Padel Rules Explained Simply

Padel is one of the easiest racket sports to pick up and one of the most fun to play. You can be rallying within minutes. This guide covers everything you need to start: the court, the scoring, the serve, the famous glass walls, and how it differs from tennis. No jargon, just the essentials.

The court

Padel is played on an enclosed court about a third the size of a tennis court, always in doubles (two against two). The court is surrounded by glass walls and metal mesh, and these walls are part of the game, not just a boundary. A net divides the two sides, just like tennis. Because the space is smaller and the walls keep the ball in play, points last longer and rely more on placement and tactics than on raw power.

How scoring works

Scoring is identical to tennis: 15, 30, 40, game. You win a set by reaching six games (with a two-game margin), and a match is usually best of three sets. If you have ever watched or played tennis, you already know the score. If you have not, the only thing to remember is that points climb 15, 30, 40, then game, and you need to win by two.

The serve

The serve is the one part that feels different. It is underhand: you bounce the ball once on the ground, then hit it below waist height, diagonally into the opponent's service box. There is no big overhead serve like in tennis, which is exactly why padel is so beginner friendly. You get two attempts, and the ball must bounce in the box before it can touch a wall.

The walls: padel's signature rule

This is what makes padel unique. After the ball bounces once on your side of the floor, it can rebound off your own glass walls and you can still play it back. You can let a ball come off the back glass and return it. What you cannot do is let the ball bounce twice on the floor, and you cannot hit it directly onto the walls before it has bounced on the floor. Learning to read and use the walls is the heart of the game.

Padel vs tennis: the key differences

Same scoring, very different game. Padel is always doubles, on a smaller enclosed court, with an underhand serve and walls in play. Rackets are solid and stringless, the ball is slightly less pressurised, and rallies reward positioning and teamwork over power. Tennis players adapt quickly but have to unlearn a few habits, especially the urge to overhit.

A few rules beginners often miss

The ball must always bounce on the floor before touching a wall on your side. You can play the ball off your own walls, but never off the opponent's walls on the full. The net posts and the gaps are out of play. And a ball that hits the metal mesh on your own side after bouncing is still playable. Master these and you will avoid most beginner confusion.