Padel is the fastest growing racquet sport in the world, and it's finally taking off across the United States. If you've seen those glass-walled courts popping up and wondered what is padel, this guide explains everything: what padel is, how it's played, the rules, the equipment, and why millions of people are getting hooked.
What is padel?
Padel is a racquet sport that combines elements of tennis and squash. It's played on an enclosed court about a third the size of a tennis court, surrounded by glass walls and metal mesh. Padel is almost always played as doubles, with two players on each side, using a solid, stringless racket and a ball similar to a tennis ball. The walls are part of the game: the ball can bounce off the glass and stay in play, which makes for longer, more tactical rallies than tennis.
Sometimes called padel tennis, padel is easy to pick up but hard to master. The scoring is the same as tennis, the serve is underarm, and the enclosed court means beginners keep the ball in play far more often than they would on a tennis court. That combination of accessibility and depth is a big reason padel has spread so quickly.
A short history of padel
Padel was invented in 1969 by Enrique Corcuera in Acapulco, Mexico, who adapted a court at his home and added walls to keep the ball in play. The sport spread to Spain and Argentina in the 1970s, where it became hugely popular, and today Spain and Argentina remain the two biggest padel nations. Padel is now played by over 25 million people in more than 90 countries, and the United States is one of the fastest growing padel markets, with new clubs opening across the country.
How is padel played?
Padel is played as doubles on an enclosed court measuring 20 meters by 10 meters. Play starts with an underhand serve that must bounce once before being hit, and the ball is served diagonally into the opposite service box, just like tennis. After the serve, the ball can be played off the glass walls and the metal mesh, so rallies keep going as players use the walls to their advantage.
The goal is the same as tennis: win points by making the ball bounce twice on your opponents' side, or by forcing them into an error. But because of the walls and the smaller court, padel rewards placement, teamwork, and strategy over raw power, which is exactly why it's so fun for players of all ages and skill levels.
Padel court dimensions and layout
A padel court measures 20 meters long by 10 meters wide and is enclosed by glass walls and metal mesh fencing. A net divides the court in the middle, and the surface is usually artificial turf with sand. Compared to a tennis court, a padel court is smaller and fully enclosed, which is what makes the walls a playable part of the game. The enclosed design also means you need very little space around the court, so padel clubs can fit several courts into a compact footprint.
Padel equipment: what you need to play
The great thing about padel is that you only need a few pieces of equipment to start, and rental gear is available at most clubs. A padel racket is solid with a perforated surface and no strings, usually made from carbon fiber or fiberglass with a foam core. Padel rackets come in different shapes: round rackets offer more control and a larger sweet spot, making them ideal for beginners, while diamond-shaped rackets deliver more power for advanced players. You can explore beginner-friendly options in our padel rackets collection.
A padel ball looks like a tennis ball but has slightly less internal pressure, so it bounces a little lower and plays a touch slower. For footwear, court shoes with good lateral grip help you move safely on the sand-based surface. That's really all you need: a racket, balls, and the right shoes.
Padel rules and scoring
Padel uses the same scoring system as tennis: points go 15, 30, 40, and game, and you need to win six games to take a set, winning by a two-game margin. Matches are usually best of three sets. The serve is underhand and must bounce once in your own service box before you hit it diagonally to your opponent.
The key difference from tennis is the walls. After the ball bounces on the floor once, it can rebound off the glass or mesh and still be in play, and players can use the back walls to return shots. A point ends when the ball bounces twice, hits the mesh before crossing, or a player hits it out. These simple rules, combined with the enclosed court, keep rallies alive and make padel welcoming for newcomers.
Padel vs tennis: what's the difference?
Padel and tennis share the same scoring, but they play very differently. Padel courts are smaller and enclosed with walls, while tennis courts are larger and open. Padel rackets are solid and stringless, whereas tennis rackets have strings. Padel is almost always doubles, the serve is underhand, and the walls keep the ball in play longer. The result is that padel is easier to learn, easier on the body, and more social, which is why so many tennis players are adding padel to their routine rather than choosing one over the other.
Why is padel so popular?
Padel is booming for a few clear reasons. It's easy to learn, so beginners can enjoy real rallies within their first session. It's social, because it's played in doubles and rewards teamwork. It's gentle on the joints compared to tennis, making it accessible for all ages. And it's genuinely fun, thanks to the walls and the tactical, fast-paced play. Add in the rapid growth of clubs across the US and the sport's global momentum, and it's easy to see why padel is called the fastest growing sport in the world.
