Padel Tennis Rules: What Beginners Need to Know

As a beginner to the sport of Padel tennis, it can be overwhelming to understand all the rules and regulations of the game. But, don’t worry! This article will give you an easy-to-understand, beginner-friendly introduction to the basic rules of Padel tennis.

The Playing Area

First, let’s discuss the playing area. Padel tennis is played on a court that is 10 meters wide and 20 meters long. The court is surrounded by glass walls and metal mesh fencing. The walls are considered to be part of the court, which means that the ball can bounce off the walls and still be in play.

The Basics of Scoring

The first thing that you need to know about Padel tennis is that the scoring system is the same as regular tennis. Each match is typically played as a best-of-three or best-of-five sets, with each set being played to six games. In order to win a set, a player must win at least six games and be ahead by at least two games. If the score reaches 6-6, a tiebreaker game is played to determine the winner of the set.

Serving the Ball

The serve in Padel tennis is an underhand serve that must be made diagonally into the opponent’s service box. The server must stand behind the baseline and serve the ball into the opponent’s service box, bouncing the ball off the ground before hitting it. The receiver can stand anywhere they like inside their service box, but they cannot move until the server has hit the ball.

If the ball hits the net but lands in the correct service box, the serve is considered to be a “let” and can be retaken. However, if the serve hits the net and lands outside of the service box, it is considered to be a fault.

The Rules of Play

Now that we have covered the basics of scoring and serving, let’s talk about the rules of play. In Padel tennis, the ball can only be hit once on each side of the court before it must be returned to the opponent’s side. This means that you cannot hit the ball twice in a row on your own side of the court.

Additionally, the ball must stay within the boundaries of the court. If the ball hits the walls or fences, it can still be played, as long as it stays within the boundaries of the court. If the ball goes out of bounds, the point is awarded to the opposing team.

Conclusion

While there are many more rules to Padel tennis, these are the basic rules that every beginner should know. As you continue to play and learn, you will become more familiar with the intricacies of the game. Don’t be afraid to ask more experienced players for guidance, and most importantly, have fun on the court!