Padel is one of the easiest racket sports to pick up — but only once you understand the rules. This guide covers everything you need to know to step on a padel court with confidence.
The Basics — What Is Padel?
Padel is a doubles racket sport played inside an enclosed 20m × 10m court surrounded by glass walls and metal mesh. The walls are part of the game — you can play the ball off them, just like squash.
It uses a solid perforated paddle (no strings) and a depressurised rubber ball similar to a tennis ball.
The Court
The padel court is divided into two halves by a net. Each half has:
- A service box on left and right (like tennis)
- A back wall (glass) and side walls (glass + mesh)
- Gate openings in the side walls — balls through these are out
Court size: 20m long × 10m wide Net height: 88cm at centre, 92cm at posts
Scoring System
Padel uses the exact same scoring as tennis:
- Points: 15 → 30 → 40 → Game
- Games: First to 6 (must win by 2, or tiebreak at 6-6)
- Sets: Best of 3 sets
- Deuce: At 40-40 — advantage or golden point depending on format
The only real difference from tennis scoring is the golden point rule used in many recreational and professional matches.
How to Serve
The serve in padel is completely different from tennis. Here are the rules:
Serving Rules
- The server stands behind the service line on the right side first
- The ball must be bounced on the floor first — no toss serves
- The ball must be hit underarm at or below hip height
- The ball must land in the diagonally opposite service box
- The ball must not hit the wire mesh after the serve (glass is okay)
- Only one serve attempt is allowed (no second serve)
Service Rotation
- The same player serves the entire game
- Service alternates between teams each game
- Within each game, service alternates sides (right → left → right) after each point
Wall Rules — The Most Important Difference
This is what makes padel unique. Here is exactly how walls work:
When walls ARE in play (ball is live):
- The ball bounces once on your floor → then hits a glass wall → you can still play it
- The ball bounces on the floor → hits the back glass → you can play it
- You can even let the ball come back off the back wall before hitting it
When walls are OUT:
- The ball hits the wire mesh directly (without bouncing on the floor on your side first) → OUT
- The ball exits through a gate opening in the side walls → OUT
- The ball hits your side’s walls before landing in your court → OUT
Playing off opponent’s walls
After you hit the ball over the net, it can bounce in the opponent’s court and then go over their back wall — still in play. The opponent must return it before it bounces twice.
How to Win a Point
You win a point when:
- The ball bounces twice on your opponent’s floor before they return it
- The opponent hits the ball into the net
- The opponent hits the ball out of the court (through gates or over the walls)
- The opponent is hit by the ball below the waist while the ball is in play
- A fault on the serve
Common Faults and Mistakes
| Mistake | Result |
|---|---|
| Serve lands outside service box | Fault — point lost |
| Ball hits wire mesh on serve | Fault — point lost |
| Ball bounces twice | Point lost |
| Body hit above waist by ball | Play continues |
| Body hit below waist by ball | Point lost (opponent wins) |
Let Rule
A let is called when:
- The serve clips the net and lands in the correct service box
- External interference disrupts play (e.g. a ball from another court)
After a let on serve, the server gets to serve again.
Tips for Beginners Starting Out
- Don’t rush the serve — take your time, bounce the ball, stay calm
- Use the walls — don’t panic when the ball hits the glass, get into position
- Stay close to the net in attack — padel is a net-dominant sport
- Communicate with your partner — call “mine” or “yours” clearly
- Watch the ball, not the opponent — especially on wall returns
Summary: Key Rules at a Glance
- Always doubles (2 vs 2)
- Underarm serve, ball bounced before hitting
- One serve attempt only
- Same scoring as tennis (15-30-40-game)
- Ball can be played off glass walls after bouncing in court
- Ball hitting mesh directly = out
- First team to win 2 sets wins the match
Now you know the rules — get on the court and enjoy the game! 🏓
