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Padel Rules: The Essential Guide for Beginners

Padel Rules: The Essential Guide for Beginners

Padel is one of the fastest-growing sports in the world. Blending elements of tennis and squash, it’s easy to learn, fast-paced, and highly addictive. Whether you’re new to the game or looking to brush up, this guide walks you through the rules, scoring, and strategy — with gear recommendations from Corcuera to help you play in style.

1. Understanding the Court

A standard padel court is 10m x 20m, enclosed by glass and mesh walls that are part of play. The net stands 88cm high in the center and 92cm at the posts. You’ll play doubles 99% of the time, and walls are used tactically to return shots.

2. Basic Gameplay Rules

  • Serve: Underhand, below the waist, diagonally into your opponent's box. You get two serves.
  • Return: Must bounce once before hitting it. The ball can hit the back glass, but not the fence.
  • Scoring: Same as tennis — 15, 30, 40, game. At 40–40, a single "golden point" decides the game.

3. Serving Rules

The serve must bounce behind the service line before hitting. It can touch the glass after bouncing, but if it hits the fence directly, it’s a fault. Two faults = lost point. A “let” is replayed if the ball clips the net and lands correctly.

4. What’s In or Out?

  • The ball must bounce once before hitting the wall on your side.
  • You can volley, smash, and play off the glass walls on both sides (after a bounce).
  • Shots that hit the mesh/fence or bounce twice are out.

5. Changing Sides

Teams change sides after every odd-numbered game — this keeps things fair when wind, sun, or shadows are in play.

6. Must-Have Padel Gear

Get on court with high-quality gear from Corcuera:

7. Strategic Tips for Beginners

  • Use the lob: Great for pushing opponents back and resetting the rally.
  • Stay close to your partner: Keep a “V” formation and avoid big gaps between you.
  • Don’t rush the net: Only approach when your team is in control.
  • Work the walls: Use rebounds for tricky angles and defensive saves.

8. Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Hitting too hard: Power isn’t everything — focus on placement.
  • Ignoring footwork: Good padel is played with your feet as much as your hands.
  • Poor serve consistency: Practice a smooth, low toss and clean contact.
  • Not using the walls: The best players turn walls into weapons — get comfortable with rebounds.

9. Watch and Learn

Want to see the rules in action? This beginner-friendly video from The Padel School explains everything clearly with live examples:

10. Ready to Play?

Now you know the basics, it’s time to step onto the court. Whether it’s your first match or you’re levelling up your skills, padel is the ultimate social sport. Shop Corcuera’s padel apparel and bring heritage style to the game.

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