Padel Rules for Beginners: A Comprehensive Guide

As a beginner, understanding the rules of padel can be daunting. But don’t worry, in this guide, we will take you through some fundamental rules of padel that will help you feel confident on the court.

What is Padel?

Padel is a racket sport that combines elements of tennis and squash. It is played in doubles on a small court surrounded by glass walls and wire mesh. As a player, your goal is to hit the ball over the net and make your opponents miss it to score points.

The Padel Court

The padel court measures 20m in length and 10m in width. The court is divided into two halves by a net that is 0.88m high at the center and 0.92m high at the Posts. The court also has walls, which are 3m high on three sides, and 4m high at the back. The back wall has a wire mesh on top of the glass wall.

The Serve

The serve is the starting shot in padel. The serving team must stand behind the baseline to serve, and the receiver must stand inside the service box diagonally across the court from the server.

Faults on Serve

Scoring

The scoring in padel follows the same pattern as tennis. The first point of the game is called “15”, the second is “30,” the third is “40,” and the fourth is “game point/advantage.” If both teams score three points each, it is called “deuce,” and the teams need to win two consecutive points to claim the game.

The Three-Meter Rule

The three-meter rule is one of the most important rules in padel. It states that no player can enter the non-volley zone, which is a 3m area around the net, to hit a volley unless the ball bounces inside the area.

Let

If the ball strikes the ceiling, walls or any other object before bouncing in the opponent’s court, a let is called, and the ball must be replayed.

The Ball Can Only Bounce Once

The ball must only bounce once in the court before a player can hit it. Once a player hits the ball after it has bounced once, the ball can either hit the walls or the ceiling, and the rally continues.

Conclusion

We hope this guide helps you understand padel rules for beginners better. Remember, practice is the key to becoming a great padel player. Play the game with passion, fun, and fair-play. Enjoy!