What is padel?
Padel is a racket sport played in doubles (2 vs 2), on an enclosed court about a third the size of a tennis court, surrounded by glass and mesh walls. A quick, friendly introduction — what it actually is, how it's played, and why it's the fastest-growing racket sport around, written for anyone picking up a paddle for the first time.
On this page
Court reference — top-down view
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A mix of tennis and squash
Padel is a racket sport played in doubles (2 vs 2), on a court about a third the size of a tennis court, enclosed by glass and mesh walls. Scoring works like tennis, but the ball can bounce off the walls — like squash — which is what makes it so different, and so addictive.
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Underarm serve, walls in play
The serve is underarm
You serve underarm, below the waist, diagonally into the service box — no big overhead serves like tennis.
Walls are part of the rally
Once the ball's bounced on your side, it can go off the back or side walls before you return it, as long as it only bounces once on the ground. Always doubles, always 2 vs 2. Full rules in our padel rules guide.
A solid paddle, not strings
The racket ("pala") is solid with holes punched through it, rather than strung like a tennis racket — shorter, and easier to control. The ball is similar to a tennis ball, just slightly less pressurised (close enough that people often ask if you can just use a tennis ball instead — short answer, not really). Most clubs lend both out for free, so there's nothing to buy for your first go.
Social, quick to learn, genuinely fun
The smaller court and forgiving walls mean rallies last longer and points feel achievable even in your first session — there's no serve to master before you can actually play. It's why padel's become one of the fastest-growing sports in the world, and why so many people get hooked after just one game.
How to actually get started
Booking your first session, what to expect, and finding your feet — the next step after this one.
Read the guide →Want to go deeper?
This is deliberately the short version. Our full rules guide and scoring guide cover the details — and a proper in-depth guide is coming soon 🩷