Padel for Beginners: Equipment, Rules, Courts, Techniques, and Scoring Explained

Padel has exploded in popularity in Europe, the Middle East, and Latin America and it is now growing fast in North America as well. It looks a sportbit like tennis, feels a little like squash, and is designed so that beginners can rally and laugh within minutes.

If you keep seeing glass walled courts and are curious what is going on, this guide is for you. We will cover

• Equipment you need to play padel
• Basic rules and how to start a rally
• Different court types
• Essential techniques for new players
• How the scoring system works

By the end, you will know exactly what to bring, what to expect, and how to book and manage court time at your local facility.

---

Equipment you need to play padel

One of the best things about padel is that you can get started with just a few key items.

Core equipment

Item	What it is	Tips for beginners
Padel racket	Solid racket with holes instead of strings	Choose a round head and medium weight
Padel balls	Slightly lower pressure than tennis balls	Use official padel balls where possible
Court shoes	Non marking indoor or all court shoes	Look for good lateral support and cushioning
Sportswear	Light and breathable clothing	Shorts or skirt and a moisture wicking top

You can always borrow a racket at first, but if you decide to buy one, start with comfort and control rather than maximum power.

Choosing your first padel racket

Rackets come in three main head shapes, each with a slightly different feel.

Shape	Control	Power	Suited for
Round	Very high	Moderate	New players and control oriented players
Teardrop	Balanced	Good	Players with some racket sport experience
Diamond	Moderate	Very high	Advanced and attacking players

For your first few months, a round or teardrop model with a soft or medium foam core is usually ideal.

---

How to play padel basic rules

Padel is usually played as doubles, two players on each side. The scoring follows tennis, but the use of glass and metal walls makes rallies feel completely different.

Starting the point

1. One team serves for an entire game
2. The server stands behind the service line on the right or left side
3. The ball is dropped, allowed to bounce once, then hit underarm
4. The serve must land in the diagonal service box of the receiver

If the ball clips the net and still lands in the correct box, the serve is replayed, just like a let in tennis.

During the rally

This is where padel becomes unique and fun.

• After the serve, the ball must always first bounce on the court of the receiving side
• Once it has bounced on the ground, it may hit glass walls or metal mesh and still be live
• Players can even use their own glass defensively, letting the ball bounce and hit the wall behind them before returning it

As a simple rule for beginners
if the ball touches a wall before it hits the ground on the opponent side, the shot is out.

When the point ends

A point finishes when

• The ball bounces twice on one side
• The ball hits the net and does not go over
• A shot hits a wall or fence before bouncing on the opponent court
• The ball goes directly out of play without first landing in the court
• A player is hit by the ball before it hits the court or glass

Do not worry about mastering every nuance on day one. Focus first on letting the ball bounce, keeping it in play, and enjoying the extra time that the glass gives you.

---

Court types and layouts

Padel courts share a common blueprint but can look a little different from club to club.

Standard padel court dimensions

Feature	Measurement
Court length	Twenty meters
Court width	Ten meters
Net height	About eighty eight centimeters at center
Service line	Three meters from the net

Glass walls and mesh fencing surround the court, creating a fully enclosed space where the ball can rebound.

Indoor, outdoor, and covered courts

Type	Description	Pros	Cons
Outdoor	Open air, exposed to sun and wind	Fresh air, natural light	Weather can interrupt play
Covered	Roofed with open sides	Protection from rain, less wind	Some temperature variation
Indoor	Fully enclosed inside a building	Consistent conditions year round	Higher build and running costs

Most new facilities invest in covered or indoor courts so that bookings can run on a predictable schedule all year.

Court surfaces

Modern padel courts use synthetic turf with a light sand infill. This surface cushions impact, gives players grip, and allows controlled sliding when they move for wide balls. Older courts may use concrete or acrylic surfaces, but those are less common now.

For facilities that manage many courts, keeping surface conditions and bookings organized can be challenging. Systems such as Waresport allow clubs to manage padel court schedules, memberships, and bookings in one place so players always know when and where they are playing.

