Padel rules are easier to learn when you separate the game into 4 parts: the serve, the rally, the walls and the scoring. Once those pieces make sense, most beginner disputes disappear quickly.
Last checked: 25 June 2026. This guide was reviewed against the International Padel Federation Rules of Padel effective from 1 January 2026 and current LTA beginner guidance. Local clubs may use different social formats, so confirm match rules before you start.
Quick answer
Padel is normally played as doubles on a 20m by 10m enclosed court. Every point starts with an underarm serve after one bounce. The serve must travel diagonally into the opposite service box. During a rally, the ball may bounce once on your side. After that bounce, it can hit your glass or fence and still be playable. Your return must land in the opponents' court before it hits their wall or fence.
Scoring usually follows tennis: 15, 30, 40 and game. Sets are normally played to 6 games with a 2-game lead, with a tie-break at 6-6 where used. Some competitions or clubs may use golden point or Star Point-style formats, so always check the format before match play.
Padel rules at a glance
| Rule area | Beginner version | What to remember |
|---|---|---|
| Players | Standard padel is doubles | Move and defend as a pair |
| Serve | Underarm after one bounce | Hit at or below waist height |
| Rally | One bounce allowed on your side | Two bounces loses the point |
| Walls | Playable after the ball bounces | The opponent's wall cannot be hit before the ball lands in their court |
| Scoring | Usually tennis-style | Confirm deuce, golden point or tie-break format before starting |
| Equipment | Padel racket with safety cord | Wear the wrist strap during play |
How the serve works
The serve is the first rule beginners should learn properly because every point starts there. In padel, you do not throw the ball up and hit an overarm serve. You stand behind the service line, bounce the ball, then hit it underarm at or below waist height.
The serve is played diagonally into the opposite service box. At least one foot must stay in contact with the ground when the ball is struck. The ball must land in the correct service box before touching anything else.
A serve that lands in the correct service box and then hits the side or back wall is normally good. A serve that lands in the box and then touches the metallic fence before the second bounce is a fault. That distinction catches a lot of new players because they hear “walls are in” and assume every rebound is fine.
Common serving faults
- Hitting above waist height: keep the contact point low.
- Forgetting the bounce: the ball must bounce before you strike it.
- Serving to the wrong box: the serve is diagonal.
- Stepping over the line too early: stay behind the service line until contact.
- Fence after the box: if the serve lands correctly then hits the side fence before the second bounce, it is a fault.
How rallies work
Once the serve is returned, the rally begins. The basic job is simple: return the ball before it bounces twice on your side and make sure your shot lands in the opponents' court.
You can volley the ball before it bounces, just as you can in tennis. You can also let it bounce once, allow it to hit your wall, then return it. The wall option is one of the main reasons padel feels different from other racket sports.
What you cannot do is hit your return directly into the opponent's wall or fence before the ball lands in their court. The ball must cross the net and land in first. After that, rebounds are part of play.
Using the walls without confusion
Think of the walls in terms of order. If the ball lands in the court first, the wall can become part of the rally. If the ball hits the wall or fence first on the opponent's side, it is normally out.
On your side, the wall can help you. A deep shot may bounce near the back glass. Instead of rushing, you can let it rebound and play it after the glass, as long as it has not bounced twice. You can also hit your own back wall first if the ball then travels over the net and lands in the opponents' court.
For beginners, the safest rule of thumb is: land first, wall second. That will not solve every advanced edge case, but it handles most beginner rallies.
How padel scoring works
Most padel scoring will feel familiar if you know tennis. A game usually goes 15, 30, 40 and game. If both pairs reach 40, the game is at deuce unless a no-advantage format is being used.
A set is commonly won by the first pair to reach 6 games with a 2-game lead. If the set reaches 6-6, many formats use a tie-break. In social padel, venues may shorten matches by using time limits, golden point, one-set formats or fixed rotations.
Before a casual game, agree these details:
- Are you playing advantage at deuce or golden point?
- Are you playing a full set, a timed match or a fixed number of games?
- What happens at 6-6?
- Are you changing partners or staying in pairs?
Golden point and Star Point
Golden point means the next point decides the game at 40-40. The receiving pair usually chooses which side receives. It is common in social and competition formats because it keeps matches moving.
The current official rules also allow Star Point-style match formats where organisers decide the scoring method before play. The practical lesson for beginners is simple: scoring can vary, but it should be agreed before the first serve.
When do you win or lose a point?
You win the point when your opponents fail to return the ball legally. That might mean they let it bounce twice, hit into the net, hit out, return straight into your wall before the ball lands in your court, or commit a service fault.
You lose the point if you do the same. You can also lose the point through equipment or conduct issues, including playing without the racket safety cord properly worn where official rules are being applied.
First-match example
Imagine your opponent serves. The ball lands in your service box and comes towards the back glass. You can return it before it reaches the glass, or you can let it bounce, come off the glass and then play it. Both can be legal if you return it before a second bounce.
Now imagine you hit your return hard and it goes straight into the opponent's back glass without bouncing in their court. That is not a winner. It is out. The ball had to land in their court first.
This is the beginner pattern to keep repeating: bounce in court first, wall after.
Beginner positioning rules that are not official rules
Some advice sounds like a rule but is really a tactic. For example, players often say “take the net” or “do not stand in no-man's land”. Those are not official rules. They are practical habits that help you play better.
At the start, learn the legal rules first. Then learn the tactical rules:
- Move up and back with your partner.
- Use lobs to recover the net.
- Do not smash every high ball.
- Defend deep when under pressure.
- Play simple targets when the rally gets messy.
Equipment rules beginners should know
A padel racket is solid, perforated and has a safety cord attached to the handle. Official rules require the cord to be worn around the wrist during play. This is not just formality. Padel is played close to other players, glass and mesh, so loose rackets are a safety issue.
You should use padel balls rather than tennis balls for proper padel. They look similar, but the sport is designed around padel ball behaviour on an enclosed court. For kit basics, read our padel gear guide, or browse padel rackets and padel accessories.
Most common beginner rule mistakes
- Serving without bouncing the ball.
- Serving above waist height.
- Letting the ball bounce twice because you forget the glass is playable.
- Returning straight into the opponent's wall.
- Thinking every fence rebound is legal on serve.
- Playing without the racket safety strap.
- Arguing about scoring because nobody agreed the format before starting.
What to learn after the rules
Once you understand serving, scoring and walls, the next step is playing smarter. Start with simple doubles positioning, safer returns and controlled lobs. You can then move into specific shots such as the volley, bandeja and vibora.
Useful next reads are Is padel easy to learn?, Doubles padel tactics for beginners and How to use the walls in padel.
FAQs
Can the ball hit the wall in padel?
Yes, but usually after it has bounced in the court. If your opponent's shot lands on your side, it can then hit your wall and still be playable before a second bounce.
Can you hit your own wall first?
Yes. A return can hit your own wall first if it then travels over the net and lands in the opponents' court.
Is padel scoring exactly the same as tennis?
It is similar, but not always identical. Standard scoring uses 15, 30, 40 and game, but authorised formats can use golden point or other match formats.
Do you have to wear the wrist strap?
Yes under official rules. The safety cord must be attached to the racket handle and worn around the wrist.
Is padel always doubles?
Official padel is normally doubles. Some venues offer singles-style practice or adapted courts, but standard padel is 2 against 2.
