Beginner · 8 min

Padel rules explained - a beginner's complete guide

Scoring, serving, the walls, lets, faults - every rule a beginner needs to walk onto court and play a real game.

Last updated: 10 May 2026

Padel rules look intimidating from the outside - walls, glass, weird serves - but they fit on a single page. Here's everything a beginner needs to walk onto court tomorrow.

The court

A padel court is 20m by 10m, enclosed by glass walls (at the back) and metal mesh (down the sides), with a net across the middle. Crucially: there's a service line 6.95m from the net on each side, and a centre service line splitting each half into two service boxes - just like tennis.

Scoring

Identical to tennis: 15, 30, 40, game; first to six games wins a set (with a two-game lead, or tiebreak at 6–6); best of three sets wins the match. Most casual matches are a single set or first to 9 games - confirm with your opponents before you start.

Serving

1. Stand behind the service line, on the correct side (right for first point of a game).
2. Bounce the ball once on the ground behind the service line.
3. Hit it underarm - at or below waist height.
4. It must land in the opponent's diagonal service box.
5. It cannot hit the side wall before the bounce; it CAN hit the side wall after the bounce.

Playing the walls

This is the bit that confuses everyone. The rule is simple: after the ball bounces ONCE in your half of the court, it can hit the walls - back or side, in any combination - and you can play it on the rebound. The ball is dead as soon as it bounces a second time on the ground.

• You can also hit the ball into your opponent's walls - but it must hit the ground first on their side, then their walls.
• If you smash and the ball bounces in their half then flies out over the cage without bouncing on the ground a second time, that's normally a 'por tres' winner.

Common faults

• Double-fault on serve - point to opponent.
• Ball hits the metal mesh on your side directly (no ground bounce) - point against you.
• Ball hits your own walls before crossing the net - point against you.
• Foot fault on serve (foot on or over the line) - fault.

Court etiquette

• Call lines on your side; trust opponents' calls on theirs.
• Wait until a point is complete before walking behind a neighbouring court.
• Knock the ball back to the server - don't smash it.