Padel Rules: Everything You Need to Know Before Stepping onto the Court

Padel is a fast-growing sport that is gaining ever more popularity, thanks to its combination of fun, strategy and accessibility. If you are new to the world of padel, it is important to understand the rules of the game. In this article we explain the basic rules of padel, so you can step onto the court well prepared.

Basic Rules of Padel

1. The court
Padel is played on a rectangular court 20 metres long and 10 metres wide, surrounded by walls of glass or fencing. The court is divided by a net that is slightly lower than in tennis. The walls are part of the game, which gives padel its uniquely dynamic character.

2. Scoring
Scoring in padel is similar to tennis. A match is played in sets, and a set is won by the team that first wins six games, with a difference of at least two games. A game is scored as follows: 15, 30, 40 and game point. At a tied score of 40-40 (deuce), a team has to win two consecutive points to take the game.

3. The serve
The serve in padel must always be hit underhand. The ball must bounce behind the service line and may not be hit higher than hip level. The ball must then land diagonally in the opponent's service box. As in tennis, the server gets two attempts to serve the ball correctly. If the ball touches the net but lands in the correct box, the serve is replayed.

4. Play
After the serve, play continues and the ball can be returned in different ways. Players may let the ball bounce on the ground and off the walls before returning it. However, the ball may bounce on the ground only once before it has to be returned. The ball must land in the opponent's court, either directly or via their walls.

5. Scoring points
A point is scored when:
– The ball bounces twice on the opponent's court.
– The opponent hits the ball into the net.
– The opponent's ball lands outside the lines of the court.
– The opponent hits the ball directly against one of their own walls without the ball first touching the ground.

6. The teams
Padel is usually played as doubles, with two teams of two players competing against each other. Communication and teamwork are essential in padel, because most points are scored through smart placement and cooperation.

Key Rules in Brief

– Underhand serve.
– Scoring as in tennis.
– Use of the walls during play.
– The ball may bounce only once on the court.
– The game is usually played as doubles.

Conclusion

Padel is a dynamic and accessible sport with simple rules, yet it offers plenty of room for strategy and teamwork. Whether you are a beginner or already have experience in other racket sports, these rules will leave you well prepared to step onto the padel court. Padel offers a great mix of physical challenge and social play, which makes it an ideal sport for players of all levels.