Guide
Padel rules explained simply
In short
Padel is played in doubles on an enclosed court about a third the size of a tennis court. You serve underarm, diagonally, after one bounce. The ball must bounce once on the other side before it touches a wall, and after that bounce it can come off the glass and still be played. You can use your own walls to get the ball back over. Scoring is the same as tennis.
The court
A padel court is 20 metres long and 10 metres wide, with a net across the middle and walls all round: glass at each end and mesh fencing along the sides. The net is 88 centimetres high in the middle. Almost all padel is doubles; singles courts exist (6 metres wide) but are rare in the UK.
The serve
- Underarm. Bounce the ball once behind the service line, then hit it at or below waist height.
- Diagonal. It must land in the opposite service box, crosscourt, as in tennis.
- Two chances. Miss the box twice and you lose the point.
- Off the glass is fine. After bouncing in the box the serve can hit the glass. If it hits the mesh fence after the bounce, it is a fault.
- Let. A serve that clips the net and lands in the box is played again, unless it then hits the fence.
- The return must bounce. The receiver cannot volley the serve.
The walls
This is what makes padel different. Once the ball has bounced on your side, it can hit the back or side walls and you can still play it. You can also hit the ball into your own walls to get it back over the net. What you cannot do is hit the ball so it lands on the other side by way of their wall: it must bounce on their ground first.
How you win and lose a point
You lose the point if:
- the ball bounces twice on your side;
- you hit the ball into the net, or straight into the other side’s wall or fence without it bouncing first;
- the ball hits you or your partner;
- you touch the net, or reach over it to play the ball.
Volleys are allowed everywhere except the return of serve. At some venues you may leave the court through the doors to chase a ball that has gone out, if the court and local rules allow it.
Scoring
The same as tennis: 15, 30, 40, game; six games to a set with a tie break at 6 all; best of three sets. Many clubs play golden point at deuce to keep matches to time. Full detail: how padel scoring works.
Changing ends and how long it takes
Change ends after the first game of each set and then every two games, as in tennis. A best of three match usually takes about an hour to an hour and a half, which is why most UK courts are booked in 90 minute slots. A short set to four games (Fast4) takes 20 to 30 minutes, which suits finals nights and social sessions.
Etiquette
- Call your own side of the court, and give the benefit of the doubt to the other pair.
- The serving pair calls the score before each point.
- Wait for a point to finish before walking behind another court.
How Padeliga does it
Once you know the rules, a league is the easiest way to play every week. Padeliga runs padel leagues for clubs: members join with a code, agree times in the app and both pairs confirm each score, so the table keeps itself. Find a padel league near you.
Questions
Is padel scoring the same as tennis?
Yes: 15, 30, 40 and game, sets to six, a tie break at 6 all and best of three sets. Many clubs play golden point at deuce.
Can you play padel singles?
Yes, on a singles court, which is 6 metres wide instead of 10. They are rare in the UK, so almost all padel is doubles.
How long does a padel match last?
About an hour to an hour and a half for best of three sets. Most UK courts are booked in 90 minute slots.
Can you hit the ball off the wall in padel?
Yes. After it bounces on your side the ball can come off your walls and still be played, and you can hit it into your own walls to return it. It must bounce on the other side before touching their walls.
Do you serve overarm in padel?
No. The serve is underarm, after one bounce, hit at or below waist height, diagonally into the opposite box.
Run your club’s leagues in Padeliga
Members join from a code or the QR poster, agree times in the app and confirm each other’s scores, and the table updates itself. Staff see every league on one screen. Clubs get a free 90-day trial, members never pay, and leagues of 16 or fewer are free.