Padel is the fastest growing racquet sport in the United States, and the best part is how quickly you can pick it up. If you want to learn how to play padel, this guide walks you through everything a beginner needs: the equipment, the padel court, how to serve, the scoring system, the rules, and the basic strategy that will have you enjoying long rallies in your very first session.
How to play padel: the basics
Padel is a racquet sport that blends tennis and squash, played on a small enclosed court surrounded by glass walls and metal mesh. It is almost always played as doubles, with two players on each side of the court, using a solid, stringless padel racket and a ball similar to a tennis ball. The goal is simple: hit the ball over the net and into your opponent's court so that it bounces twice, or force the opposing player into an error. What makes padel so easy to learn is that the walls keep the ball in play, so rallies last longer and beginners spend more time actually playing.
What you need to start playing padel
You only need a few things to play padel, and most clubs rent gear so you can try before you buy. You need a padel racket, which is solid with a perforated surface and no strings, a can of padel balls, and court shoes with good lateral grip for the sand-based surface. Beginners should choose a round padel racket because it offers more control and a larger sweet spot, which makes it far more forgiving than a diamond-shaped racket. You can explore beginner-friendly options in our padel rackets collection. Comfortable sportswear and a bottle of water complete the kit, and you are ready to play padel.
The padel court explained
A padel court measures 20 meters long by 10 meters wide, enclosed by glass walls and metal mesh. A net divides the court in the middle, and painted lines mark the service boxes and the service line on each side of the court. The back wall and side walls are part of the game: after the ball bounces once on the floor, it can rebound off the glass and stay in play. The smaller court and the walls are the key differences that make padel feel so different from a tennis court, rewarding placement and teamwork over raw power. The walls of a padel court are 3 to 4 meters high, and the net height in padel is 88 cm.
How to serve in padel
Every point starts with a serve, and the padel serve is underarm, which is one reason the sport is so beginner-friendly. To make a valid serve, you bounce the ball once behind the service line, then hit it at or below waist height, striking it into the correct service box diagonally across the net, just like in tennis. The ball must land in your opponent's service box. As in tennis, you get a first serve and, if you miss, a second serve. If both serves miss, your team loses the point. After the serve, the point is live and the walls come into play. Each side of the court has a service box 6.95 meters from the net.
Padel scoring explained
Padel uses the same scoring system as tennis, so if you have ever kept score in tennis you already know it. Points go 15, 30, 40, and game. The first team to win four points wins the game, and you need to win six games to take a set, winning by a two-game margin. If the score reaches 6-6, a tie break decides the set. Many clubs and tournaments also use the golden point: when the game reaches deuce (40-40), a single deciding point is played, and the team that wins that next point wins the game. Matches are usually best of three sets.
The basic rules of padel
The rules of padel are easy to follow. The ball must bounce once on the floor before it hits a wall, and after that first bounce it can rebound off the back glass or side walls and still be in play. A point ends when the ball bounces twice on one side, when a player hits the ball into the net, or when the ball exits the court over the walls. You and your partner can let the ball come off your own back wall and then return it, which is a signature part of padel. Players change sides of the court after every odd game, the same way tennis players switch ends.
How to use the walls
Learning to use the walls is what turns a beginner into a real padel player. When your opponent hits a hard shot, let it pass, bounce on the floor, and come off your back glass, then play it back after the rebound. The walls give you extra time and let you defend shots that would be winners in tennis. Just remember the ball can only hit the wall after it has bounced on the floor once on your side, and a ball that hits the mesh before crossing the net is out.
Positioning and basic strategy
Because padel is played in doubles, positioning and teamwork matter more than power. Each player covers one side of the court, and the golden rule is to move up to the net as a team when you can, since the net is where most points are won. When you are pushed back, use a lob to send your opponents away from the net and buy time to recover. Communicate with your partner, keep the ball low over the net, and be patient, because long rallies reward the team that makes fewer mistakes. Positioning near the net provides a clear tactical advantage in padel.
Padel vs tennis: the key differences
Padel and tennis share similarities, especially the scoring system, but they play very differently. A padel court is smaller and fully enclosed, the serve is underarm instead of overhead, the padel racket is solid while a tennis racket has strings, and the glass walls keep the ball in play. Padel is almost always doubles, and the balls are slightly less pressurized than tennis balls. These differences make padel easier to learn, gentler on the body, and more social, which is why so many tennis players are adding padel to their routine.
Common beginner mistakes to avoid
New players often make the same few mistakes. They swing too hard when control wins points, they turn their back on the ball instead of watching it come off the glass, and they rush the net without their partner. Another common error is trying to hit winners off the back wall instead of resetting the rally with a controlled shot. Focus on consistency, let the walls help you, and move with your partner, and your game will improve fast. Use short, compact swings to improve timing and consistency, take small adjustment steps for good footwork, and remember that avoiding unforced errors is crucial for winning points in padel.
Frequently asked questions about how to play padel
Is padel easy to learn? Yes. The underarm serve, enclosed court, and doubles format make padel one of the easiest racquet sports to pick up, and most beginners can rally in their first session.
Do you serve overhand or underhand in padel? You serve underarm, hitting the ball at or below waist height after bouncing it once behind the service line.
How does scoring work in padel? Padel uses the same scoring system as tennis: 15, 30, 40, game, six games to a set, and a tie break at 6-6, often with a golden point at deuce.
Can the ball hit the walls in padel? Yes, but only after it has bounced once on the floor. The ball can then rebound off the back glass or side walls and stay in play.
How many players play padel? Padel is almost always played as doubles, with two players on each side of the court.
How to choose your first padel racket
Once you know how to play padel, the right racket makes learning easier. A round padel racket puts the sweet spot in the center for maximum control and forgiveness, which is ideal for beginners, while diamond-shaped rackets favor power for advanced players. Most rackets are made from carbon fiber or fiberglass with a soft foam core, and a padel racquet typically weighs between 350 and 390 grams, so a lighter racket is easier to handle while you build technique. If you are unsure where to start, pick a round, control-oriented racket from our padel rackets collection and upgrade as your game grows.
Final thoughts
Learning how to play padel is quick and genuinely fun: grab a partner, book a court, and you will be rallying within minutes thanks to the underarm serve and the walls that keep the ball alive. Master the serve, the scoring, and how to use the back glass, move to the net as a team, and you will improve every time you play. When you are ready for your own gear, explore our padel rackets built for US players.