How to start playing padel
Getting started with padel is simple. Find a local padel club and book a court, grab a partner and two opponents since padel is doubles, and either rent equipment or bring your own racket, balls, and court shoes. Many clubs offer beginner clinics or introductory lessons, which are a great way to learn the basics of positioning, the serve, and how to use the walls. If you're ready to gear up, a round, control-oriented racket from our padel rackets collection is the most forgiving choice for a new player.
Frequently asked questions about padel
Is padel the same as tennis? No. Padel uses the same scoring as tennis but is played on a smaller enclosed court with walls, using a solid stringless racket, and almost always as doubles.
Is padel easy to learn? Yes. The enclosed court and underhand serve make padel one of the easiest racquet sports to pick up, and most beginners can rally in their first session.
Do you play padel in singles or doubles? Padel is almost always played as doubles, with two players on each side. Singles padel exists but is far less common and uses a narrower court.
What do you need to play padel? You need a padel racket, padel balls, court shoes, and access to a padel court. Most clubs rent equipment, so you can try padel before buying anything.
Is padel the same as pickleball? No. Padel is played on a larger enclosed court with glass walls and a tennis-style ball, while pickleball uses a small open court, a solid paddle, and a plastic ball.
Padel terms every beginner should know
Learning a few padel terms makes the game easier to follow. The bandeja is a controlled overhead shot used to keep your team at the net. The vibora is a faster, more aggressive overhead with slice. A bajada is a shot played off the back glass wall after the ball rebounds. The net is where points are won in padel, so good players move up to the net as a team. The lob, or globo, is a key tactic to push opponents back off the net. And the golden point, a single deciding point at deuce, is used in many padel tournaments to speed up matches.
Health benefits of playing padel
Padel is a great workout that hides how much exercise you're getting because it's so much fun. A typical padel match improves cardio fitness, agility, coordination, and reaction time, while the doubles format and smaller court make it lower impact than tennis or running. Because padel is social and easy to learn, it's also great for mental wellbeing, helping players stay active and connected. For many people in the US and beyond, padel has become the sport they actually look forward to playing every week.
Padel's governing bodies and professional tours
Padel has grown into a professional sport with its own global structure. The International Padel Federation is the sport's global governing body, and many countries have a national governing body that organises padel locally. Padel is sometimes confused with paddle tennis, but they are different sports: a padel racquet is solid and perforated, and the padel court has glass walls. At the elite level, professional players compete on tours such as the World Padel Tour and Premier Padel, the successor to the Padel Pro Tour, which have helped turn padel into a spectator sport. The sport's roots run deep in South America, especially Argentina, and in Spain, and that momentum is now fuelling padel's rapid rise in the United States.
How to choose your first padel racket
Choosing your first padel racket comes down to shape, weight, and balance. A round padel racket has the sweet spot in the centre, which gives beginners more control and forgiveness, so it's the best padel racket for most new players. Teardrop rackets balance power and control, while diamond padel rackets put the sweet spot higher for maximum power, suited to advanced players. Most padel rackets are made from carbon fiber or fiberglass with a soft foam core, and a lighter racket is easier to handle while you build technique. If you're unsure, start with a round, control-oriented racket from our padel rackets collection and a couple of padel balls, and upgrade as your game improves.
Where padel is played around the world
Padel's popularity has spread far beyond its origins. After starting in Mexico and booming across Latin America and Spain, padel is now growing fast in the United States, the Middle East, and beyond. The first padel court was built in 1969, and today courts appear everywhere from dedicated clubs to rooftops. A padel court is a slightly smaller, enclosed playing field with side walls and back walls, usually laid with artificial grass and sand, and the modest court size means clubs can fit several courts into a compact space. On the serve, the ball must be struck at or below waist level, which keeps the game accessible for players of all ages.
Final thoughts
Padel is a fast, social, and beginner-friendly racquet sport that blends the best of tennis and squash on an enclosed glass court. It's easy to learn, gentle on the body, and endlessly fun, which is why it's spreading so quickly across the United States. If you're curious, grab a few friends, book a court, and give it a try — and when you're ready for your own gear, explore our padel rackets built for US players.