Padel 101: Rules, Scoring, and Court Basics

What Makes Padel Unique?

Padel is a doubles-first racket sport played on a smaller court surrounded by glass walls. The walls are part of the game, which creates longer rallies and tactical angles.

Serve Rules

• Underhand only - Serve below waist height after one bounce.
• Diagonal serve - You must serve into the opposite service box.
• Second serve - Just like tennis, you get two attempts.

Walls in Play

The ball can hit the glass walls after it bounces on your side. You can also play the ball off your own wall to reset a rally or defend a fast shot.

Scoring Basics

• Points go 15-30-40, then game.
• Sets are usually first to 6 games, win by 2.
• Golden point is common in casual play instead of advantage.

Common Faults

• Volleys on the serve return (the ball must bounce first).
• Hitting the net or fence before the ball bounces on the opponent side.
• Letting the ball bounce twice on your side.