NEW TO PADEL?
WELCOME TO THE COURT.
The rules, the racket, the glass and the stuff everyone else seems to already know.
START HERE ↓FIRST THINGS FIRST
IT'S EASIER THAN IT LOOKS.
Padel combines elements of tennis and squash, but you do not need years of racket-sport experience to start enjoying it.
4 PLAYERS.
Padel is normally played as doubles — two players per side.
USE THE GLASS.
The walls are part of the game after the ball bounces.
HAVE FUN.
You do not need to smash every ball to play good padel.
01 / SCORING
YES, IT'S LIKE TENNIS.
Matches are typically scored using the familiar tennis system. Some formats use a Golden Point at deuce.
02 / THE SERVE
KEEP IT UNDERHAND.
The serve starts with a bounce and is played underhand, diagonally into the opponent's service box.
Let the ball bounce behind the service line.
Contact the ball at or below waist height.
Serve into the opposite service box.
03 / THE GLASS
STOP RUNNING FROM IT.
One of the biggest beginner mistakes is trying to hit every ball before it reaches the back glass.
If the ball bounces on your side and then hits the glass, you can often let it come back towards you before returning it.
04 / YOUR RACKET
CONTROL BEFORE EGO.
A round shape is often easier for beginners to control.
A larger sweet spot can make off-centre shots more forgiving.
Choose a racket you can swing comfortably and confidently.
05 / POSITION
MOVE WITH YOUR PARTNER.
Good padel is as much about positioning as hitting. Try to move together rather than leaving large gaps on court.
Use the back of the court and the glass to give yourself time.
Moving forward as a pair helps reduce gaps between you.
06 / WORDS YOU'LL HEAR
PADEL, TRANSLATED.
A controlled overhead used to keep your net position.
A high shot used to push opponents away from the net.
A shot hit before the ball bounces.
The replaceable grip wrapped around your racket handle.
YOUR FIRST GAME
DON'T TRY TO WIN EVERY SHOT.
Keep the ball in play.
Use the lob.
Let the glass help you.
Move with your partner.
Have fun. You're learning.