Padel is a sport that combines elements of tennis and squash and is played on a specially designed court. Like all sports, padel has specific rules that must be followed to ensure fair play and smooth game flow. Below, we explore the basic rules of padel.
How is padel played?
Padel is played by two teams of two players, positioned on opposite sides of the court. Before the match begins, a draw takes place, and the winning team chooses either which team will serve first or which side of the court they will start on.
Each point begins with a serve. The serving player must stand behind the service line on the appropriate side, depending on the score.
Padel court specifications
Embed from Getty ImagesA padel court is 20 meters long and 10 meters wide. The distance from the net to the service line is 6.96 meters. The center service line divides the court into two equal halves and extends 20 centimeters beyond the service line. All court lines must be 5 centimeters wide.
The net is 10 meters wide and 88 centimeters high at the center, reaching up to 92 centimeters at the sides. Glass walls are a defining feature of padel courts. The back walls are 4 meters high, with the lower 3 meters made of glass and the top 1 meter made of metal mesh. The side walls are divided into two sections: the section closer to the back wall measures 3 x 2 meters, followed by a 2 x 2 meter section. These walls are then completed with metal mesh up to a height of 3 meters.
How are points won in padel?
In padel, a point can be won in several ways, including:
- When the ball bounces twice on the opponents’ side
- When the opponents’ ball hits the metal mesh before bouncing on your side
- When the opponents hit the ball into the net or out of the court
- When the opponents’ ball hits the glass on your side before bouncing on the ground
- When the ball hits an opponent’s body
How scoring works in padel
Padel uses the same scoring system as tennis: 0, 15, 30, 40, and game, representing zero, one, two, three points, and winning a game.
If the score reaches 40–40, the next point gives advantage (Ad). One more point is needed to win the game. If that point is lost, the score returns to 40–40.
A match is won by the team that first wins two sets. Each set is won by the first team to reach six games. If the score reaches 6–6, a tie-break is played, usually to seven points.