How to Play Padel: Rules, Scoring & Court Basics (Beginner's Guide)

AIXO Sundae 3K carbon padel racket

Key takeaway (the quick answer)

Padel is a doubles racket sport played on an enclosed glass-and-mesh court roughly half the size of a tennis court. You serve underarm below waist height, the scoring is the same as tennis (15, 30, 40, game), and you can play the ball off your own back and side walls — but never off the walls before it bounces on the floor. A match is usually best of three sets, and a set is won by reaching six games with a two-game lead.

What is padel?

Padel (pronounced pad-el, not “paddle”) is a racket sport that blends the best bits of tennis and squash. It’s always played in doubles — two players a side — on a court enclosed by walls that are part of the game. You use a solid, stringless racket with a perforated face and a soft, low-bounce ball similar to a tennis ball. Because the court is smaller and the walls keep the ball in play, rallies last longer and beginners get into proper points almost immediately.

The padel court explained

A standard padel court is 20 metres long by 10 metres wide, divided by a net 88 cm high in the middle (slightly lower than a tennis net). It is surrounded by glass and metal-mesh walls 3 to 4 metres high.

  • Service boxes: the area each serve must land in, marked by the service lines on each side of the net.
  • The walls: the back and side glass walls are in play. The metal mesh fencing is also in play in most formats, but it behaves very differently from glass.

How padel scoring works

Padel uses the exact same scoring as tennis, so if you’ve ever watched Wimbledon you already know it:

  1. Points: 15, 30, 40, then game.
  2. Deuce: at 40-40 one team must win two points in a row. Many social leagues use a “golden point” sudden-death point instead.
  3. Sets: first to six games with a two-game lead. At 6-6 you play a seven-point tie-break.
  4. Match: normally best of three sets.

The serve: padel’s most important rule

The serve is where padel differs most from tennis:

  • The serve must be underarm, struck at or below waist height.
  • You must bounce the ball on the ground behind the service line first, then hit it.
  • The serve is hit diagonally into the opponent’s service box.
  • You get two attempts, and the serve must bounce in the correct box before it can touch a wall.

Playing off the walls

After the ball bounces once on your side of the floor, you can let it carry on into your own back or side wall and play it on the rebound.

  • The ball must hit the floor first, then the wall. A ball that strikes your wall before bouncing is your opponents’ point.
  • You can use your own walls to return the ball over the net.
  • Rebounding the ball out of the court off the opponents’ back wall is a spectacular way to win the point.

Common beginner mistakes to avoid

  • Touching the net with your racket, body or clothing during a point — instant loss of point.
  • Serving overarm or above the waist.
  • Forgetting the ball must bounce before the wall on your own side.
  • Gripping too tightly — a fresh, tacky overgrip helps you relax your hand and swing freely.

What you need to start playing padel

You really only need three things: court shoes with grip, a padel ball, and a padel racket that suits your level. Beginners should look for a round-shaped racket with a larger sweet spot and a softer feel, which is far more forgiving than a powerful diamond-shaped racket. Add a printed overgrip for comfort and a bit of colour, and you’re ready for your first session.

AIXO — The Colour Clash Club — builds bold, pro-level carbon rackets and grips at prices well below the big legacy brands, so getting kitted out for your first game doesn’t cost a fortune.

Frequently asked questions

Is padel the same as pickleball?

No. Padel is played on an enclosed glass court in doubles with walls in play, using a stringless solid racket and a tennis-style ball. Pickleball is played on an open court with a perforated plastic ball and a flat paddle, and can be singles or doubles.

Can you play padel as singles?

Padel is designed for doubles and almost always played two-a-side. Singles padel exists but uses a narrower court and is rare at clubs.

Why is the padel serve underarm?

The underarm, below-the-waist serve keeps padel accessible and rally-focused, removing the huge serving advantage seen in tennis so points are decided by positioning and teamwork.

How long does a padel match take?

A best-of-three-sets match typically lasts 60–90 minutes. Many social sessions are simply booked in 60- or 90-minute slots.

What racket should a beginner buy?

Start with a round-shaped racket made from a forgiving carbon or fibreglass blend for control, a big sweet spot and comfort while you learn.

Gear up with AIXO

Ready to put this into practice? AIXO padel rackets bring colour-clash style at every level:

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