask for one with no elasticity.
35 centimetres at most: just the right length to go from the handle to the wrist without the racket dangling far from the hand.
Always compulsory: it is not an optional accessory or a rule only for professionals; it is part of what the rules define as a legal racket.
That is why the penalty is so blunt: the safety failure has already happened the moment the strap stops holding, whether the racket falls or not.
Padel racket safety strap or lanyard: what is it? ↑ index
The padel safety strap is the cord that links the racket handle to the wrist. Depending on the brand and the country it is called a strap, safety strap, wrist strap, cord or lanyard, but it is always the same part. It is not the strings: a padel racket has none.
No strings: the face of the racket is solid and perforated; the only “cord” it has is the one for the wrist.
It is anchored at the end of the handle: it comes out of the base of the grip and tightens around the wrist, so the racket does not fly off even if it leaves the hand.
On many current rackets it is detachable: brands such as Wilson, Babolat or Nox offer detachable straps, and Nox also has its own system (SmartStrap) to change it without opening the end cap of the handle; each uses its own fitting.
Pala or paleta: in the UK it is simply a padel racket (some players say bat); in Spain it is called pala and in much of Latin America, paleta. The strap rule is the same everywhere.
What to do if your racket strap breaks while playing ↑ index
Four steps: accept the lost point, stop and tell everyone, fit a new strap (or take another racket) and check it before your next match. Playing without a strap is not allowed. And if the racket breaks? Rule 13 does not list it: you change it in the reasonable extra time of Rule 2 (point 8), if it broke through no fault of the player.
Accept the point as lost. It is not replayed or argued: the rules give it to the opposing pair the moment the strap fails.
Stop and say so before the next serve. If equipment breaks for reasons beyond the player's control, Rule 2 (point 8) allows reasonable extra time to sort it out.
Fit a new strap or take out your spare racket. You cannot play without a strap: it is compulsory for the whole match. If your racket has a detachable strap, the change is quick. If not, the official Nox video after these steps shows how to change it, step by step (in Spanish).
Check it before your next match. A frayed strap, with a loose adjuster or worn next to the fitting, is the one that breaks at the worst moment. When you put it on, adjust it to your wrist: firm enough not to slip down your hand, but not so tight that it cuts off circulation or limits your movement, and slip your hand into it before every point: never play with the strap dangling. The racket slips most often on smashes and power shots, and with a sweaty hand: exactly when the strap is working hardest. While you have it in your hand, give the whole racket a once-over: we explain how to clean a padel racket without damaging the surface.
Official Nox Padel video: how to change the safety strap on your padel racket (in Spanish).
Replacement padel racket straps: Wilson and Nox ↑ index
A replacement strap for a padel racket has to match your racket's system: each brand's detachable straps fit its own rackets. As of October 2026, we have two in stock that we can send to the UK: the Wilson Comfort Cuff, for Wilson rackets with a detachable strap, and the Nox SmartStrap, only for Nox rackets with that system.
Before buying one, check how yours is fitted: if the strap comes out of a piece that detaches from the base of the handle, it is detachable and you need your brand's own; if it goes straight into the cap, it is fixed and changing it takes more work. If in doubt, write to us or drop by the shop. Below you will find the product page of each, for its own system:
| Strap | Brand | System | For which rackets |
|---|---|---|---|
 Wilson Comfort Green strap | Wilson | Detachable wrist strap with a nylon connector | Wilson rackets with the detachable strap option |
 Nox SmartStrap Red White strap | Nox | SmartStrap, swappable without opening the end cap | Nox rackets with the SmartStrap system |
Wilson Comfort Green strap
REF WR8905104001 · EAN 097512698184- Type: Detachable wrist strap
- Brand: Wilson
- Model: Comfort Cuff
- Colour: Green
According to Wilson’s product sheet in our shop, it is the most comfortable of its three wrist straps thanks to its width and material. It connects through a cap made of bio-based nylon and is designed for Wilson rackets with the detachable strap option: you can swap a sweaty strap between matches.
Nox SmartStrap Red White strap
REF SMASTRLUXREWH · EAN 8435778902539- Type: Swappable strap
- Brand: Nox
- System: SmartStrap Luxury
- Colour: Red · white
The official strap for Nox's SmartStrap system: it is an interchangeable strap that can be swapped without opening the racket's bottom cap. It only works on Nox rackets that have this system, so check yours does before ordering it.
Our insight: each brand fits the strap its own way ↑ index
Each brand fits the strap its own way: Babolat with the SMART BUTTCAP and Nox with the SmartStrap, and one brand's strap will not necessarily fit another's. So before ordering a replacement strap, check which system your racket uses: look for that name in the technologies on its product page.
