What Is Padel? A Beginner's Complete Guide
Everything you need to know about the world's fastest-growing racquet sport, from court dimensions to scoring rules.
Padel is a racquet sport that blends elements of tennis and squash, played on an enclosed court roughly one-third the size of a tennis court. Walls are in play, which adds a tactical dimension that makes the game endlessly fascinating.
The Court
A padel court measures 20 metres long by 10 metres wide, enclosed by glass walls and metallic mesh. The net sits in the centre, slightly lower than a tennis net. The enclosed nature of the court means the ball can be played off the walls, much like squash, creating longer rallies and dramatic shot-making opportunities.
How to Score
Padel uses the same scoring system as tennis: 15, 30, 40, deuce, advantage. Matches are typically best of three sets, with each set won by the first pair to reach six games with a two-game lead.
Why It's So Popular
The beauty of padel lies in its accessibility. The underarm serve removes one of the biggest barriers in tennis, and the smaller court means less ground to cover. Within minutes, complete beginners can enjoy competitive rallies. Yet the sport has an incredibly high skill ceiling — professional padel is a breathtaking spectacle of athleticism, reflexes and strategy.
Getting Started
All you need is a padel racquet (a solid bat with holes, no strings), padel balls (slightly less pressurised than tennis balls), and appropriate footwear. Most clubs provide racquets for hire, so there is genuinely no barrier to giving it a try.
The Social Element
Padel is always played in doubles, which makes it inherently social. Four people on a small court creates constant communication, teamwork and — most importantly — plenty of laughs. It is this social DNA that makes padel the perfect vehicle for professional networking.