Padel Rules and Scoring System: A Beginner's Guide

Padel is a racket sport that combines the most enjoyable sides of tennis and squash, is easy to learn and has become rapidly popular in recent years. Before you step onto the court for your first match, knowing the padel rules, the court dimensions, the scoring system and the glass usage that makes the game unique will let you take to the court far more confidently. In this guide we explain all the basics of padel for beginners in plain language.

What Is Padel and What Is the Court Like?

Padel is a racket sport played in teams of two on an enclosed court. Its most visible difference from tennis is that the court is surrounded by glass and mesh walls and that the ball can stay in play by bouncing off these walls.

The court's basic features are as follows:

• Court size: A standard padel court is 20 metres long and 10 metres wide; it is noticeably smaller than a tennis court.
• Walls: The court is surrounded by glass and metal mesh. These walls are part of the game; the ball can bounce off them.
• Net: The net that divides the court in two separates the two sides from each other, much like in tennis.
• Service lines: In each half of the court there are lines that mark the service boxes into which the serve is played.

This enclosed structure makes the rallies longer and gives the game more of a tactical dimension than tennis.

How Many People Play It?

Padel is almost always played two against two (2v2), that is, with four players in total. There are two players on each team, and being in tune with your partner is one of the most important parts of the game.

Singles padel is possible but not common; the spirit of the sport rests on the doubles game. That is why padel is both a competitive and an extremely social sport: four people move together in a small space, in constant communication.

Scoring System: The Same as Tennis

Padel's scoring system is exactly the same as tennis; there are no surprises for those who know tennis. Points progress in this order:

• 15: The first point won.
• 30: The second point.
• 40: The third point.
• Game: The side that wins one more point at 40 takes the game; however, a margin of at least two points is required.

When the score reaches 40-40, deuce occurs, and to take the game you need to create a two-point gap; the position of the side ahead is called advantage. Games combine to form the set: to take a set you must win 6 games with a margin of two games. When the score reaches 6-6, a tie-break is played. Matches are usually played over best of 3 sets (the first to two sets wins).

Serve Rules

In padel the serve is very different from tennis and easy to learn, because it is hit underarm (below waist height). The basic serve rules are as follows:

1. Bounce the ball: The serving player first bounces the ball on the ground once, then hits it below waist height.
2. Crosscourt delivery: The serve, just as in tennis, is played into the diagonal service box and must bounce on the other side.
3. Two attempts: The serving player has two attempts; if the first serve is faulty, they use their second serve.
4. Service limit: Your feet must stay behind the service line and you must not step on the line during the serve.

The serve being hit underarm makes padel far more accessible for beginners than tennis; even in your first match, hitting a valid serve will not be hard.

The Rule That Makes Padel Unique: Using the Glass and Walls

The most important rule that sets padel apart from other racket sports is that the walls are part of the game. Grasping this rule is the key to playing the game correctly:

• Bounce on your own side: If the ball your opponent sends hits the glass or the mesh wall after first bouncing on the ground on your side, you can play the ball back. This is the most enjoyable side of padel.
• Hitting the wall directly is forbidden: Sending the ball directly onto your own back or side wall without it bouncing on the ground and getting it over to the opponent from there is not valid; you lose the point.
• Glass on the opponent's side: The ball you hit may pass over the net and, after bouncing on the ground on the opponent's side, hit their glass; this is valid, and the opponent must return the ball.

In short, the basic logic is this: the ball must always touch the ground first, and only then do the walls come into play. Learning to wait for the ball coming off the back glass is the most important step beginners need to take.

How Points Are Won and Lost

Winning or losing a rally depends on a few basic situations. You win the point in the following cases:

• If the opponent cannot return the ball validly.
• If the ball bounces twice on the ground on the opponent's side.
• If the opponent hits the ball directly onto the wall without it bouncing on the ground on their side.

You lose the point in these cases:

• Out: If the ball you hit goes directly out beyond the mesh or glass walls without touching the ground on the opposite side.
• Net fault: If the ball gets caught in the net and does not go over, or if you touch the net with your body or racket.
• Double bounce: If the ball bounces twice on the ground on your own side.

These rules protect the flow of the game and become reflex after a few matches.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many people play padel? Padel is almost always played two against two, that is, with four players in total. A singles version is possible but not common; the foundation of the sport rests on the doubles game.

How is the serve hit in padel? The serve is hit underarm, below waist height. You first bounce the ball on the ground once, then send it into the diagonal service box. Just as in tennis, you have two serve attempts.

How is the glass used? If the ball your opponent sends hits the glass after first bouncing on the ground on your side, you can play the ball back after the bounce. However, you cannot send the ball directly onto your own wall without it bouncing on the ground.

Is padel's scoring system the same as tennis? Yes. Points progress as 15-30-40, deuce occurs at 40-40, sets are won with 6 games, and a tie-break is played at 6-6.

Learning the rules of padel is a great start, but the real fun comes on the court, in a real match. To see open padel matches in your area, find a partner at your level and book a suitable court, you can use the Maç Var Mı? app. Especially in İzmir you can discover the courts and matches near you within seconds; you can also check out our separate guide on finding a court and a partner and get into the game quickly.