How to Play Padel: A Beginner's Guide to the Rules

Padel looks like tennis played inside a glass box, and that's not far off. It's quick to learn, sociable — almost always played in fours — and the walls keep rallies going far longer than beginners expect. Here's everything you need for your first game.

What is padel?

Padel is a racket sport played in doubles on an enclosed court a little smaller than a tennis court. It uses tennis-style scoring and a similar ball, but the serve is underhand and the walls are part of the game: once the ball bounces, you can play it off the glass.

The court and the gear

The court

• 20 metres long and 10 metres wide, split by a net.
• Glass walls at each end, and glass or mesh walls along the sides.
• A service line near the back of each half, with a centre line dividing it into two service boxes.

The gear

• Racket: solid, with no strings, a perforated face and a wrist cord. Wear the cord — rackets do fly.
• Balls: they look like tennis balls but have slightly lower pressure. They go flat quickly, so fresh balls play better.
• Shoes: padel or clay-court shoes with a herringbone sole grip the sandy artificial turf. Running shoes slip.

Most clubs rent rackets, so you don't need to buy anything for your first game.

How to serve

1. Stand behind the service line, on the right side of your half for the first point.
2. Bounce the ball once on the ground behind the line.
3. Hit it underhand, at or below waist height, without jumping or running into the serve.
4. Aim diagonally into the opposite service box. The ball must bounce inside that box.

After it bounces in the box, the serve may hit the glass — that's fine. If it hits the side mesh after bouncing, it's a fault. You get two attempts, like tennis. A serve that clips the net and lands in the right box is replayed.

Swap sides of the half after every point (right, then left). Each player serves a full game, and the serve rotates between teams and partners game by game.

The rally and the walls

This is where padel differs from tennis. The basic rule:

• The ball must bounce on the opponents' ground first. If it hits their glass or mesh before it bounces, your shot is out.
• On your side, you can let it bounce once and then play it off the walls. A ball that comes off your back glass is still live — wait for it and hit it after it comes back to you.
• You can hit it against your own walls to get it over. If you're stuck, playing the ball into your own back glass so it rebounds over the net is legal.
• Volleys are allowed, except on the return of serve, which must bounce first.

How you lose a point

• The ball bounces twice on your side.
• Your shot goes into the net, or hits the opponents' walls or fence before bouncing.
• The ball hits you or your partner.
• You touch the net with your body or racket.
• You hit the ball twice, or both partners hit it.

Scoring

Padel scores exactly like tennis: points go 15, 30, 40, game. At 40-40 (deuce), you play an advantage — or, at many clubs, a single golden point that decides the game. A set is first to six games with a two-game lead, with a tiebreak at 6-6. Matches are usually best of three sets. Change ends after every odd game.

Your first shots

• Lob: the most important shot in padel. A high ball over the opponents at the net pushes them back and lets you take the net.
• Volley: at the net, block the ball firmly with a short swing. Control beats power.
• Off the back glass: let the ball come off the back wall, turn with it, and hit it on the way out.
• Bandeja: a controlled overhead with slice, used to answer a lob without giving up the net. Learn it once the basics feel easy.

Tips for your first game

1. Move with your partner. Go forward together and back together, like you're joined by a rope.
2. Get to the net. The team at the net usually wins the point. Lob to get there.
3. Don't fear the glass. Let the ball come off the back wall instead of rushing it.
4. Talk. Call "mine" or "yours" — especially for balls down the middle.
5. Slow down. Placement wins far more padel points than power.

The easiest way to start is to book a court with three friends for 90 minutes, or join a social padel session at your local club if you don't have a four.

Frequently asked questions

Can you hit the ball off the wall in padel?

Yes, on your own side, after the ball has bounced on your ground. You can also hit it against your own walls to get it back over the net. The ball must not hit the opponents' walls before it bounces on their side.

Is the padel serve underhand?

Yes. Bounce the ball behind the service line and hit it at or below waist height, diagonally into the opposite service box. You get two attempts.

Can you play padel with two people?

Padel is mostly played as doubles. Some venues have narrower singles courts, but most courts and bookings are for four players.

How long is a game of padel?

Most courts are booked for 90 minutes, which fits a couple of sets for four players with warm-up. Some players book 60 or 120 minutes.

Is padel hard to learn?

No. Most beginners are rallying within their first session because the court is small and the walls keep the ball in play. Learning to use the walls well is what takes practice.