How to Play Padel: A Complete Beginner’s Guide

How to Play Padel: A Complete Beginner’s Guide

If you’re new to padel, the game can look complicated at first. The court has walls, the scoring is similar to tennis, and players can use the walls to keep rallies going.

The good news? Padel is relatively easy to learn, and you don’t need to be an experienced tennis player to start enjoying it.

In this beginner’s guide, we’ll explain how to play padel, including the rules, scoring, serving, walls, positioning and basic tactics.

What Is Padel?

Padel is a racket sport normally played in doubles, with two players on each team.

The game is played on an enclosed court that’s smaller than a tennis court. The court has glass or other solid walls around it, which are an important part of the game.

Players use solid padel rackets rather than stringed tennis rackets and a ball that is similar to a tennis ball.

The basic objective is simple:

Hit the ball over the net and make it difficult for your opponents to return it.

How Many Players Are Needed?

Padel is most commonly played as doubles, meaning four players are on court.

There are:

• 2 players on one team
• 2 players on the opposing team

Each player has a position on their side of the court.

Singles padel can also be played on smaller or specially designed courts, but doubles is by far the most common format.

What Equipment Do You Need?

You don’t need much equipment to start playing padel.

You’ll need:

• A padel racket
• Padel balls
• Suitable sports shoes
• Comfortable sports clothing

Your racket is one of the most important pieces of equipment.

If you’re a beginner, look for a racket that provides a good combination of control, comfort and forgiveness rather than simply choosing the most powerful racket available.

👉 Looking for your first racket? Explore Padel Lab’s padel rackets.

Understanding the Padel Court

A padel court is smaller than a tennis court and is surrounded by walls.

The net divides the court into two sides.

Each side contains:

• A service area
• A back wall
• Side walls
• A centre line
• A net separating the two teams

The walls are not simply there to keep the ball inside.

They are part of the game.

Once you understand how the walls work, padel becomes much easier to play.

How Does Padel Scoring Work?

Padel scoring is very similar to tennis.

The points within a game normally progress as:

15 → 30 → 40 → Game

For example:

• First point = 15
• Second point = 30
• Third point = 40
• Fourth point = Game

If the score reaches 40–40, this is called deuce under traditional scoring.

Games are combined to form sets, and sets are used to determine the winner of the match.

The exact scoring format can vary depending on the competition or rules being used, so it’s worth checking the rules of your particular club or tournament.

How Do You Serve in Padel?

The serve is one of the major differences between padel and tennis.

Step 1: Stand behind the service line

The server must be positioned in the correct service area.

Step 2: Bounce the ball

Unlike tennis, the ball is bounced on your side of the court before serving.

Step 3: Hit the ball

The serve must be made underarm, with the racket contacting the ball at or below waist height.

Step 4: Serve diagonally

The ball must travel diagonally into the opponent’s service box.

The serve must bounce in the correct service area before the receiver returns it.

Can the Ball Hit the Wall?

Yes — and this is one of the most important things to understand about padel.

During a rally, the ball can bounce off your side’s wall and still be returned.

For example:

Ball bounces → hits your back wall → you return it

That’s completely legal.

However, there is an important distinction between the ball bouncing first and hitting the wall directly.

Generally, the ball must bounce on your side of the court before contacting the wall if you’re returning it from your side.

This is why positioning and anticipation are so important.

How Do You Use the Walls?

Using the walls effectively is one of the biggest skills to learn in padel.

Instead of immediately trying to hit every ball aggressively, you can allow the ball to come off the wall and then play your shot.

For example:

Opponent hits → ball bounces → ball hits back wall → you play the return

This gives you more time to prepare.

Beginner tip

Don’t rush toward every ball.

Let the ball come to you when appropriate, especially when it is travelling towards the back wall.

Learning to judge the bounce off the glass can make a huge difference to your game.

The Golden Rule for Beginners

One of the biggest mistakes new players make is trying to hit the ball too hard.

Padel isn’t simply about power.

Instead, focus on:

Control → Position → Placement → Power

Keeping the ball in play and forcing your opponents into difficult positions can be much more effective than constantly attempting powerful shots.

