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Everything a beginner needs — the rules, the court, scoring and your first shots — explained in plain English, with no jargon.

Beginner-friendly · written by players · 26 guides

What Is Padel? The Complete Guide to the World’s Fastest-Growing Sport

The first time I tried to explain padel to my dad, 67, hadn’t held a racket in 30 years — I made it sound complicated. Tennis-meets-squash, glass walls, underhand serve, doubles only, lower-pressure ball. He glazed over. Then I dragged him to a court in Austin. By the end of the second hour we were rallying ten shots in a row. The week before, I’d tried to teach him pickleball at the park; we’d managed four.

That gap is the whole story of padel. It’s the easiest racket sport in the world to play badly, and the most addictive racket sport in the world to play well. Invented in Mexico in 1969, padel is now the fastest-growing sport on the planet, over 25 million players across 90+ countries — and the United States is finally catching up. Roughly 500 courts now, up from fewer than 50 in 2020.

This guide is the long version of what I tell friends who keep asking what padel actually is. It covers the rules, the gear, the technique, the US scene, and the parts most “what is padel” articles get wrong. If you read it and don’t want to play, I’ll be genuinely surprised.

Want to try padel? You only need three things to start: a racket, balls, and court shoes. See our picks for the best beginner padel rackets, the best padel balls, and the best padel shoes — or grab an easy-to-play beginner racket like the Babolat Contact.

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The Different Shots of Padel Explained

Padel match in a blue grass padel court - Man player playing a match forehand return

Padel is one of the fastest-growing sports in the United States right now — and for good reason. It’s social, strategic, and wildly fun. But if you want to hold your own on court, you need to understand the different padel shots and what each one actually does. Whether you’re picking up a racket for the first time at a new club in Miami or Austin, or you’ve been playing tennis for years and want to make the switch, this guide breaks down every padel shot you’ll need — from the basic serve to the tricky vibora.

Padel is different from tennis in one crucial way: the walls are in play. That means shots that would be out in tennis — balls bouncing off the back glass, off the side panels — are completely legal here. That single rule transforms every shot into a multi-dimensional decision. You’re not just hitting a ball over a net; you’re thinking about where it bounces, how it comes off the glass, and what angle it creates for your opponent.

Let’s go through every padel shot you need to know, how to execute it, and when to pull it out of your bag.

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Padel Serve Rules: Complete Guide to Serving in Padel

Man hitting Padel serve with dynamic movement. Image source: WorldPadelTour.com.

The serve is the one shot in padel you always start a point with, and the one beginners get wrong most often. Unlike tennis, a padel serve has to be underarm, below the waist, bouncing off the floor first, and landing diagonally in the opponent’s service box. If any of those conditions slip, the serve is a fault.

The serve is one part of the wider rulebook — for scoring, wall play, faults and disputed points, see our complete guide to the padel rules.

A legal padel serve is hit underarm, struck below the waist (at or below 1.06 m from the ground under current FIP rules), after letting the ball bounce once on the server’s side of the court, and landed diagonally in the opponent’s service box on the first bounce. The server stands behind the service line, with at least one foot on the ground, and must not step on or over the line before contact. Each server gets two attempts per point. A ball that touches the net and lands in the service box is a let and is replayed.

This guide covers every padel serve rule you need to know: how to stand, what counts as a fault, when a let is called, how the tie-break rotation works, and the 2024 FIP rule changes that clarified the serve height. It also explains the two most common serve variations (underarm and backhand) and the foot-fault situations that catch every new player out.

Practising your serve? It is far easier with a racket that suits you and fresh balls that bounce true. See our picks for the best padel rackets for beginners and the best padel balls, or start with a control-focused, round-shape racket like the Babolat Contact.

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Padel Footwork for Beginners: How to Move Like a Pro

Footwork for Padel. It's crucial to learn how to move your feet when playing the game of Padel. Image source: The Padel School.

Footwork is the difference between looking like you’ve played padel for a year vs three weeks. It’s also the most under-coached aspect of beginner padel. New players obsess over their forehand technique, their grip, the specific racket model their friend recommended — and then they stand flat-footed waiting for the ball.

The shot is downstream of the position you arrive in, and the position is downstream of the footwork. If you’re a beginner reading this, footwork is your single highest-leverage skill to work on for your first three months.

If you’re brand new to padel and don’t yet know the basics of the sport, start with our complete guide to what is padel first. This article assumes you understand the rules and have hit a few balls.

This guide is the practical version. We’ll cover the split-step (the foundation), the four movement patterns you’ll actually use, the most common beginner mistakes, and three drills you can do in 15 minutes before your next match.

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10 Padel Tips for Beginners: How to Win More Points

Padel is easy to pick up and brutal to master. The scoring is the same as tennis, the court is smaller, the walls are in play, and the paddle feels nothing like a tennis racket. If you’ve just started and you’re losing more points than you’d like, the good news is that most beginner mistakes are fixable with a handful of deliberate adjustments.

