How to play padel

How do you play padel? 

Padel is more commonly played as doubles (two teams of two), though it can be played individually as singles (one versus one). 

A standard padel court features a net in the middle, two service boxes on each side, and is designed to allow players to rebound the ball off the surrounding walls. 

Padel uses the same scoring system as tennis: 15, 30, 40, then game. Then they win games to win a set. 

If a team/player wins 6 games and is at least 2 games ahead, they win the set. A match is usually best of 3 sets, so the first team/player to win 2 sets wins the match.  

Key serving rules 

• Serving player must hit the ball over the net so it lands inside the opponent’s court 
• If a serve clips the net but still lands in the right box, play continues. However, if it fails to clear the net or lands outside the correct service area, it is called a fault. 

To serve in padel, stand behind the service line and hit the ball over the net into your opponents’ service box. Here are helpful tips and rules to know about serving in padel: 

• Serve underarm 
• Let the ball bounce before hitting it  
• Strike the ball below waist height 
• Keep at least one foot behind the service line 
• The serve must land in the opposite service box 
• Two serves are allowed 
• If the serve touches the net and still lands correctly, it’s a ‘let’ and can be retaken 
• Use the walls to your advantage - let the ball bounce and hit the wall before hitting it back, or hit the ball against the wall to try and land it on your opponents’ side of the court 

What counts as in? 

• If the ball bounces and hits the back glass of the court after one bounce, the shot is in. This counts for the serve as well 
• If the ball bounces once and goes over the back glass or over the cage, the shot is in 

What counts as out? 

• If the ball hits the back glass or cage without bouncing, the shot is out 
• If the ball bounces twice or more before hitting the back glass or cage then the point is over 
• If the ball bounces and hits the cage off a serve, the shot is out 

How long is a game of padel? 

Our courts are available to book for 60-minute slots, giving players the right amount of time to get a great game in. 

The length of a padel game depends on several factors, like player skill, game format, and the intensity of each set. 

Each set is about 20 minutes and teams usually do three of them, but if you and your padel partner are quick players and get some fast wins, this will make a set shorter. A game will keep going until one team wins enough sets. 

What equipment do you need to play padel? 

All you need is a racket and a ball.   

Something important to know is that a padel racket is smaller than a tennis racket, but it weighs a bit more as it has a much thicker body. There are rackets available for kids too, only these are slightly lighter and have a shorter grip to make them easier to use.  

Padel rackets come in three different shapes: round, drop-shaped and diamond-shaped. If you’re a beginner, we’d recommend starting with a round racket as it will offer you more control. 

A padel ball looks similar to a tennis ball but has slightly lower pressure. This reduces its bounce off the walls, giving players a little more time to react and play their shots. 

Feel free to bring your own racket and ball when you’re visiting one of our courts, or we’ll have some that are available to hire.* 

Find a court near you 

Ready to give padel a try? One of the things we love about it is that it’s a great way to improve your fitness and have fun at the same time – a win-win! 

Whether you're a complete beginner or an experienced player, book a court today and discover why so many People are making the switch to padel.

Book a court here

Sources: Padel home – Play (LTA) | Official padel rules explained (LTA) 

*Subject to availability and centre.