Padel is the fastest growing racquet sport in the United States, and one of the reasons it is so easy to pick up is that the padel rules are simple and share a lot with tennis. This guide explains all the padel rules a beginner needs: the serve, the scoring, how the walls work, and when a point is won or lost, so you can step on court and play with confidence.
Padel rules: a quick overview
Padel is played as doubles on an enclosed court, with two players on each side of the net. You use a solid, stringless padel racket and a ball similar to a tennis ball. The core padel rules are easy to remember: the serve is underhand, the scoring is the same as tennis, and the glass walls are part of the game. A point is won when the ball bounces twice on your opponents' side, or when they hit it into the net or out of the court. Everything else is detail that builds on these basics. The rules of padel are standardized by the International Padel Federation and used on the professional circuit, where padel is played exclusively as doubles following rules very close to tennis.
The padel court and setup
A padel court measures 20 meters long by 10 meters wide, divided by a net and enclosed by glass walls and metal mesh. The net is 88 cm high in the center and 92 cm at the posts. Each side of the court has two service boxes marked by a service line 6.95 meters from the net. The walls that surround the court are 3 to 4 meters high and are a playable part of the game, which is the biggest difference from tennis. Above the side walls a wire fence and a net post at each side complete the enclosure, and the long rallies padel is famous for happen because the ball stays in play off these surfaces.
The serve rules in padel
Every point begins with a serve, and the padel serve rules are what make the game so beginner-friendly. The serve must be underhand: you bounce the ball once behind the service line, then strike it at or below waist height. The ball must be hit diagonally and land in the opponent's service box across the net, just like tennis. Your feet must stay behind the service line until the ball is struck. As in tennis, you get two serves, a first serve and a second serve, and if both are faults you lose the point. For a valid serve the server must keep at least one foot on the ground behind the line while serving, striking an underarm serve at waist level into the service box opposite. The first server takes the first service of the first game, and the initial serve starts from the right side.
On the serve, if the ball lands in the correct service box and then hits the side wall, it is still in play, but if it hits the metal mesh fence after bouncing, it is a fault. The serve is the one shot where the ball must be hit before it touches any wall.
Padel scoring rules
Padel uses exactly the same scoring system as tennis, so if you know tennis you already know how to score padel. Points go 15, 30, 40, and game. The first team to win four points wins the game, and you must win by two points. When the score reaches 40-40 (deuce), many clubs and tournaments use the golden point: a single deciding point is played and whoever wins it takes the game. You need to win six games to take a set, winning by a two-game margin, and if the set reaches 6-6 a tie break decides it. Matches are usually best of three sets.
How the walls work
The walls are the heart of padel, and the rules around them are simple. During a rally, the ball must bounce once on the floor before it can hit a wall. After that first bounce, the ball can rebound off the back glass or side walls and stay in play, and you can return it after it comes off the glass. What you cannot do is let the ball hit the wall before it has bounced on the floor on your side. You also cannot hit the ball into your own walls to send it over the net; the ball has to travel over the net through the air. A valid bounce occurs when the ball hits the ground and then the glass, so players can hit the ball against their own back glass wall to continue the rally.
When is a point won or lost?
Knowing how points end is the key to the padel rules. A team loses the point when the ball bounces twice on their side of the court, when they hit the ball into the net, when they hit the ball out of the court over the walls, or when the ball hits the metal mesh on their own side before crossing the net. A player also loses the point if the ball touches their body or if they hit the ball before it has crossed to their side. If the ball bounces on the floor and then goes out over the fence, the point goes to the team that hit it. You win one point whenever the opposing team fails to return the ball into your opponent's court, and after three points a team reaches game point. If the opposing player or opponent hits the ball into the net, or the ball exits the court, the following point is yours and play moves to the next point.
Serving order and change of sides
The serving rules follow a set order. One team serves for a whole game, then the other team serves the next game, alternating throughout the set. Within a team, players take turns serving each service game. The first serve of each game is made from the right side of the court, then serves alternate sides after each point. Players change ends of the court after every odd game, the same way tennis players switch sides, to keep conditions fair. Teams change sides based on the number of games played, and after deuce the advantage decides the game unless a golden point is used.
Doubles positioning rules
Padel is almost always played as doubles, and while positioning is strategy rather than a strict rule, a few conventions matter. Each player covers one side of the court, and there is no rule stopping partners from covering for each other. Either player can hit any ball, and you can switch sides freely during a rally. The team that controls the net usually controls the point, so moving up together is the standard approach once the rules of the rally allow it. Communication with a partner is crucial in padel, and for safety players must wear a safety cord attached to the racket handle.
Padel rules vs tennis rules: the differences
Padel and tennis share the same scoring, but the rules differ in a few important ways. In padel the serve is underhand and must bounce first, while in tennis it is overhead. Padel walls are in play, so the ball can be returned off the glass, which never happens in tennis. Padel is played on a smaller enclosed court, almost always as doubles, with a solid racket instead of a strung one. These rule differences are what make padel easier to learn and so much fun for beginners.
Common padel rules questions
Can the ball bounce on the wall before the floor? No. The ball must bounce on the floor first; if it hits the wall before the floor on your side, you lose the point.
Is the serve overarm or underarm? The serve is underarm and must be struck at or below waist height after one bounce behind the service line.
Can you hit the ball off your own back wall? Yes. After the ball bounces on the floor on your side, you can let it rebound off your back glass and play it back over the net.
What is the golden point? At deuce (40-40), the golden point is a single deciding point that decides the game, used in many padel tournaments to speed up matches.
Can you go outside the court to return the ball? In some courts with an opening, advanced players can exit and return a ball that has bounced out, but most recreational courts are fully enclosed.
How to choose your first padel racket
Knowing the padel rules is the first step; the right racket makes learning them 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. 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
The padel rules are refreshingly simple: an underhand serve, tennis-style scoring, and walls that keep the ball in play. Once you understand the serve, the scoring, and how the ball can come off the glass, you have everything you need to enjoy a match. Grab a partner, book a court, and put these rules into practice, and when you are ready for your own gear, explore our padel rackets built for US players.