2027 FIP Premier Padel Reform: What’s Changing for Professional Padel

What will change for players in 2027?

The solution consists of five key measures: one fewer result counting toward the rankings, more points awarded in the early rounds, more consistent qualification rounds, restricted access to FIP tournaments for top-ranked players, and a stricter rule on dual entries. For players, this means a season that is less predictable, more selective, and more focused on retrieval.

A shift brought about by a tight schedule

This proposal didn’t come out of nowhere. The professional padel season has become more intense, travel has increased, and players have been calling for better control over their competition schedule for several months. It is against this backdrop that Premier Padel and the International Padel Federation presented a package of measures in Rome—on the sidelines of the BNL Italy Major—that is set to take effect in 2027.

The message is twofold. On the one hand, the circuit wants to continue growing, attract new markets, retain its promoters, and strengthen its international credibility. On the other hand, it must prevent the schedule from becoming a grueling grind. The 2027 FIP Premier Padel reform therefore does more than just tweak a few rules: it redefines how players will structure their season, choose their tournaments, and defend their FIP ranking positions.

FIP ranking: One fewer tournament counted

The first concrete change: Starting in 2027, the FIP rankings will no longer be based on the 22 best results, but on 21 results. The difference may seem subtle, but it sends a strong message in a sport where each week can affect a player’s entry, seed, or direct entry into the main draw.

In practice, this shift to 21 tournaments should give the most vulnerable players a little more breathing room. A pair will be able to skip a tournament more easily without sacrificing everything in the rankings, particularly in cases of fatigue, physical discomfort, or an inconvenient schedule. For tournament organizers, the situation is more complicated: fewer results counting toward the rankings could reduce the competitive pressure surrounding certain tournaments. This is precisely the compromise the governing bodies are seeking.

More points right from the first rounds: the measure that could make a difference

The second change directly affects the competitive value of the tournaments. Winners will retain the same point caps, but intermediate rounds and first-round victories will be better rewarded in Major, P1, and P2 events. The idea is simple: not to limit ranking progression solely to pairs capable of advancing far in the tournament, but to better recognize the weight of winning a first or second match in a tightly contested draw.

• In the Major, the quarterfinals will be worth 380 points, the round of 16 will be worth 200, the round of 32 will be worth 100, the first round will be worth 50, and the qualification bonus will be worth 20.
• In P1, the semifinals will be worth 380 points, the quarterfinals 200, the round of 16 110, the round of 32 55, the first round 35, and the bonus will remain at 10.
• In P2, finalists will earn 380 points, semifinalists 200, quarterfinalists 110, round of 16 participants 55, round of 32 participants 35, and the bonus will be 5.

This mechanism is of particular interest to mid-table players, who are often stuck between the untouchable top seeds and the qualifiers. One more win in a P1 or a Major will carry more weight, which can accelerate the promotion of a consistent pair, even if they aren’t yet reaching the finals.

Qualifications: A More Clear Structure

Another decision made: Men’s qualifying rounds will be aligned with women’s qualifying rounds in Premier Padel tournaments. The governing bodies are presenting this harmonization as a way to make the competitive structure more consistent across different brackets.

From a competitive standpoint, it will be interesting to see how this plays out. Depending on the final formats selected, this change could affect the number of opportunities for players near the cut, as well as the difficulty of qualifying for the main draw. At this stage, the key point is not so much the exact scale of the change as the direction it’s taking: Premier Padel is seeking a more uniform structure, with clearer entry requirements for players, coaches, and organizers.

CUPRA FIP Tour: Fewer Spots for the Players with the Highest Rankings

The most significant change for the second tier involves the CUPRA FIP Tour. Until now, some highly ranked players could compete in secondary tournaments to secure points, get back into the tempo, or take advantage of a free week. Starting in 2027, access will be much more strictly regulated.

• FIP Gold: Players ranked 1 through 4 are not eligible to participate. Players ranked 5 through 16 will be accepted only if they receive a wild card from the tournament.
• FIP Silver: The top 24 men and the top 20 women will be excluded from receiving wild cards, without exception.
• FIP Bronze: Men ranked in the top 50 and women ranked in the top 40 will not be able to register—again, with no exceptions.

