The Rules of Padel Explained: A Comprehensive Guide

As one of the fastest-growing sports in the world, padel has become increasingly popular over the past few years. Combining elements of tennis and squash, this exciting sport is played on a smaller court with solid walls, making it perfect for players of all levels and ages.

But before you jump onto the padel court, it’s essential to understand the rules of the game. In this article, we’ll cover everything from how to serve to how scoring works, so you can become a padel pro in no time.

The Court

Padel is played on a court that measures 10 meters wide and 20 meters long, with a net in the middle that divides the court into two halves. The court is surrounded by glass or wire mesh walls and a fence that is at least three meters high. The walls are considered an integral part of the play, and the ball can bounce off them during the game.

The Serve

To start the game, a player must serve the ball diagonally across the court from the right-hand service box. The serve must be below waist height, and the ball must bounce on the ground before it hits the opponent’s court. The ball can touch the net on the serve, but it must land in the correct service box to be considered a valid serve.

The Rally

After the serve, the players continue to hit the ball back and forth over the net until one side fails to return the ball. A player can use the walls to hit the ball just like in squash, and the ball can bounce on the walls before it goes over the net. The ball can only bounce once on the ground before a player hits it back over the net.

The Scoring

Padel is typically played in sets, with the first player or team to win two sets being declared the winner. A set is won by the first player or team to reach six games, with a two-game advantage. If the score reaches 6-6, a tiebreaker is played, with the first player or team to reach seven points winning the set.

The Faults

There are several ways to lose a point in padel, including hitting the ball out of bounds, failing to return the ball over the net, or hitting the ball into the net. A player also loses a point if they hit the ball into the walls or ceiling before it goes over the net.

The Conclusion

In conclusion, padel is an exciting and fast-paced sport that requires a combination of skill, agility, and speed. Now that you understand the rules of the game, you can get out onto the court and start playing like a pro. Remember to practice regularly, and soon enough, you’ll be a padel expert in no time. Thanks for reading this article on padel explained, and we look forward to seeing you out on the court!