Serve, scoring, and the bits that trip everyone up at first — explained simply, no tennis background required.
Padel is played 2 vs 2, on an enclosed court about a third the size of a tennis court, surrounded by glass and mesh walls.
Serves are hit underarm, below waist height, after one bounce. You serve diagonally into the opponent's box, just like tennis.
Drop the ball and let it bounce once behind the service line before you hit it. No overhead serves — that's the biggest difference from tennis.
Once the ball's bounced on your side, it can go off the back or side walls before you return it — as long as it only bounces once on the ground. Walls are your friend, not a fault.
15 - 30 - 40 - game, then sets. If you already know tennis scoring, you already know padel scoring.
Loads of social games skip formal scoring altogether — each player serves 4 or 8 times, and you just count points 1 to 16 or 1 to 32. Easier to follow when you're new, and just as fun.
In traditional games, the server calls the score out before each point. Don't stress about remembering it early on — everyone on court helps each other keep track. No pressure, ever.
Serving overarm, missing the diagonal box, the ball bouncing twice, or hitting it before it bounces on the return. Everything else is fair game — including the walls.
Win 6 games (by 2) to take a set, win 2 sets to win the match. Most social matches are shorter, so don't worry about the full format early on.
Nobody remembers all these rules on their first game — your coach or group will talk you through it as you go. Just get out there 🩷