Padel Rules

Padel rules define how one of the fastest-growing racket sports in the world is played. It's a set of rules that mixes tennis scoring with play off the walls - which is exactly why padel feels familiar at first glance, but plays completely differently. If you're getting ready for your first match, you just need to know a few key principles.

The basic rules of padel borrow tennis-style scoring, but the game happens on a smaller, enclosed court with glass and mesh walls. The ball can bounce off the wall, which adds pace and longer rallies to every match. Padel is also played almost exclusively as doubles, two against two.

Key points

• Padel is played on a 20 x 10 meter court with glass walls that are an active part of the game.

• Scoring works the same as tennis: 15, 30, 40, advantage, and game.

• Serves are hit underhand, below waist height, after one bounce on the ground.

• The ball can bounce off the wall on your own side, but not off the opponent's wall before it hits the ground.

• Padel is played as doubles about 90% of the time; singles exists but is niche.

What is padel and how is it different from tennis?

Padel is a racket sport, but unlike tennis, it's played on an enclosed court where the walls are a full part of the game. A ball that bounces off the glass stays in play, which stretches out rallies and rewards tactics over raw power.

A padel racket is solid, with no strings, and a perforated surface - shorter and smaller than a tennis racket. The padel ball looks almost identical to a tennis ball, just with slightly less pressure. After bouncing off a wall, for example, it slows down more, which makes the game a lot easier for beginners to pick up.

💡 Tip

If you're coming from tennis, forget the big backswings. In padel, control and reading wall bounces win points, not power.

An estimated 25 million people play padel worldwide, and the number of active players is growing at a double-digit rate every year.

What does a padel court look like?

A padel court measures 20 meters long and 10 meters wide, split in half by a net. Each side is enclosed by glass walls and metal mesh, which send the ball back into play.

The court is further divided by service lines into service boxes. Just like in tennis, the serve has to land in the diagonally opposite box. The space near the net is crucial - the team that controls it usually wins the rally.

The glass walls on both sides of the court stand 3 to 4 meters tall. The ball is allowed to bounce off them, but there are clear rules about when that bounce counts and when it doesn't - we'll get into that next.

How does scoring work?

Scoring in padel is identical to tennis. Each game counts as 15, 30, 40, and game, and at 40:40 (deuce) you need advantage and then one more point to close it out.

A set is played to six games, with a two-game lead required. At 6:6, a tiebreak decides it. Matches are usually best of three sets - true for roughly 80% of both recreational and tournament matches.

Element	Padel	Tennis
Scoring	15/30/40/game	15/30/40/game
Serve	underhand	overhand
Walls in play	yes	no
Format	mostly doubles	singles and doubles

How does serving work in padel?

The serve is the rule that differs most from tennis. The server has to let the ball bounce once behind the service line, then hit it underhand, below waist level. There's no overhead toss like in tennis.

Here's how a proper serve works:

1. Stand behind the service line on the correct side of the court.

2. Drop the ball and let it bounce once on the ground.

3. Hit the ball underhand, with your hand and racket below waist level.

4. The ball needs to land in the diagonally opposite service box.

5. After landing, the ball can't touch the mesh directly - that counts as a fault.

The server gets two attempts, just like in tennis. If the first serve lands in the net or out, for example, they get a second try. The ball can only bounce off the glass wall after it lands in the correct box.

How does play off the walls work?

Play off the walls is what makes padel so much fun. The ball can bounce off any wall on your own side after it's touched the court surface. The key rule: the ball must hit the ground first, then it can bounce off the wall.

On the flip side, you can't let the ball bounce off your opponent's wall before it hits the ground - that's a fault. For example, if your opponent hits a hard shot that flies all the way to your back glass wall, you can wait for it to bounce and then return it.

You can even let the ball bounce off multiple walls on your side, as long as it hasn't touched the ground a second time. This rule opens the door to some serious defensive magic - defensive shots off the glass are some of the most spectacular moments in the game.

What are the most common mistakes and faults?

You lose the point if the ball bounces twice on your side, if you hit it into the net or out of the court, or if the ball touches your body. Hitting your own partner with the ball, for example, means you lose the point.

It's also a fault if the ball hits your opponent's wall directly after your shot, without touching the ground on their side first. About 15% of points in recreational matches are lost to serve mistakes that are completely avoidable.

⚠️ Warning

A ball that flies out of the court after a hit counts as out - unless you hit it back in from outside, which advanced players sometimes pull off.

How do you start playing by the rules?

The best way to learn the rules is to just get out there and play. Padel is friendly to every level - after just a few rallies, you'll get the logic of wall bounces and the rhythm of the serve. On your first session, for example, just focus on landing your serve in the right box.

In the Ace app, you'll find opponents at your level, set up a match in seconds, and track your progress - free forever. That's how you go from knowing the basic rules of padel to actually playing real matches, fast.

Frequently asked questions

Can the ball bounce off the wall in padel?

Yes. The ball can bounce off the wall on your own side, but only after it's already touched the ground. It can't bounce off your opponent's wall before touching the court surface.

Why is the serve underhand in padel?

The server has to hit the ball underhand, below waist level, after one bounce on the ground. This rule keeps the serve less aggressive and leads to longer, more tactical rallies.

How is scoring counted in padel?

Scoring works the same as tennis: 15, 30, 40, and game. A set is played to six games, and a match is usually best of three sets.

Can padel be played by two people?

Padel is mostly played as doubles, two against two. One-on-one singles exists on narrower courts, but it's niche and not part of the official rules.

What's the difference between padel and tennis?

The main differences are play off the walls, the underhand serve, and a smaller enclosed court. Padel rackets are also solid with no strings, unlike strung tennis rackets.