Padel for Beginners — The Complete Guide

Padel (also called padel tennis) is a racket sport that combines elements of tennis and squash. It is played on a smaller court enclosed by glass walls and mesh fencing. These walls are not just boundaries — they are an active part of play, as the ball can be played off them, creating spectacular rallies.

The sport was invented in 1969 by Mexican entrepreneur Enrique Corcuera and initially spread through Spain and Argentina. Today padel is the fastest growing sport in the world. More than 25 million people already play padel globally, and the number of courts is growing every month.

Why is padel so popular?

• Easy to learn: Most beginners can rally after 30 minutes of introduction. No string technique to master, the ball is slightly softer and the court is smaller.
• Social:Padel is always played doubles (2 vs 2). The smaller court and slower rallies encourage communication. It's a real team experience.
• All ages: From 8 to 80 — padel is joint-friendly, running distances are short and the load is evenly distributed.
• Affordable:A court for 4 players costs 20–50 EUR per hour. Per person that's only 5–12 EUR.
• Indoor possible: Most courts are indoor facilities, meaning you can play year round.

Padel rules are simple and based on tennis. Here are the key differences.

The Court

A padel court is 20 x 10 metres (tennis: 23.77 x 10.97m). It is surrounded by walls: rear and partial side walls of glass (3 metres high), the rest mesh (4 metres high). The surface is artificial turf with sand infill. The net is slightly lower than tennis: 88 cm in the middle, 92 cm at the posts.

The Serve

• The serve is underarm — the ball must be struck below hip height.
• The ball is bounced on the ground and then hit — not thrown up like tennis.
• The serve must be diagonal into the opponent's service box.
• Two attempts per serve, as in tennis.

Scoring

Scoring is identical to tennis: 15, 30, 40, game. Sets are played to 6 games, with a tiebreak at 6–6. A match is best of 3 sets.

The Walls — what makes padel unique

• The ball may touch the walls after it has bounced on the floor.
• Players may return the ball after wall contact — this creates spectacular rallies.
• The ball must never be played directly (as a volley) into your own back wall.
• Players may leave the court through the side gate to retrieve a ball that has gone over the side wall.

Key shots

• Volley: The most important shot at the net. Like tennis but with less power and more placement.
• Bandeja: Defensive overhead — the ball is played back with slice and low pace.
• Vibora: More aggressive overhead with sidespin.
• Lob: High ball over the opponents that bounces off the back wall.
• Chiquita: Soft ball just over the net — forces opponents to play below net height.

The Racket

A padel racket is solid (no strings), made of carbon or fiberglass, and has a perforated hitting surface. Three shapes:

• Round — largest sweet spot, maximum control. Best for beginners. Budget: 60–120 EUR.
• Teardrop — balance of control and power. For intermediate players. Budget: 120–250 EUR.
• Diamond — maximum power, small sweet spot. For advanced/competitive players. Budget: 200–400 EUR.

Shoes

Padel shoes have a herringbone sole optimised for artificial turf. Tennis clay-court shoes are a good alternative. Do NOT use running shoes — they can damage the court. Price: 50–130 EUR.

Balls

Padel balls have lower internal pressure than tennis balls (4.6–5.2 PSI vs 12–14 PSI) and bounce more slowly. A can of 3 padel balls costs 4–7 EUR.

Your first hour of padel is usually straightforward. Here's what to expect:

1. Book a court — use the Padel Courts finden to find a court near you.
2. Rent equipment — ask for a racket and balls at reception (3–5 EUR).
3. Warm up — start with simple cross-court rallies. Don't worry about the walls yet.
4. Try the walls — let the ball hit the back wall and play it back. This is what makes padel fun.
5. First game — use simplified rules: just play points and enjoy the rally.