Padel rules: the beginner's guide
Serve, scoring, walls: everything you need to understand the rules of padel and play from your very first session.
L'équipe Holipadel2 min read
Contents
Padel takes a few minutes to learn and a lifetime to enjoy. If you can hold a racket, you can play from your first session. Here are the essential rules, explained simply, to get you started with confidence.
The court and the equipment
Padel is played in fours, as doubles, on a court smaller than a tennis court, enclosed by glass and mesh. The racket is solid and stringless, and the ball looks like a tennis ball, slightly less pressurised. Most clubs rent the equipment on site.
The serve
The serve is underhand, below waist height, after a bounce on the ground. The ball must be hit diagonally into the opposite service box. You get two serves, as in tennis.
Scoring
Scoring is identical to tennis: 15, 30, 40, then the game. You need six games to win a set, and usually two winning sets to take the match. Nothing new if you already know tennis.
The key feature: the walls
This is what makes padel so addictive: the ball can bounce off the glass and mesh and stay in play. You can let the ball hit the wall on your side after its bounce on the ground to return it. This dimension changes the whole tactical game and lengthens the rallies.
- The ball must first bounce on the ground before touching a wall on your side.
- A ball that flies directly over the mesh or hits the opponents' wall first is a fault.
- The point continues as long as the ball stays in play, walls included.
The beginner's golden rule: let it bounce, watch the wall, and hit at the right moment. Patience beats power.
Common faults to avoid
Serving above the waist, hitting the ball before its bounce on a serve, or sending the ball directly against the opponents' wall are among the most common early mistakes. After a few rallies, these reflexes quickly become natural.
Ready to play
Padel is spreading everywhere, and the best way to learn is to play. Book a court, rent a racket, and go for it: one session is enough to catch the bug.
Frequently asked questions
Yes: 15, 30, 40, then the game, six games for a set and usually two winning sets. The big difference comes from playing off the walls.
The serve is underhand, below waist height, after a bounce on the ground, and the ball must go diagonally into the opposite box. You get two serves.
No. Padel is more accessible: a smaller court, an easy-to-handle racket and the walls that extend the rallies. One session is enough to have fun.
About the author
L'équipe Holipadel
Conseils de séjour, destinations et bonnes adresses pour loger au plus près des courts de padel, partout dans le monde.
