Padel is a racket sport that combines tennis scoring with an enclosed court, and it is played almost exclusively in doubles. It was born in Mexico at the end of the 1960s, spread through Spain and Argentina into Europe, and new courts keep opening in Turkey as well. It is easier to learn than tennis because the service action and the playing area are smaller, and the walls keep rallies alive naturally.
The most common question is simple: how many players do you need? Padel is two against two, so four players on court. Singles does not exist in the official rules — the walls and the narrow service box are designed for doubles. When you plan a match you therefore need a full squad of four; most clubs help match you up with players if you are one short.
Court dimensions are standard: 20 metres long and 10 metres wide. A net divides the court in half and the entire playing area is enclosed by walls. The back walls are usually glass, while part of each side wall is glass and the rest is a solid panel. The playing surface is artificial turf with silica sand at most venues, and some clubs use concrete courts.
Scoring follows tennis: 15, 30, 40 and game. Games form sets, sets form the match. Matches are normally best of three sets. A tie-break decides a set that reaches 6-6. In social club play, short sets of four games are also common because courts are usually booked by the hour.
The service rules are where padel differs from other racket sports, and they trip up almost every beginner:
• The serve must be hit underarm, below waist height. An overhead serve does not exist.
• The ball must bounce on the ground once before you hit it. Hitting it out of the air is a fault.
• The serve must land in the diagonally opposite service box. If it hits the net or a side wall first, it is a fault.
• A failed first serve gives you a second serve. Two faults hand the point to your opponents.
• When the serving team loses a point, the serving player changes within the team.
Using the walls is what makes padel distinctive. After the ball bounces once on your side, it may hit the glass or the side panel and come back into play — the wall is part of the game, not an obstacle. The ball can also travel over the net, land on the opponent side and rebound off their wall with the point still live.
These actions, on the other hand, are direct faults:
• Hitting the ball out of the court over the enclosure.
• Touching the net or net posts, including on your opponent side.
• Directing the ball with your foot or body.
• Hitting the ball twice or catching and throwing it.
Equipment is where padel splits from tennis completely. A padel racket has no strings and a perforated body, and it must always be used with a wrist strap. The solid, bat-like face makes ball control easier but does not create the trampoline effect of a strung racket. Balls look like tennis balls but are produced with slightly lower pressure for padel courts.
Shoes are the most important injury-prevention purchase. Padel is full of lateral movement, and running shoes offer no lateral support, which raises the risk of a rolled ankle. On artificial turf, look for a herringbone sole that works with the sand; on concrete, a mixed sole is the better choice. Many clubs rent racket and balls for a first session, so you can try the sport without buying anything.
The biggest advantage over tennis is the learning curve. Because the ball rebounds off the wall, rallies last longer on their own and you are in the game immediately. Serving underarm means players without a tennis background enjoy their very first match. At a professional level, though, padel is a fast, physically demanding game built on reading the walls at speed.
Everything you need before a first match fits in a short list:
• Confirm a four-player line-up (clubs can help with matching).
• Book the court in advance; evenings are the busiest slots.
• Bring sportswear and shoes with lateral support.
• Take a water bottle and a small towel.
• Ask which surface the court uses (turf or concrete) and whether it is indoors or outdoors.
In social play the score is usually kept by hand, but if you want a lasting rivalry with friends, digital tracking is more enjoyable. The booking systems clubs use bring free court slots, open matches and match history together in one place. The CourtON mobile app is built to make finding a court and finding match partners easier for padel players.