What is padel? Rules, scoring & equipment explained

Everything a beginner needs to understand padel — the rules, the scoring, how it differs from tennis, and the gear to bring — in one page. Read it in five minutes, then book your first court.

What is padel?

Padel is a racket sport played in doubles on an enclosed court about a third the size of a tennis court. Players use solid, stringless rackets and can play the ball off the surrounding glass walls, as in squash. It is easy to learn, intensely social, and the world's fastest-growing sport.

Invented in Mexico in 1969 and hugely popular in Spain, Argentina and now across Europe, padel takes the scoring of tennis and the walls of squash and makes a game that most people can rally in on their very first session.

The court is 20 metres long and 10 metres wide, split by a net and enclosed by glass and metal-mesh walls. Almost all padel is played two-against-two, which keeps the running manageable and the rallies long — the ball stays alive off the walls far more than it does in tennis.

A padel court from above: net, service boxes and glass walls. Four players, doubles.

25M

Estimated padel players worldwide in 2026 — up from roughly 10 million five years earlier, making it the fastest-growing racket sport.

Source: industry estimates⚑ Verify

How do you play padel?

Padel is played two-versus-two. The serve is hit underarm, below waist height, and bounced first in your own box. After the serve the ball may bounce once on the floor before it hits a wall; it can rebound off your own back or side walls and you can play it before or after it does. You win points when the ball bounces twice on the opponents' side.

Serving is deliberately gentle: you bounce the ball, then strike it underarm below the level of your waist, diagonally into the opposite service box. That underarm serve is a big reason padel is so approachable — there is no intimidating power serve to return.

How do you score padel?

Padel uses the same scoring as tennis. If you have ever watched tennis, you already know how padel is scored. Each game climbs 15, 30, 40 and then game point. At 40–40 (deuce) a team must win two points in a row to take the game — unless you are playing the popular golden-point rule, where the next point simply decides it.

Win six games (by a margin of two) and you take the set; reach six games all and you play a seven-point tie-break instead. Win two sets and you win the match. The steps below walk through a single game from love to game point.

Start at love
Every game begins at 0–0, called 'love–love'. The serving team stays the same for the whole game.
Win a point → 15
Win the first rally and your score becomes 15. Points are always called with the server's score first.
Win again → 30, then 40
The second point takes you to 30 and the third to 40. Three points clear of your opponents and you are one point from the game.
Play deuce at 40–40
If both teams reach 40 it is deuce. You must win two points in a row to take the game — or, with the golden-point rule, win the single next point.
Win the game, then the set
Take the game and the score resets to love for the next one. First to six games (by two) wins the set; at 6–6 play a tie-break.
Win the match
Win two sets and you win the match. Most matches are best of three sets, so the first team to two sets wins.

Padel vs tennis: what's the difference?

The two sports are cousins, not twins. Padel's smaller court and walls reward touch, positioning and teamwork over raw power, so a complete beginner can enjoy competitive rallies within minutes — something tennis rarely offers on day one.

The table below sums up the practical differences you will notice the first time you step on court.

Padel and tennis at a glance.
	Padel	Tennis
Court size	20 × 10 m, enclosed	≈ 24 × 11 m, open
Walls	Yes — glass & mesh, in play	None
Racket	Solid, stringless, perforated	Strung, larger head
Serve	Underarm, below the waist	Overhead, powerful
Format	Almost always doubles	Singles or doubles
Scoring	15 / 30 / 40 / game	15 / 30 / 40 / game
Learning curve	Rally on day one	Weeks to rally

What equipment do I need to play padel?

To start playing padel you need very little: a padel racket and a pair of court shoes with good grip. Balls are almost always supplied by the venue or your group, and you book the court itself. If you are trying padel for the first time, most clubs and coaches will lend or rent you a racket, so you can turn up in sportswear and trainers and simply play.

Padel racketBring this
Solid, perforated, with a wrist strap. Clubs rent them if you don't own one yet.
Court shoesBring this
Good lateral grip for the sanded artificial-grass surface. Padel-specific shoes are ideal.
Padel ballsUsually provided
Look like tennis balls but slightly less pressurised. Your venue or group supplies them.
The courtUsually provided
You book a 90-minute slot on Rallio — indoor or outdoor, at your level.
SportswearNice to have
Anything comfortable you can move in. No special kit needed to start.

Padel FAQ

Is padel easy to learn for beginners?

Yes. Padel is widely considered one of the easiest racket sports to pick up. The underarm serve, smaller court and walls mean most beginners can keep a rally going in their very first session, without lessons.

How many players do you need for padel?

Four. Padel is almost always played as doubles — two players per side. Singles padel exists and is played on a narrower court, but it is rare and most clubs are set up only for doubles.

Can you play padel on your own?

Not really — padel needs four players. If you don't have a group, join an open game on Rallio: post or join a match at your level and the app fills the empty spots for you.

Do you need to be fit to play padel?

No. Because it's doubles on a small court, padel is far less physically demanding than tennis or squash. Players of all ages and fitness levels enjoy it, and you can play at whatever intensity suits your group.

How long does a padel match last?

Casual games are usually booked in 60- or 90-minute slots. A full best-of-three-sets match typically runs 60–90 minutes, which is why 90 minutes is the most common court booking.

Is padel the same as pickleball?

No. They are different sports. Padel is played on a larger enclosed court with glass walls and tennis-style scoring, while pickleball uses a smaller court, a solid paddle, a plastic ball and no walls.