The goal is clear: to free up space for up-and-coming players and prevent development tournaments from becoming hunting grounds for players with high rankings. For a young player, a FIP Silver or FIP Bronze ranking doesn’t carry the same weight if the draw is dominated by players already established on Premier Padel. This restriction can therefore make progression easier to track, particularly in countries where professional padel is still in its early stages.

Dual Listing: The Regulatory Loophole Is Closing

The last point addresses a practice that has become a sensitive issue: entering two FIP-sanctioned tournaments in the same week with different partners in order to maximize point accumulation. In 2027, this option will be severely restricted. A player will only be allowed to enter both tournaments if they play with the same partner in both events and if they have direct entry into the main draw of the relevant CUPRA FIP Tour tournament.

The calculation of points will also be locked. Points earned in both tournaments will be averaged. If this average is lower than the total earned in that week’s Premier Padel tournament, the player will retain the Premier Padel points. The idea, therefore, is not to eliminate all flexibility, but to do away with artificial strategies that distorted the ranking.

A new strategic puzzle for players

For the very best players, the main change will be time management. Fewer results counting toward rankings and less access to secondary FIPs will force them to make clearer choices. Players will need to prioritize their weeks more carefully, ensure adequate retrieval periods, and target tournaments where their pair can perform well.

For pairs between the top 20 and the top 80, the reform opens up an interesting opportunity. The higher prize money in the early rounds makes each victory more lucrative, while restrictions on FIP Bronze, FIP Silver, and FIP Gold could lead to less predictable draw sheets. This isn’t a guarantee of a breakthrough, but it’s a sign that the tour is becoming less dominated by the top players.

For coaches, the planning process will become even more strategic. Building a season will no longer be just about playing as many games as possible. They’ll need to choose the right divisions, assess the physical toll of travel, anticipate roster cuts, and stabilize pairs. In this new environment, the consistency of a duo could also become an advantage, especially with the rule on dual entries.

A reform aimed at protection, but not without gray areas

The official line emphasizes a more manageable schedule, retrieval, and long-term health. This is consistent with recent discussions about the tempo of professional padel, but reducing the number of matches won’t solve everything. Exhibition matches, long trips, commercial obligations, and the density of the draw will continue to take a toll on players’ bodies.

The reform should therefore be viewed as a step forward, not as a miracle solution. It clarifies certain rules, improves prize money in the early rounds, and better protects the FIP circuit, but it will have to be judged based on how it is actually implemented: the final schedule, the actual size of the draw, the control of entries, and the ability of stakeholders to prevent circumvention.

2027: A Real-World Test for Professional Padel

Premier Padel and the FIP are walking a fine line: professionalizing padel without making it unrecognizable, internationalizing the tour without exhausting its players, and opening up markets without stifling the next generation of players. The 2027 reform is part of this approach, following a 2026 season already marked by new regulatory adjustments and a commitment to more clearly organize the hierarchy between the main circuit and the FIP Tour.

For players, the stakes will be very real: making better picks, better retrieval, and capitalizing more effectively on every win. For fans, these changes should make the rankings more interesting to watch, since a first-round performance at a Major or P1 tournament will have greater consequences than before. For young talents, this is perhaps the most important point: the path to the top remains difficult, but it could become a little less closed off.

To remember

• The FIP ranking will be based on 21 results instead of 22 in 2027.
• The first rounds of the Majors, P1 and P2, will be worth more points.
• The men’s qualifying rounds will be aligned with the women’s brackets.
• The best players will have limited access to FIP Gold, Silver, and Bronze.
• Dual entries will be monitored to prevent the artificial accumulation of points.

Official Documents to Watch the Reform

• Official FIP Statement on the 2027 Measures
• Official announcement published by Premier Padel
• FIP Guidelines on the Ranking System and Points
• Follow the FIP Men’s Top 100 Rankings on Actu Padel
• Read our feature on the promotion of the CUPRA FIP Tour