Padel is the sport that gets you hooked from the very first hour of play. A unique blend of tennis, squash, and team tactics, where the walls aren't obstacles but allies. Before stepping onto the court for the first time, here's everything you need to know to play properly and make the most of every rally.

Format
Always in duplicate
2 vs. 2
Score
Identical to tennis
2 winning sets
Service
With a spoon
below the belt
Rebound
only 1 bounce
permitted on the ground
Murs
Are part
integral part of the game
Terrain
20m × 10m
windows + wire mesh

1. The field: an enclosed space that changes everything

What strikes you when you arrive at a padel court for the first time is the enclosure. There are no open baselines like in tennis: here, glass and wire mesh completely surround the court. And it's not just to delimit the space—these walls are part of the game.

Net — 88 cm Left square Right square Background Zone — Camp A Base zone — Camp B 10 m 20 m 6,95 m Windows (4 m high) Fencing (3 m high) Service line

The ground measures  20 meters long by 10 meters wide This is approximately one-third the size of a tennis court. A central net divides the two sides, standing 88 cm high at its center. The service lines are located 6,95 meters from the net on each side.

The glass panels at the back of the court rise to  4 meters high , the side railings at  3 meters The minimum clear height above the ground must be  6 meters .

2. Scoring: like in tennis, or almost

Good news for tennis players: the scoring system is the same. For everyone else, here's how it works.

A match is played in  two winning sets In the event of a tie at 1 set all, a super tie-break to 10 points (with a 2-point difference) separates the teams — a rule adopted to limit the duration of matches and keep the intensity until the end.

Game progression
0
departure
→
15
1 points
→
30
2 point
→
40
3 point
→
Game !
4 point
40 - 40
 Equality → Decisive point (Punto de Oro) 
The receiving team chooses which side to serve from. A single point decides the winner. Increasingly common in competition.
Set format
Win a set
6 games with a minimum difference of 2 games
At 6 games all
Tie-break: 7 points with a 2-point lead
3rd set (if 1-1)
Super tie-break to 10 points in competition

3. The serve: the rule that changes everything compared to tennis

This is often where new players are surprised. In padel, there are no full-power smash serves: the serve is...  with a spoon by bouncing the ball before hitting it  below the belt .

 The rules you absolutely must remember: 

  • Both feet must be  behind the baseline , between the center line and the side window — no foot touches the lines
  • The ball is  released, left to bounce on the ground , then struck below the belt
  • The service is carried out in  diagonal  in the opponent's service box (as in tennis)
  • After bouncing in the square, the ball can hit the glass — but  not directly the fence  Otherwise, it's a fault.
  • Each player has  two attempts 

Why this rule? To avoid overly powerful serves and preserve the tactical dimension of the rallies — one of the great strengths of padel.

4. The exchanges: the soul of padel

Here's what makes this sport truly unique. The walls aren't obstacles: they are  gaming partners The beauty of padel lies in this additional dimension.

 The fundamental rule:  After crossing the net, the ball must first bounce  on the ground  from the opposing side before hitting a wall. A ball that hits the opposing glass directly without bouncing on the ground first: fault.

 What is allowed: 

  • hit the ball  à la volée  (except upon return from duty)
  • Let the ball bounce off the glass of  his own camp  before playing it — that's the famous defensive shot called  “counter-wall” , one of the tactical specialties of padel
  •  Leave the field  to retrieve a ball that bounces and goes out to the sides — provided it hasn't bounced a second time on the ground

 The golden rule:  the ball can only bounce only once on the ground  in each camp. A second bounce, and the point is lost.

5. The most frequent mistakes

Here are the classic mistakes to avoid, especially when starting out.

Let the ball bounce twice
The point is immediately lost upon the second bounce on the ground in your court.
Touch the net
If your body, your racket or any object belonging to you touches the net during the rally: point lost immediately.
Hit the opposing glass directly
The ball must always bounce on the ground in the opponent's court before hitting a wall. Hitting the glass directly is a fault.
Hit before the ball crosses the net
You can never intercept the ball before it has crossed the net, even if it's instinctive!
The double strike
The ball can only be struck once per stroke. Two contacts with the racket in the same stroke: fault.
The ball touches a player
If the ball touches a player, their thrown racket or any equipment belonging to them, the point goes to the opposing team — even unintentionally.

6. Equipment: what the official regulations say

The padel racket is  solid and perforated  — no strings like in tennis. It must not exceed 45,5 cm in length, 26 cm in width, and 38 mm in thickness. Its weight is around 370 g. In competition, the wrist strap attached to the handle is  compulsory .

The balls resemble tennis balls but are  slightly less pressurized They must measure between 6,35 and 6,77 cm in diameter, weigh between 56 and 59,4 grams, and be colored  yellow or white .

7. Playing time: something often forgotten

Padel is a continuous game. Between points, rest is limited:  20 seconds maximum between two points,  90 seconds  during changes of ends, and   2 minutes  between each set. Warming up with the opponents at the start of the match is mandatory and lasts   5 minutes .

The number of padel courts worldwide: a historic milestone to be reached in 2025
White Padel Center Barcelona: a 20-track club!
White Padel Center Barcelona: a 20-track club!

FAQ – Frequently asked questions about the rules of padel

What you must remember

Padel is a sport that rewards tactics and communication between partners far more than brute force. Its rules are similar to tennis in terms of scoring, but the presence of the walls creates a completely different game: longer, more physical, and often more fun. The underhand serve, the unique bounce on the ground, and the ability to play off the walls make padel a sport in its own right, one that continues to attract new players in France and around the world.

PDF
Rules of the game & match formats – FFT Download the official document (PDF)
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 Sources 

Team Padel Mag

The team Padel Magazine has been trying to offer you the best of padel since 2013, but also surveys and analyses to try to understand the world of padel. From the game to the politics of our sport, Padel Magazine is at your service.

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