Everything You Need to Know to Start Playing Padel
Padel is a game similar to tennis in many ways, but with some fundamental differences. As in tennis, the court is divided by a net, but in padel, the playing area is smaller, and the four sides of the court are bounded by walls or glass panels that are an integral part of the playing area. Furthermore, from its very beginnings, padel was conceived as a doubles sport, with two players per team, although courts for singles play have recently been set up. The rules are simple and accessible to everyone, but it’s important to know them to play your best and avoid being caught off guard, especially if you’re just starting out.
If you’re thinking about trying this sport and want to learn how to play padel, here are some helpful tips and all the basic rules you need to know to get started.
What’s the difference between padel and tennis?
Before we dive into explaining the rules of the game, let’s first take a closer look at the difference between padel and tennis. It’s important to note that padel was developed later than tennis. In fact, it was invented in Mexico in 1969, purely by chance, when Enrique Corcuera, a wealthy Mexican businessman, decided to build a tennis court in his backyard. Since he had a small space available that was enclosed by walls, he decided to use a smaller, regulation-sized court: and so the first padel court was born. Tennis, on the other hand, originated much earlier, in 1873, thanks to Walter Clopton Wingfield, and the rules were officially established in 1877, when the first Wimbledon tournament was held in Great Britain.
There are other key differences between these two sports that are closely related to how the games are played:
- A padel court is 20 meters long and 10 meters wide, so it is smaller than a tennis court and consists of two halves, each with two service boxes and a backcourt area. The two halves are separated by a net. The court is enclosed on all sides (except for the two entrance doors, each two meters wide), and the end walls are 4 meters high at their highest points and 3 meters high at other points;
- Unlike tennis, in padel the ball can bounce regularly off the walls or glass panels. The perimeter of the court is constructed using materials that allow the ball to bounce regularly (walls or glass panels) and materials that cause irregular bounces (the wire mesh areas);
- A padel racket is smaller than a tennis racket; it is made of innovative materials, has no strings, and features a perforated surface. Furthermore, according to the rules, it must be secured to the player’s wrist with a non-elastic cord or strap;
- Padel balls are also slightly smaller than tennis balls and differ in terms of pressure (which determines the ball’s speed); padel balls have lower pressure;
- In padel , the serve must be executed by bouncing the ball on the synthetic court and then hitting it, taking care—at the moment of impact with the racket—not to let it rise above waist height; In tennis, on the other hand, the ball must first be tossed into the air and then hit on the fly, without letting it bounce on the ground.
How to Play Padel: Basic Rules
The first rule to remember when learning to play padel is that, unlike in tennis, the ball can bounce both on the ground and off the perimeter walls of the court. If the ball, after touching the ground, bounces off a wall or glass panel, it remains in play and can be hit on the fly until it hits the ground again.
To start the game, you’ll need to stand behind the service line, let the ball bounce on your side of the court, and hit it when it’s roughly at waist height. The ball must go over the net and bounce in the rectangle in front of the receiving opponent. The opposing player must wait for the ball to bounce on their side of the court before returning it. The ball cannot touch the ground twice (if this happens, the point goes to the opponent), but, as mentioned earlier, it can bounce off the side walls. If the ball hits the opponent’s body, the point goes to the player who struck the ball.
Given the small size of the court, its boundaries marked by walls, glass, and metal netting, and the variety of shots in padel that can alter the ball’s trajectory, you’ll need good concentration and quick reflexes to play effectively. In fact, the ball’s trajectory will tend to change constantly, and you’ll need to be ready to move quickly in multiple directions, even from one side of the court to the other.
How are points scored in padel?
The way points are scored in padel is identical to that in tennis. In padel, too, the score starts at 0 and goes up to 15 with the first point, to 30 with the second, and to 40 with the third. When the fourth point is reached, the team wins the “game.” If both teams score three points, the score is considered a tie. To determine the winner, play must therefore continue until one of the two teams manages to score a point, thereby gaining an“advantage.” If that team manages to score another point, it wins the game. If, on the other hand, the score returns to a tie after the advantage is taken, play continues until one of the two teams manages to win two consecutive points.
In major tournaments, the so-called“punto de oro”has recently been introduced: when the score reaches 40-all, to avoid prolonging the match too much and to make the game more exciting, whoever scores the point wins the game. When playing the punto de oro, the same player always serves, while the receiving team can decide which player will return the serve. You’ll win the point if:
- The opponent bounces the ball twice on the synthetic mat;
- the opponent hits the metal nets on the court or the walls without first letting the ball bounce on the ground;
- the ball hits an opposing player;
- The opponent hits the ball two or more times in the same rally or return.
Once a game is over, play moves on to the next one. The pair that wins six games—with a two-game lead over their opponents—wins the set.
How the tiebreaker works in padel
If the score reaches six games with the teams tied, a tiebreaker is played, which works exactly like in tennis: points are scored one at a time, and the pair that first reaches seven points with a two-point lead over their opponents wins the game. If the two pairs remain tied, the tiebreaker will end only when one pair manages to establish a two-point lead over their opponents.
In the tiebreaker,the serving order follows the sequence established during the match, so the first player to serve is the one who began serving in that set. That player will serve only once from the right side of the court, while the opposing pair will serve twice in a row—first from the left side and then from the right side. After that, both pairs will serve twice each, always starting from the left side, until the tiebreak ends.
Padel rules call for three sets: the duration of each set can depend on various factors, such as the players’ experience and skill level. Generally, for beginners, a set tends to be fairly short, while for more experienced players, match duration can be significantly longer.
Now that you’ve discovered all the secrets and the main rules of padel, you’re ready to get started and try to beat your opponents. To give every match your best shot, remember to choose the right padel clothing and accessories.
At Padel Mi Amor, you’ll find a wide selectionof men’s and women’spadel apparel, made with technical, lightweight, and breathable fabrics designed to ensure the best possible playing experience. You’ll find padel shirts, polo shirts, sweatshirts, shorts for men, and skirts for women—all featuring a comfortable fit that will adapt perfectly to any body type and playing style!
