Your first padel game is more fun when you know a few rules and have two or three technique habits in place. You don't need to master the sport, only to avoid the small mistakes that trip up almost every newcomer: serving above the waist, forgetting the wrist cord, panicking at the glass, or standing flat-footed at the net. This beginner checklist gives you the rules and technique to tick off before you step on court, plus a quick gear check and a first-five-minutes routine. It follows the current FIP Rules of Padel, the edition marked as applying from 1 January 2026, but your club or competition may have its own rules, so ask if you're unsure.
Note
This is a practical summary for beginners, not the full rulebook. In an official competition, the current FIP rules and the competition's own regulations decide any disputed point.
Part 1: The Rules Checklist
1. Know the Basics of the Court
A padel court is 20 meters long and 10 meters wide, divided by a net into two equal halves. It's enclosed by glass walls and metal mesh, and the ball stays in play off the walls under the rules below. Padel is played in doubles, with two pairs, and a standard match is the best of three sets.
2. Serve Correctly
- Stand behind the service line and bounce the ball.
- Hit it underhand, at or below waist height, with at least one foot on the ground.
- Serve diagonally, starting from the right-hand side and alternating after every point.
- You get two serves. If your serve bounces in the correct box and then hits the metal fence before it bounces again, it's a fault.
3. Return the Serve After One Bounce
The receiver must let the serve bounce in the service box and return it before the second bounce. You can't volley a serve.
4. Understand How the Walls Work
After the ball has bounced on your side, you can play it off your own glass, and after it bounces on the opponents' side, they can play it off the walls too. When you hit the ball back, it must land on the opponents' floor before it touches their wall or fence. If it touches their wall or fence first, you lose the point.
5. Know How You Can Lose a Point
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- The ball bounces twice on your side.
- You hit the ball twice, or both partners hit it.
- You touch the net or the opponents' side while the ball is live.
- The ball touches your body or clothing instead of being returned with the racket.
- You throw or drop your racket.
- You make two serve faults in a row.
6. Learn the Scoring
Games run love, 15, 30, 40, and game. At 40-40 the rules offer three options: advantage, where a pair needs two points in a row, the Star Point, or the Golden Point, where one deciding point settles the game. A standard set is won by the first pair to six games by two, and at 6-6 a tie-break to seven points decides it. Agree the format before you start.
7. Wear Your Wrist Cord
A non-elastic safety cord fixed to the racket handle and worn around your wrist is mandatory under the FIP rules, and it must be no longer than 35 centimeters. It keeps the racket from flying off and hurting someone.
8. Respect the Pace
The rules allow a maximum of 20 seconds between points, so be ready for the next serve without rushing. Be honest with your calls and courteous with your partner and opponents.
Important
If you only remember three rules on day one, make them these: serve underhand below the waist, let the serve bounce before returning it, and wear your wrist cord.
Part 2: The Technique Checklist
| Check | What It Looks Like |
|---|---|
| Ready position | Knees slightly bent, weight on the balls of your feet, racket up in front of you |
| Grip | Continental grip, held loosely, so you can play forehand and backhand without changing |
| Turn early | Rotate your shoulders sideways as soon as you read the ball |
| Contact in front | Meet the ball in front of your body with a short swing |
| Let wall balls come | Wait for the ball to drop off the glass, then step in and hit |
| Keep it simple | Aim for the middle of the court and keep the ball in play |
| Use the lob | When you're in trouble, a deep lob buys time |
| Talk to your partner | Call "mine" and "yours" early, and stay level with each other |
| Recover | After every shot, return to a balanced position |
Part 3: The Gear and Prep Checklist
- Racket with a wrist cord. Many clubs include rackets in beginner sessions or rent them.
- Padel balls. A fresh can, not tennis balls.
- Court shoes. Shoes with good grip and lateral support, and no studs or spikes.
- Comfortable clothing. Something you can move freely in.
- Water. Hydration matters even in a short session.
- A warm-up. A few minutes of light movement and easy rallies before the first point.
Part 4: Your First Five Minutes
- Introduce yourself to the other players and tell them it's your first time.
- Agree the format: sets, golden point or advantage, and how long you'll play.
- Warm up with easy rallies, including a few balls off the glass.
- Check who serves first and from which side.
- Agree simple calls with your partner, such as "mine," "yours," and "lob."
A Simple Game Plan
Keep your goals modest. Focus on getting the ball back, aim for the middle of the court, and let the ball come off the glass instead of rushing it. Use a lob when you're under pressure, and move up toward the net together with your partner when you have a chance. Consistency wins most beginner points, so resist the urge to hit hard winners.
Friendly Games: Agree Three Things First
In casual play, most disagreements disappear if you settle three things before the first point: the scoring format at deuce, how long or how many sets you'll play, and who makes the call when the ball is close. Players usually call their own lines at a friendly level, so be generous, and when in doubt give the point to your opponents. A relaxed agreement at the start keeps the game fun for everyone.
Staying Safe on Court
Padel is a fast game in a small space, so a few safety habits matter. Wear your wrist cord, keep balls off the floor so nobody trips, and call "mine" before you move across your partner's path. Warm up before you play, stay hydrated, and stop if you feel pain. If a ball from another court rolls in, pause the point rather than risk a collision.
Common Beginner Mistakes
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Serving Above the Waist
It's the most common serving fault. Keep contact at or below waist height.
Forgetting the Wrist Cord
It's mandatory, and it protects other players. Check it before you start.
Volleying the Serve
The serve has to bounce first. Wait for it.
Rushing the Glass
Hitting the ball off the wall too early causes mishits. Let it drop and step in.
Standing Flat-Footed
Stay on the balls of your feet with soft knees so you can move in any direction.
Advice
Print or save this checklist on your phone and tick off the items before your first three sessions. After that, most of it will be second nature, and you can focus on enjoying the game.
A beginner doesn't need to know every rule or master every shot. Know how to serve and return, how the walls work, how points are lost, and how scoring runs, then add a few technique habits, the right gear, and a simple plan for your first five minutes. Tick those boxes, and your first padel game will be about the fun, not the confusion.
