What is Padel?
The rules:
- Padel matches are played on a 20m x 10m court.
- The ball is out if it goes directly into the opponent's glass wall; it must bounce on the ground before hitting the wall. You can hit the ball on the volley (except on serve), half-volley, or let it bounce off your own glass wall to return it.
- You can't hit the ball into the grid on your side. The rules are similar to tennis, but with wall-specific differences.
- The game starts with an underhand serve, which must bounce before contact & go diagonally into the opponent’s service box. The server has a first & second serve if required.
- A point is lost if the ball bounces twice, hits you or your teammate, or touches the wire fencing or other fixtures before going over the net.
- Matches consist of the best of 3 sets, each with 6 games. The team that wins 2 sets wins the match.
The Scoring:
Padel uses tennis scoring but emphasises tactics over power, with longer rallies due to the use of back and side walls. Matches are typically played to 3 or 5 sets, with each set requiring 6 game wins.
The scoring within a game is 0, 15, 30, 40, and game. At 40-40, players must win by 2 points.
To win a set, you need 6 games. If it’s 5-5, the set continues until one player or team wins 7 games.
If it’s 6-6, a tie-break is played, where the first to 7 points, leading by at least 2 points, wins the set.
The Serve:
In padel, the serve is underarm, with the ball hit below waist level. You must bounce the ball behind the server’s line, between the center line and sidewall, before hitting it diagonally into the opponent’s service box.
It’s valid if the ball bounces off the opponent’s glass wall, but a fault if it hits the grid.
Like tennis, you get two serves. If the first serve is a fault, you get a second try. A second fault results in a double fault, and the point goes to your opponent.
If the ball hits the net but lands in the service box, the serve is replayed.
The glass:
When receiving a ball, you can let it bounce off the glass wall after it hits the ground to keep it in play.
You can also use your own glass wall to return the ball. The grid can also keep the ball in play, as long as it bounces first (except on the serve).
If you hit the ball into the grid on your side, you lose the point. If the ball hits the opponent’s grid or glass wall without bouncing first, it’s out.
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