Padel

How Do You Play Padel?

Padel is primarily played in doubles, though singles courts and rules exist. A point begins with an underhand serve (from below the waist) that must bounce into the opposite service box.

After the serve, the ball may be struck:

• After one bounce
• Out of the air (volley)
• After touching a wall on your own side

You can use the side and back walls to keep the ball in play, creating a tactical and reactive style of rally. If the ball bounces twice before being hit, the point is lost.

Padel Rules

• The serve is underhand: let the ball bounce once and hit it diagonally into the opponent’s service box.
• The ball may hit the walls (after first bouncing on the court) and still remain in play.
• The net height is 88 cm at the center and 92 cm at the posts.
• Each team may strike the ball once per shot, and it cannot bounce twice.
• Players may even go outside the court to return the ball if it re-enters play off the walls.

These rules encourage long rallies and spectacular exchanges, making padel a fun, accessible, and addictive sport.

Padel Accessories: What You Need

To play padel you only need a few but essential accessories:

• Padel racket: compact, stringless, and perforated, available in different shapes—round, teardrop, or diamond—to match your playing style.
• Padel balls: similar to tennis balls but slightly less pressurized.
• Gear bag or technical backpack: to carry your racket, apparel, and padel accessories.
• Wristbands and cap: for comfort and sweat management.
• Padel shoes: with an outsole designed for synthetic turf, offering secure grip and lateral support.

Padel Scoring

The scoring system in padel follows tennis conventions:

• Each game is counted 15–30–40–game.
• At deuce (40–40), play continues with advantage.
• Matches are typically best of three sets; a set is won at 6 games with a two-game margin.
• At 6–6, a tie-break is played (to 7 or 10 points, depending on the tournament).

There are also fast formats for shorter matches, such as:

• Short set: first to 4 games with a two-game margin.
• Tie-break at 4–4: if tied, a tie-break decides the winner.

Padel Court

The padel court is rectangular, measuring 20 x 10 meters, divided by a central net. Unlike tennis, it’s fully enclosed by glass walls and metal mesh up to 3–4 meters high, which are part of play.

The court features tennis-style lines with dedicated service boxes. The surface is usually synthetic grass or other materials that ensure grip and stability.

Padel Apparel

The ideal padel clothing mirrors tennis apparel with a few smart tweaks:

• Breathable technical T-shirts or polos
• Sports shorts for men or skirts/leggings for women
• Padel shoes made for synthetic surfaces, featuring a herringbone or hybrid outsole
• Cap or visor and wristbands for sweat management
• In winter: lightweight, thermoregulating long-sleeve layers

Comfort, freedom of movement, and breathability are essential.

Padel vs. Beach Tennis: Key Differences

• Playing surface: Padel is played on a closed, hard court; Beach Tennis is played outdoors on sand.
• Bounce: In padel, the bounce is part of play; in beach tennis the ball must never bounce.
• Walls: Padel uses side and back walls; beach tennis has no walls.
• Rackets: Similar shape, but padel rackets are generally thicker and stiffer than beach tennis paddles.
• Style of play: Padel is more tactical and strategic; beach tennis is faster and more acrobatic.

Padel vs. Pickleball: What Changes

• Racket: Pickleball paddles are flat, solid, and unperforated, often made of plastic or graphite.
• Ball: Pickleball uses a light, perforated plastic ball (similar to a wiffle ball).
• Court: Smaller—about 13 × 6 m—with no walls and a low net.
• Bounce: Essential to play, as in tennis.
• Game style: Pickleball is generally slower and more positional than padel, which is more dynamic and spectacular.

Padel demands greater reactivity and technique, while pickleball rewards reflexes and court positioning—and it’s popular across all ages as a softer, highly accessible activity.