Padel basics · 8 October 2026 · 4 min read
Padel is a racket sport that mixes tennis and squash. It is nearly always played as doubles, on a smaller court than tennis with glass and mesh walls that are part of the game. It is easy to pick up, very social, and fun from your first game.
A padel court is about 20 metres long and 10 metres wide, with a net across the middle. The ends and the sides are enclosed by walls of glass and mesh, and the ball is allowed to bounce off them during a rally.
A padel racket has no strings. It has a solid face with small holes in it, and a short handle. The ball looks like a tennis ball, but it has slightly less pressure, so it bounces a little lower. Most clubs will hire you a racket and sell you balls, so you can try the game without buying anything.
You play in pairs, two against two. The serve is underarm: you let the ball bounce, then hit it below waist height, diagonally into your opponents' service box. After that, the ball must go over the net, and your opponents can hit it straight away or let it bounce once first. They can also play the ball off the back or side wall after it has bounced, which is where much of the fun comes from.
The ball may not hit the walls on your opponents' side before it bounces on the floor. A point ends when the ball bounces twice, or when a player hits it out or into the net.
Scoring works as in tennis: 15, 30, 40 and game, with games counting towards a set. Some matches use a "golden point" at deuce to speed things up. Your league's rules and info pack will tell you exactly how your matches are scored.
Comfortable sports clothes and trainers with a good grip are enough to start with. Rackets can be hired at most clubs. If you enjoy it, a padel racket is a smaller investment than many other racket sports.
Book a court at a club near you and bring three friends, or ask the club about group sessions for beginners. Once you have the basics, a league is a good next step: you play against teams of a similar level, every week, with fixtures, tables and results in one app.
Padel League UK runs eight-week leagues for teams of two across the UK, in regional leagues and at padel clubs. You can find your nearest league, check when sign-up opens, and register your team in the app.
Padel was born in Acapulco in 1969, grew up in Marbella and Argentina, and is now one of the fastest-growing sports in Britain. Here is how it happened.