The rules of padel – More than a game, it's a way of life!
The rules of padel are the set of basic playing rules that define how the game is played in doubles format on a 10 × 20 meter padel court. In this summary, we briefly and clearly present the most important rules of serving, scoring, and gameplay.
🎾 The basics of the game
- Team play: Padel is always played in pairs (2 vs 2).
- Court: An enclosed court surrounded by glass walls and metal mesh. The walls are part of the game!
- Ball: Played with a padel ball similar to a tennis ball, but with lower pressure.
- Racket: A perforated, solid padel racket – no strings!
🏆 Scoring in padel
- Scored the same way as in tennis: 15 – 30 – 40 – game, set up to 6 games won.
To win a set, you must lead by 2 games (e.g., 6:4). At 6:6, a tie-break is played.
🔁 Match flow
- Matches consist of three sets, and to win a set you need to win 6 games with at least a two-game lead.
⚙️ The serve in padel
- The serve is performed underhand: the ball must be dropped onto the ground, then struck below waist height.
The serving player must stand with both feet behind the baseline – within their own service box – and at least one foot must be on the ground at the moment of contact.
The serve is hit diagonally into the opponent's side. The ball must bounce in the correct service box. After bouncing, the ball may touch both the back and side glass walls.
The serve is invalid if, after bouncing in the opponent's service box, the ball hits the side metal mesh.
If, during the serve, the ball touches the net but lands in the correct spot, the serve must be repeated ("let").
After two faults, the point goes to the opponent.
⚙️ Gameplay
- The ball must first bounce on the ground on the opponent's side before touching a wall.
- The ball may only bounce once on your own side; if it bounces twice, the opponent wins the point.
🎾 The ball's path
- Players may return the ball after it has rebounded off a glass wall or metal mesh on their own side.
- Players may also play the ball off their own glass wall (side or back wall) to send the ball back over the net.
⚙️ Receiving the serve
- Players may volley the ball instead of letting it bounce (except when returning the serve).
🤝 Side change and break between sets
- The two teams switch sides after every odd-numbered game (e.g., 1–0, 2–1, etc.).
- A 90-second break is allowed during play at side changes.
😎 Did you know?
- If the ball bounces on the opponent's side and then leaves the court, players may run out through the door to play it back.
- If the ball lands in the corner formed by the "U"-shaped wall and the ground, it counts as a valid ball.
🚫 It's a fault in padel if:
The ball bounces twice on the ground.
- Your shot goes into the net.
- The ball hits the wall first instead of the ground.
- You or your racket touches the net.
💡 Recommended for beginners
- Don't be alarmed if the ball bounces back off the wall – it's part of the game!
- Try to play with tactics rather than power!
- Good positioning is often more important than hitting power.
- The game is dynamic and tactical, easy to learn but full of exciting challenges.
- Ideal for all age groups, even beginners!
Padel originated in Mexico, where Enrique Corcuera laid the foundations of the game in 1969 on a smaller court surrounded by walls. The sport gained worldwide popularity through Spain and Argentina, combining elements of tennis and squash while preserving its strong community spirit. Its ease of learning and dynamic gameplay are what truly made it widely accessible.