Still getting to grips with what is and isn’t allowed? Start with the padel rules, then come back for the tactics.

The fastest way to win more points in padel as a beginner is to cut unforced errors, play the lob and the wall rebound, stay with your partner, and forget about power. Consistency wins at the club level – not smashes.

This guide is a set of padel tips and strategies that actually move the needle if you’re new to the sport. We’ll cover positioning, the must-learn shots, the beginner mistakes that cost most points, and how to build a basic game plan that wins against players at your level. If you’ve never played before, start with our guide on how to play padel.

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How to Play Padel: A Complete Beginner’s Guide to Getting Started

Padel is one of the fastest-growing sports in the United States right now — and if you’ve never played before, you’re in the right place. Originally invented in Mexico in 1969, padel has exploded globally and is now reaching every corner of the US, from California to Florida to New York.

This guide covers everything a complete beginner needs to know: the rules, the court, the equipment, and how scoring works. By the end, you’ll be ready to step on the court with confidence.

Ready to get on court? All you need to start is a racket and a tube of balls. See our picks for the best padel rackets for beginners and the best padel balls — or grab an easy-to-play first racket like the Babolat Contact.

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Padel vs. Pickleball vs. Paddle Tennis: What’s the Difference?

Padel, pickleball, and paddle tennis are three racket sports that have exploded in popularity across the US — but they play very differently. Padel has grown from a niche sport to a mainstream game with thousands of courts and a professional league in the US, while pickleball has been the fastest-growing sport in the country for several years running. On the surface they look similar, but once you step on the court the differences are obvious.

Just comparing the two fastest-growing options? See our in-depth head-to-head: padel vs pickleball. This guide adds paddle (pop) tennis to the mix — a different sport again from wall-based paddleball. You can also compare padel head-to-head with tennis and squash.

PadelPickleballPaddle Tennis
Court size65.6 ft × 32.8 ft (enclosed)44 ft × 20 ft (open)60 ft × 27 ft (open)
WallsYes — glass & mesh walls in playNoNo
BallPressurised rubber ballPerforated plastic (wiffle-style)Depressurised rubber ball
RacketSolid foam/carbon paddle, no stringsSolid composite paddleSolid perforated paddle
ScoringTennis scoring (games, sets)First to 11 pointsTennis scoring
Doubles?Always played in doublesSingles or doublesSingles or doubles
Serve typeUnderarm onlyUnderarm onlyUnderarm only
US popularityFast growing — 1,000s of courtsFastest growing sport in the USNiche, primarily East/West Coast

Other similar sports that use racquets and tennis balls include Padel Ball, Beach Tennis, Squash, etc.

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What is a padel overgrip, and when should I change grip?

Different types and colors of a Padel Overgrip. Image source: The Padel Magazine.

Ask any seasoned padel player what the most overlooked aspect of their game is, and you’ll hear the same answer time and again: grip care. You can own a top-of-the-line racket, nail your footwork, and read the game brilliantly — but if your overgrip is shot, you’re fighting against yourself on every swing. As padel explodes across the US, more players are picking up rackets for the first time, and understanding the overgrip is one of the first things that separates those who improve quickly from those who spin their wheels.

Grips are only one part of the small kit: our padel accessories guide covers protector tape, covers and wristbands too.

This guide covers everything you need to know: what a padel overgrip actually is, how it differs from a replacement grip, why you need one, when to swap it out, which type suits your game, and exactly how to apply it step by step.

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How to Build a Padel Court: Costs, Types and Permits

An outdoor Padel court.

Padel is a major sport worldwide, and it has exploded in popularity across the United States since 2022. Courts are now available in most major cities, including Miami, New York, Los Angeles, Dallas, and Chicago.

Often known as padel tennis, it’s a popular social sport that individuals of all ages and skills may enjoy.

You may be unsure about the best method to follow when planning to create a padel court or start a club. This post will show you how to accomplish it one step at a time — covering everything from permits and planning approvals to choosing the right dimensions, materials, and surface, all the way through step-by-step installation and long-term maintenance.

Padel courts will almost certainly require a building permit. However, this depends on the nation and region. Before you begin, make sure to verify with your local authorities.

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Kids Padel: Get them to share your interest in playing Padel

Young girl learning Padel by doing kids drills. Image source: tenisgimeno.com.

Padel is a competitive sport that helps children learn a new skill, gain confidence and make friends on and off the court.

It brings many benefits like physical coordination and balance and is a fun activity that can boost self-esteem. The question is, what is the best age to introduce children to the sport?

Let’s look go over the basics and benefits of playing Padel. We’ll look at how to find your local padel court, how to motivate children and get them into sports, and the Padel rules for beginners.

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