How to Play Padel: Video Tutorials & Rules

The Court

• Padel is played on an enclosed court about one-third the size of a tennis court, with glass and mesh walls.
• The game is played in doubles (2 vs 2), though singles courts do exist.

Serving

• The serve must be underhand and hit below waist level.
• The server stands behind the service line and serves diagonally into the opponent’s service box.
• The ball must first bounce in the server’s box and then land in the opponent’s box.
• The server gets two attempts (first and second serve, like tennis).
• The serve must bounce before hitting the glass or mesh; if it hits the fence directly, it’s a fault.

Scoring

• Padel uses the same scoring system as tennis: 15, 30, 40, game.
• A set is won by the first team to reach 6 games with a two-game lead. If it’s 6-6, a tiebreak is played.

During Play

• After the serve, the ball can hit the ground once and then bounce off the glass walls.
• Players can play the ball off the glass walls on their side (after it bounces).
• The ball may not bounce twice before being returned.
• The ball can be played outside the court if it goes over the walls, as long as it bounces in first (in some advanced competitions).

Fouls and Faults

• Hitting the net with your racket or body.
• Letting the ball bounce twice before returning it.
• Volleying a serve (returning a serve before it bounces).
• Hitting the ball directly into the glass or mesh before it bounces.
• The ball bouncing outside the court after touching the ground.

Let Serves

• If the served ball hits the net and lands in the correct service box, it is a “let” and is replayed.

Winning a Point

You win a point when:

• The opposing team fails to return the ball.
• The opposing team hits the ball out of bounds, into the net, or into the glass/mesh without it bouncing first.