Walled court, perforated racket, underarm serve: the key differences between padel and tennis, and your first steps.
Padel is a racket sport somewhere between tennis and squash. It is quick to learn and very social, which is why it is spreading fast around the world and in Turkey. If you play tennis, switching to padel is easy, but there are a few important differences.
The court
A padel court is smaller than a tennis court: 20 metres long and 10 metres wide. There is a net in the middle and the court is enclosed by glass and mesh walls. The ball can stay in play after bouncing off the walls; this is padel's most distinctive feature.
Racket and ball
- Racket: It has no strings. It has a firm, perforated face and a short handle.
- Ball: Very similar to a tennis ball, but a padel ball has slightly lower pressure.
Play and serve
- Padel is mostly played as doubles, two against two.
- The serve is underarm: the ball is bounced first and struck below waist height.
- The serve must land diagonally in the opposite service box.
- The ball may bounce only once on your side of the court; it may then hit the wall.
Scoring
Scoring is the same as in tennis: 15, 30, 40 and game; games make sets and sets make the match. If you know tennis, you don't need to learn a new way of counting. For details of tennis scoring, see tennis rules.
Tips if you're coming from tennis
- With a short racket and a small court, strokes are more compact; shorten your big tennis swing.
- Learn to wait for the ball to come off the wall. This is what beginners find hardest.
- Because it's a doubles game, communication and positioning with your partner matter a lot.
How to start
Playing your first few sessions with a coach or experienced players helps you learn the wall game quickly. Comfortable sportswear and shoes with good lateral support are enough. Ask in advance whether you can rent a racket from the facility for your first sessions.
For the official, detailed rules, see the rules published by the International Padel Federation (FIP).