How to play padel comes down to four things: serve underarm after one bounce, keep score the same way you would in tennis, let the ball bounce off the walls when it comes, and rally with a partner rather than alone. Once those four pieces click, you're playing padel, not just standing on a court holding a racket.
This guide covers how padel works from the ground up: the court, the equipment, the rules, how scoring works, and the first shots worth learning before your first real match.
How Does Padel Work?
Padel is a racket sport played in doubles, on a smaller court than tennis, fully enclosed by glass panels and mesh fencing. You serve underarm, rally back and forth over a net, and the ball is allowed to bounce off the walls and stay in play, as long as it touches the ground first. Scoring follows the same structure as tennis.
How Many Players Play Padel?
Four players, split into two teams of two. Padel is almost always doubles, and every standard court is built for that format. Singles padel exists at some clubs, but it's uncommon, and most beginners will start in doubles by default.
What Equipment Do You Need to Play Padel?
Getting started doesn't take much. Basic padel equipment includes:
- A solid, stringless racket with holes for airflow.
- Padel balls, similar to tennis balls but slightly less pressurized.
- Court shoes with grip suited to artificial turf.
- Comfortable sportswear.
Most clubs rent rackets and balls, so you can try padel before buying anything of your own.
Basic Rules of Padel Explained
Padel's rules look complicated on paper, but they break down into a few clear pieces.
How to Serve in Padel
The serve is one of the easiest parts of padel to learn:
- Hit the ball underarm, below waist height.
- Bounce the ball once inside your own service box first.
- Hit it diagonally into the correct service box on the other side.
- Keep both feet behind the service line until contact.
You get two attempts per point, the same as in tennis. Miss both, and you lose the point.
How to Return Serve in Padel
Once the serve lands, the returning player lets it bounce, then returns it into play. There's no rule requiring a specific type of return shot. A simple, controlled groundstroke back over the net is enough to get the rally going.
Can the Ball Hit the Wall in Padel?
Yes, and this is one of padel's defining rules. If the ball bounces on the ground first, then hits the back or side glass, it's still in play, and you can return it off that bounce. If the ball hits the glass before touching the ground, it's out.
When Can You Use the Glass in Padel?
Any time after the ball has bounced once on the court. New players often try to avoid the walls out of habit. Don't. Let the ball come off the glass and return it like any other shot. It takes a few sessions to read the angles, but it becomes intuitive fast.
What Is Allowed in Padel?
A quick summary of what's legal during play:
- Volleying the ball before it bounces, at any point except the serve.
- Letting the ball bounce off the wall or fence after it touches the ground.
- Either player on a team returning the ball or hitting a volley.
And what's not allowed:
- The ball bouncing twice before you return it.
- Hitting the wall or fence before the ball touches the ground.
- The ball going out of the enclosed playing area entirely.
How Does Scoring Work in Padel?
Padel scoring is identical to tennis. Points go love, 15, 30, 40, game. You need six games to win a set, by a margin of two, and two sets to win the match. Many clubs use a golden point at deuce, meaning the next point decides the game outright instead of playing advantage, which speeds up matches.
How to Win Points in Padel
You win a point when your opponent fails to return the ball before it bounces twice, hits the ball out based on the rules above, or commits a fault like a double fault on serve. It's the same basic logic as tennis, just applied to a smaller, walled court.
Padel Doubles Rules
Since padel is always doubles, a few extra rules come into play:
- Serving rotates between teammates, game by game.
- Either player can return a shot or hit a volley near the net.
- Communication matters. Calling "mine" or "yours" avoids collisions and missed balls.
- Teams typically split positioning, with one player closer to the net and the other covering the back of the court.
What Are the First Shots to Learn in Padel?
You don't need a full arsenal of shots to enjoy your first few games. A handful of basics will carry you through most rallies.
Padel Forehand
Turn your shoulders as the ball approaches, keep the swing compact, and make contact around waist height, in front of your body. Follow through toward your target rather than stopping the swing short. Padel rewards placement over power, especially early on.
Padel Backhand
Same principle, opposite side. Turn so your back shoulder faces the net, and meet the ball in front of you rather than letting it drop too low or get too close to your body.
Padel Volley
A volley means hitting the ball before it bounces, usually near the net. Keep the racket up, shorten your swing, and use the volley to control the point rather than to hit hard.
Padel Lob
The lob sends the ball high over your opponents, typically to push them back from the net and reset the point. Use a soft, controlled swing, and aim for depth toward the back wall rather than raw height alone.
How to Play Padel Doubles as a Beginner
In a doubles match, one player usually holds a position near the net while the other covers the back of the court, and both shift depending on where the ball goes. A common beginner habit is standing too far back, out of tennis instinct. Padel rewards moving closer to the net once you're comfortable reading the ball.
How to Start Playing Padel Step by Step
If you're planning your first session, here's a simple order to follow:
- Book a court, or join an open session if you don't have a group yet.
- Warm up briefly, hitting soft groundstrokes to get a feel for the ball and walls.
- Practice a few serves before starting the match, aiming for consistency over power.
- Play a casual set, focusing on rallying and reading the walls rather than winning every point.
- Ask questions along the way. Every player has been a beginner once.
What Beginners Should Know Before Playing Padel
A short list to keep in mind heading into your first game:
- You don't need tennis experience to play padel well.
- Most clubs rent equipment, so there's no need to buy gear before trying it.
- The walls are part of the game, not something to avoid.
- Scoring works exactly like tennis, so it's one less thing to learn.
- Padel is almost always doubles, so communication with your partner matters as much as technique.
Learning how to play padel isn't about memorizing every rule before you step on court. The serve, the scoring, and the wall rule cover most of what you need, and the rest becomes clear once you're actually rallying. The fastest way to understand it properly is to book a court and play a few points.