---

Basic padel techniques for beginners

You do not need a long tennis background to enjoy padel. In fact many strong padel players come from other sports entirely. Focus on a few core skills first.

Grip and ready position

Use a continental grip, where the racket handle feels like a hammer in your hand. This grip works well for forehands, backhands, and volleys without constant adjustment.

Ready position

• Feet shoulder width apart
• Knees slightly bent
• Weight on the balls of your feet
• Racket in front of your body at chest height

From here you can move in any direction and react to shots off the walls.

Groundstrokes

Think short, compact swings rather than big loops.

• Turn your shoulders early
• Take a small backswing
• Meet the ball slightly in front of your body
• Follow through toward your target

Your goal is height over the net and depth to the baseline. Control always comes before power.

Volleys and net play

The team that controls the net usually controls the point.

• Move forward when you or your partner hit a deep shot
• Keep your swing short, almost like a punch
• Maintain a firm wrist, especially on high volleys
• Aim for corners and feet, not for the lines

If you can take time away from your opponents and keep the ball low, you will win a lot of points even with simple strokes.

Using the walls

Learning to use the walls turns frustration into fun.

Defensive wall play

• Let the ball bounce on the ground
• Allow it to reach the glass behind you
• Step forward as it comes off the wall
• Hit with a relaxed, smooth swing back into the court

At first you may misjudge the distance, but after a few sessions you will love how much extra time the glass gives you to prepare.

Overhead shots

Opponents will often lob when you are at the net. Start with a simple overhead, then progress to more advanced shots.

Shot	Purpose	Difficulty level
Smash	Finish the point outright	Intermediate
Bandeja	Controlled overhead to maintain the net	Intermediate
Vibora	Spin heavy attacking overhead	Advanced

New players should first practice a calm overhead that puts the ball deep into the back of the court. Once you feel comfortable, learning the bandeja will help you keep the net without taking huge risks.

---

Scoring system in padel

Padel uses the same structure as tennis, which makes things easier if you already know that sport.

Points within a game

Points progress as

• Love
• Fifteen
• Thirty
• Forty
• Game

At forty all, this is called deuce. Many clubs play with advantage scoring, where a team must win two points in a row from deuce to close the game. Some social leagues use no advantage scoring, where the point after deuce wins the game immediately.

Games and sets

A standard set is played to six games, with a requirement to win by at least two games. For example, six four and seven five are normal set scores.

If a set reaches six games all, most formats use a tiebreak to decide it. A tiebreak is usually played to seven points, again with a margin of two.

Most matches are best of three sets, but social play can use one extended set if time is limited.

Serving order

At the beginning of each set

1. One team chooses who will serve first
2. Serve alternates between teams each game
3. Within each team, partners alternate who serves whenever it is their team turn

A simple chart helps

Game number	Serving team	Server
One	Team A	Player A1
Two	Team B	Player B1
Three	Team A	Player A2
Four	Team B	Player B2

Then the rotation repeats. This keeps serving duties fair and predictable.

---

How clubs and facilities can support padel growth

As padel grows, clubs and community centers are adding courts, leagues, and social events. That often creates new operational challenges

• Coordinating bookings across multiple padel courts
• Managing memberships and drop in players
• Handling league schedules and ladder play
• Communicating changes or rain calls to dozens of players at once

Platforms such as Waresport help facilities centralize all of this, from court reservations and memberships to messaging and event registration, so staff spend less time juggling spreadsheets and more time growing the padel community.

---

Final tips before your first padel session

A few simple ideas will make your first outing much more fun.

• Choose a control friendly racket and focus on consistent contact
• Move forward to the net when you can and defend calmly when pushed back
• Use the glass as a friend, not an enemy, especially in the corners
• Talk with your partner about who covers lobs and middle balls
• Keep rallies going rather than swinging for winners on every shot

Padel is social, tactical, and surprisingly forgiving. With the right equipment, a basic understanding of rules, and a little practice on walls and volleys, you will quickly reach the point where rallies flow, you understand the score, and booking your next match becomes something you look forward to every week.

FAQs