Where Should You Stand?

Positioning is extremely important in padel.

When your team is attacking, both players will often move towards the net.

When defending, players generally move further back.

The key is to move together with your partner.

Attacking position

When your team has control of the rally:

Move forward together.

Defensive position

When your opponents are attacking:

Move backwards together.

Try not to leave a huge gap between you and your partner.

Why Is the Net So Important?

Controlling the net gives your team more opportunities to attack.

From the net, you can:

• Hit volleys
• Put pressure on opponents
• Take the ball earlier
• Create angles
• Finish points

However, you shouldn’t blindly rush to the net.

The objective is to move forward when your team has earned the opportunity to do so.

What Is a Volley?

A volley is a shot played before the ball bounces.

Volleys are extremely important in padel, especially when you’re positioned near the net.

Unlike a tennis-style power volley, beginners should focus on keeping their padel volleys controlled.

Aim for:

• Placement
• Consistency
• Control
• Angles

rather than maximum power.

What Is a Lob?

A lob is a shot hit high over your opponents.

It’s one of the most useful shots in padel.

A well-placed lob can:

• Push opponents away from the net
• Give your team time to move forward
• Change the rhythm of the rally
• Create an opportunity to attack

For beginners, learning a controlled lob is often more useful than trying to hit powerful winners.

Basic Padel Tactics for Beginners

You don’t need complicated tactics when you’re starting.

Focus on these five principles.

1. Keep the ball in play

Consistency is incredibly valuable.

2. Move with your partner

Try to maintain a similar position to your teammate.

3. Use the walls

Don’t panic when the ball goes towards the back wall.

4. Use the lob

A good lob can completely change your position in the rally.

5. Don’t always hit hard

Placement can be more effective than power.

Common Beginner Mistakes

Trying to hit every ball hard

Power isn’t everything in padel.

Standing too close to the back wall

Give yourself enough space to react to balls coming off the glass.

Leaving your partner behind

Padel is a team game. Move together.

Rushing every shot

Sometimes allowing the ball to bounce and using the wall gives you more time.

Staying at the back of the court

If your team has successfully taken control of the point, look for opportunities to move towards the net.

Going for winners too early

Build the point instead of trying to finish every rally immediately.

How Long Does It Take to Learn Padel?

There’s no fixed amount of time because everyone learns differently.

However, beginners can usually start playing basic rallies fairly quickly.

Your first sessions should focus on:

Session 1:
Learning the court, grip and basic strokes.

Session 2:
Serving, returning and basic positioning.

Session 3:
Using the walls and learning controlled volleys.

Session 4+:
Lobs, tactics, positioning and developing consistency.

The more you play, the more natural the walls and movement will become.

What Type of Padel Racket Should a Beginner Use?

Your racket can make learning the game easier or harder.

For many beginners, a racket with:

• A comfortable weight
• Good control
• A forgiving sweet spot
• Moderate balance
• A softer or comfortable feel

can be easier to handle than an extremely powerful, head-heavy racket.

If you’re unsure what to buy, our guide explains the main factors to consider:

How to Choose a Padel Racket: A Beginner’s Guide

You can also compare carbon and fibreglass padel rackets to understand how different materials can affect feel and performance.

Padel Beginner Checklist

Before your first game, make sure you understand:

☑ How the scoring works
☑ How to serve
☑ How the walls work
☑ How to return the ball
☑ Basic volley technique
☑ How to play a lob
☑ Where to position yourself
☑ How to move with your partner
☑ When to attack
☑ When to defend

You don’t need to master everything before playing.

Get on court, keep the ball moving and learn as you play.

Final Thoughts

Padel is a game built around control, movement, positioning and teamwork.

While the walls and tactics can seem unusual at first, the fundamentals are relatively straightforward.

Start by learning the serve, understand how the walls work and focus on keeping the ball in play. As your confidence improves, you can start developing more advanced shots and tactics.

And remember: you don’t need to be an expert to enjoy padel.

Grab a racket, find some friends and get on court.

Ready to start playing?

Explore Padel Lab’s range of padel rackets, balls, bags and accessories and find the equipment you need for your next game.