We have been selling rackets since 2003, with a physical shop in La Nucía (Alicante). In October 2026, the replacement straps in our catalogue are from Wilson, Babolat and Nox, and each brand uses its own detachable system: Babolat's SMART BUTTCAP and Nox's SmartStrap. Each brand designs its strap for its own rackets, so do not assume one brand's strap will fit another. To find out whether your racket has one, look for that name in the technologies listed on its product page. If your racket has no detachable strap, changing it takes longer, and it is better to do it calmly at home than to have to do it on court.
“How often should I change the strap?” There is no fixed interval: change it as soon as it is frayed, worn next to the fitting or the adjuster no longer holds.
“Can I take the strap off if it bothers me?” Not in a match: the FIP rules require it on every racket. If it bothers you, adjust it better on your wrist instead of removing it.
Frequently asked questions: broken strap and FIP rules ↑ index
What happens if your padel racket strap breaks during a point?
You and your partner lose that point immediately. That is Rule 13, section r, of the FIP rules: if a player's safety strap breaks or the racket slips out of their hand, the pair loses the point being played.
Is the racket strap compulsory in padel?
Yes. The FIP rules require the racket to have a non-elastic cord or strap attached to the wrist, 35 centimetres long at most, and its use is compulsory.
What happens if the racket slips out of my hand during a point?
You and your partner lose the point, exactly as with a broken strap: the same Rule 13 covers it. And touching the ball by throwing the racket at it is also a lost point.
Can you keep playing without a strap?
No. You have to fit a new strap or change racket before playing on. If equipment breaks through no fault of the player, the rules allow reasonable extra time to sort it out. At Tienda Padelpoint we recommend always carrying a spare strap or a spare racket in your bag.
Does the strap rule also apply to friendly matches?
Yes. The strap is part of the general FIP rules, not just the professional tour. In a game among friends nobody referees, but the rule and the safety reason are the same. In amateur leagues and tournaments, the rules applied by the federation (in Great Britain, the LTA) or organiser take precedence and may vary.
Will any replacement strap fit my racket?
Not always. Detachable straps use their own system: the Wilson Comfort Green strap is for Wilson rackets with a detachable strap, the Nox SmartStrap only for Nox rackets with that system, and Babolat rackets use Babolat's own strap. If you are not sure which one yours has, Tienda Padelpoint can help you identify it before you order.
Glossary of the racket strap and the padel rules ↑ index
- Safety strap
- Non-elastic cord or strap that links the racket handle to the wrist. Compulsory under the rules, 35 centimetres long at most.
- Wrist strap
- Name for the safety strap used by some brands and countries. It is also called a lanyard or cord.
- Point being played
- Point in progress, from the serve until the ball is dead. It is the one you lose if the strap breaks.
- Let
- Replay of a point because of an interruption that has nothing to do with the players. A broken strap is not a let: it gives the point to the opponents.
- FIP rules
- Set of padel rules published by the International Padel Federation. The current version is the 2026 one.
- Detachable strap
- Strap that comes off its fitting at the base of the handle and is changed quickly, with each brand's own system: Babolat's SMART BUTTCAP or Nox's SmartStrap.
- Point lost
- Title of Rule 13 of the FIP rules, the list of cases in which a pair loses the point. A broken strap is section r; throwing the racket at the ball, section m.
- Pala
- Spanish word for the padel racket: rigid, without strings and with holes. In much of Latin America it is called paleta.
- Reasonable extra time
- Pause allowed by Rule 2 (point 8) of the FIP rules when clothing, footwear or equipment breaks for reasons beyond the player's control, so the problem can be fixed; for example, to replace the strap.
- Overgrip
- Thin tape wrapped over the racket handle to improve grip and soak up sweat.
Tienda Padelpoint verdict ↑ index
If you keep one idea from all this, make it this one: a broken strap with the ball in play is a lost point, whether the racket falls or not.
It is a common-sense rule that is poorly explained: many people think it only counts if the racket flies off or hits someone. It does not, and knowing the exact rule saves more than one argument. The other half is prevention: the strap wears with the rubbing of the wrist and with sweat, and changing it in time at home is much easier than doing it in the middle of a match.
Need a replacement strap? At Tienda Padelpoint you will find padel accessories in real stock, and at our shop in La Nucía we will help you work out which system your racket uses. We also ship to the United Kingdom: see shipping costs and times. As the UK is outside the EU, your order may be subject to customs duties or taxes on arrival, and Babolat products cannot be sent there.
Sources checked (October 2026): FIP Rules of Padel, 2026 version, official English text (Rule 2, point 8; Rule 13, sections m and r; and point 9 of “The racket”) and the official Wilson, Babolat and Nox strap product pages. In amateur leagues and tournaments the rules of each federation or organiser apply, and they may differ.
