GlassCourtsThe court. 20 m × 10 m (about a third of a tennis court), enclosed by glass at the back and mesh on the sides. You play doubles — four players, always.
Scoring
Identical to tennis: 15, 30, 40, game; six games take a set, best of three sets wins. Many clubs play a "golden point" at deuce — one deciding point, receivers choose the side.
The serve
Underhand, always. Bounce the ball, hit it at or below waist height, diagonally into the opposite service box — like tennis, you get two serves. The serve may hit the side mesh on the way in only after bouncing in the box; a serve into the mesh first is a fault.
The walls are in play
This is the whole charm of padel. After the ball bounces on your side, it can hit the glass behind you and still be returned — in fact, defending off the glass is the first skill you'll learn. On your opponents' side, the ball may also rebound off their glass after bouncing. But a ball that hits the wall before bouncing on the ground is out.
Quick faults
- Ball bounces twice on your side before you hit it — point lost.
- You hit the ball into the net, or out of the court without it bouncing first.
- The ball hits you or your partner's body or clothing.
- You touch the net with body or racket during play.
Your first game
Book 60–90 minutes, rent rackets at the club (almost all clubs rent), and wear court shoes if you have them. Expect to rally from the first session — the court is small, the racket is short, and the walls give you a second chance on balls that would be long gone in tennis.
Next: how to choose a first racket · the shot names, translated
