First time
Never played padel?
The whole game in five minutes: the court, the serve, what counts as out, how the score works, the smashes everyone talks about, and which racket to start with.
The serve: bounce the ball, hit it below the waist, diagonally into their box.
The court
20 by 10 metres, about a third of a tennis court, and closed in on all four sides. That is the big difference from tennis: the walls are part of the game.
Padel is almost always doubles, two against two.
The serve
Every point starts with an underarm serve, and you get two tries.
- Stand behind the service line, between the centre line and the side wall.
- Bounce the ball once beside you and hit it at or below waist height.
- Serve diagonally into the box across from you. The lines count as in.
- After it bounces in the box it may hit the glass, but not the mesh.
- Start each game from the right and switch sides after every point. Miss twice and you lose the point.
Good serve
Bounces in the diagonal box and the receiver plays it.
In or out
One rule covers almost everything: your shot has to bounce on their side before it touches anything else on their side. After that bounce, every wall is in play.
- The ball may bounce only once on each side.
- On their side: floor first, then walls.
- On your side: you may play the ball off your own glass, but not off your own mesh.
Bounce, then glass
It bounced on their side first, so the glass is fair game. They play it after it comes off the wall.
How scoring works
Just like tennis. Four points win a game, six games win a set, two sets win the match.
- Points go 0, 15, 30, 40, game.
- At 40-40 it is deuce. With advantage scoring you then need two points in a row.
- Many clubs play golden point instead: at 40-40 one point decides, and the receivers choose which side to take it on.
- The pro tours have played star point since 2026: two advantages, and if it comes back to deuce a third time, one deciding point.
- A set needs a two-game lead. At 6-6 there is a tie-break: first to 7 points, by two.
An americano skips all of this. Each round is a set number of points, often 16, 21 or 24, and every point you win goes on your total.
Try it: tap who won each point.
Por tres and por cuatro
Spanish for "by three" and "by four", after the height of the wall the ball clears. Both are smashes hit so hard that the ball bounces and then leaves the court, and the point is over.
Neither is a beginner shot. You will see them at every tournament, though, and now you know why the crowd gets loud.
Por tres (x3)
Bounces, comes off the back glass and flies out over the 3 m side fence. On courts with open exits beside the net, the defenders may run outside and play it back.
Your first racket
Rent one for your first few games. When you buy, the shape of the head matters most.
- Weight: about 350 to 365 g. Lighter is quicker at the net and easier on the arm.
- Core: a soft foam core gives more power for less effort and absorbs vibration.
- Face: fibreglass is softer and cheaper; carbon is stiffer and suits a faster swing.
- Price: a good first racket costs around 50 to 120 EUR. Expensive pro rackets are built for strong, practised swings.
The one to start with
A big sweet spot low on the face and most of the weight near your hand. Forgiving, easy to control and gentle on the arm.
- Sweet spot: where a hit feels clean
- Balance point: where the weight sits
Before you go
What is padel?
A racket sport played on an enclosed court about a third the size of a tennis court. The walls are in play, the serve is underarm, and the scoring is the same as tennis. Most people can rally in their first hour.
How many people do I need?
Four. Padel is almost always doubles, so you book one court and split it between two pairs.
What does it cost?
A court is roughly 20 to 40 EUR an hour depending on the club and the time of day, which is about 5 to 10 EUR each. Evenings are the dearest hours; weekday mornings are the cheapest.
Do I need a racket?
No. Many clubs rent rackets, and balls are usually a few euro. Wear trainers you can move sideways in.
What do the letters mean?
Events are graded by level. D is the entry grade and A the most experienced, with B and C in between. An event marked "open" welcomes any level. If you have never played, look for D or open.
What is an americano?
A social format where you swap partners every few games and everyone plays everyone. It is the easiest way in as a newcomer. A round robin is similar; a tournament keeps fixed pairs and is more competitive.
The rules here follow the FIP Rules of Padel. Clubs and leagues sometimes play their own variations, so ask if in doubt.
What's on near you, every Monday
The games and tournaments coming up in your country, in one email on Monday morning. No account, no password.
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