Padel needs no introduction; it’s attracting more and more players in France, from professional athletes to amateurs and casual players. And it’s no coincidence: the sport is fun, friendly, and much more accessible than it seems! The good news? A few essential rules are enough to know how to play padel, even if it’s your first time. To clarify things, here’s a quick, detailed guide to the 7 essential rules to know in padel!
A quick reminder about the padel court:
- The padel court is 20 meters long and 10 meters wide, with a central net that defines four service boxes.
- At the back of the court, a 3-meter wall is topped with one meter of mesh fence.
- On the sides, 2-meter high walls extend for 12 meters, also completed by mesh fence to fully enclose the playing area.
1. Padel Scoring: How Does It Work?
If you’ve played tennis before, you won’t be lost. That’s right! In padel, points are counted as 15, 30, 40, then game, with a possible advantage or a decisive point at 40–40 depending on the chosen format.
A set is won by reaching six games with a two-game lead, and at 6–6, a tiebreak is played for points. Most matches are played in best-of-two sets, sometimes with a 10-point super tiebreak to decide the winner as a third set. Quite simple, right? It’s literally the equivalent of tennis!
2. The Serve, Much Simpler Than in Tennis!
In padel, there’s no big overhead motion: the serve is always underhand. Specifically, the server drops the ball, lets it bounce on the ground, then hits it below hip level diagonally into the opponent’s service box.
Two important points not to forget:
- The ball must first hit the ground in the service box before hitting a wall.
- If it hits the mesh fence directly after the bounce, it’s a fault. As in tennis, you get two attempts, and each player serves a full game in turn.
3. The Principle of the Bounce
A very simple rule summarizes the game of padel well: the ball is only allowed one bounce on the ground in your court! After this bounce, it can hit the glass walls or the mesh fences, which is an integral part of the game. However, if you let it bounce twice without playing it, the point is lost. Beginners are often caught out by lobs and slow balls, hesitating too long about who should take the ball.
4. Understanding the Role of Glass Walls in Padel
The glass walls are what give padel its unique style, although they can rightly seem intimidating at first. Many new players try to play all balls “like in tennis,” without using them, and thus put themselves in difficulty.
Why use the glass walls?
- They slow down the ball and give you time to reposition yourself.
- They allow you to defend balls that would otherwise seem lost.
- They open up possibilities for spectacular shots. Letting the ball bounce off the ground then the glass wall before returning it saves time and allows for better defense.
Little by little, you also learn to use your own glass wall to return the ball to the opponent’s court on more advanced shots.
5. Common Faults in Padel
Two common faults frequently occur among beginners. 1. The first: hitting a ball that directly hits the opponent’s glass wall or mesh fence without having bounced on the ground in the court. In this case, the point is lost. 2. The second: forgetting the second bounce in your own court, especially on slow balls that are watched more than played.
Other classic faults:
- Ball in the net
- Double fault on serve
- Using the mesh fences to return the ball (only glass walls are allowed)
6. A Sport Truly Played by Two
Contrary to some common beliefs, padel is only played in doubles, and partner organization is almost as important as technique. Generally, each player chooses a side – right or left – and sticks to it to maintain clear positioning.
Movement is mainly back and forth, to approach the net or retreat on lobs, rather than crossing the entire court. For balls in the middle, it’s decided in advance who has priority: for two right-handed players, it’s usually the left-side player who takes the forehand.
7. Safety at the Heart of the Game
Last but not least: safety and fair play! Attaching the wrist strap of the racket is not an option; it prevents it from flying off during a too strong or uncontrolled stroke (smash…).
In the same vein, all your unused balls must remain near the net to avoid obstructing movement.
You’re now ready for your first padel match! Have a good match! 
