New to padel? You’re not alone—and that’s what makes it exciting. Whether you're stepping onto the court for the first time or brushing up on the basics, this guide is here to help you play with confidence, enjoy the rallies, and respect the sport.

Padel Gear

🎾 How to Choose the Right Padel Gear:
You don’t need a truckload of gear to play padel—but having the right setup makes all the difference.

Essentials:

  • Unlike tennis racquets, padel rackets are solid with holes and no strings. Choose a round shape for control (ideal for beginners) or a diamond/teardrop shape for more power (better for advanced players).
  • Look for padel-specific or clay-court tennis shoes with good lateral support and grip for synthetic turf and sand.
  • Padel balls look like tennis balls but are slightly less pressurised.
  • Keep your handle dry and secure by replacing your overgrip regularly.

Lightweight, breathable activewear is best—think tennis-style attire.

Padel Rules

📜 How to Understand Padel Rules:
Padel is simple once you grasp the key rules. Here are the fundamentals:

  • Always played in doubles—two players per side.
  • Enclosed with glass and wire mesh walls, which are part of play.
  • Must be underarm, struck below waist height, and bounce once before hitting diagonally into the opponent's service box.
  • After the serve, the ball can bounce once before hitting the back or side glass walls. You can return it after a wall bounce—but not after it bounces twice.
  • You can volley (hit the ball before it bounces), but not off the serve.
  • Balls that hit the fence or wall before bouncing are out.

Scoring

⏱️ How to Keep Score in Padel:
Padel follows the same scoring system as tennis:

  • Points: 15, 30, 40, Game.
  • If tied at 40–40: It's "deuce", and a team must win by two consecutive points to win the game.
  • Six games wins a set, and matches are usually best of 3 sets.
  • Serving alternates every game, and within a team, players alternate who serves each time their team serves again.

Serving

🎯 How to Serve in Padel:
Serving in padel has its own unique style:

  • Start behind the service line on your right-hand side.
  • The ball must bounce once on the ground before being struck.
  • Hit the ball underhand, and it must pass diagonally into the opponent’s service box.
  • The serve must land in the box without touching the side glass or fence.
  • You get two serves (just like tennis).
  • No volleys on the return of serve!

Tip: Consistency is more important than power. Get your serve in play!

Use of Glass Walls

🪞 How to Use the Glass Walls in Padel:
The glass walls are what make padel so unique and fun:

Defensive Play:

  • If a ball hits your wall after bouncing on your side, it's still in play—wait for it and return calmly.
  • Letting the ball bounce off the back glass gives you more time to prepare your shot.

Offensive Play:

  • Use walls for angles and spin—hitting into the side wall can trick your opponent.
  • You can even leave the court (in some formats) to return a ball that bounces off the glass and goes out!

Tip: Be patient—mastering the walls takes time, but it’s worth it.

Padel Etiquette

🤝 How to Follow Padel Etiquette:
Padel is built on social play and good sportsmanship.

Court Behaviour:

  • Greet your opponents before and after the game (padel tap or handshake).
  • Call out the score clearly before each serve.
  • Wait for points to finish before retrieving stray balls.
  • Don’t smash unnecessarily at beginners—keep it fun!

Partner Communication:

  • Talk constantly: call "mine", "yours", or "switch".
  • Stay positive, even after mistakes.
  • Encourage and support your partner.

Tip: Great etiquette makes games more enjoyable for everyone, no matter the score.