Padel Rules and Scoring Explained: The Complete Beginner's Guide

Every week at our Manchester club partnerships, we meet players who want to try padel but are held back by one simple fear: "I don't know the rules." This guide removes that barrier completely. Padel rules are straightforward, the scoring mirrors tennis (with one key difference), and you will feel confident stepping onto court after reading this.

The Court: What Makes Padel Unique

A padel court is 20 metres long and 10 metres wide — roughly one-third the size of a tennis court. It is fully enclosed by glass walls and metal mesh fencing, which are integral to the game. The ball can bounce off any wall (after hitting the ground first) and remain in play, creating the long, dramatic rallies that make padel so exciting. The net is lower than tennis, at 88cm in the centre and 92cm at the posts.

The Serve: Underarm Only

Unlike tennis, padel uses only underarm serves. The server must bounce the ball and strike it below waist height, diagonally into the opponent's service box. The serve must land in the service box and can then hit the back wall — but not the side wall on the fly. The receiver can let the ball hit the back wall before returning it. You get two serves, just like tennis. If both fail, it is a double fault and you lose the point.

Scoring: Tennis Format, Padel Energy

Padel uses the same scoring system as tennis: Love (0), 15, 30, 40, Game. You need to win by two clear points. Sets are first to six games, again by two clear games. Matches are typically best-of-three sets. The only scoring difference is the "golden point" — when the score reaches deuce (40-40), the next point wins the game. The receiving pair chooses which player receives the serve.

Key Rules to Remember

• The walls are your friends — After the first bounce, the ball can hit any wall and remain in play
• No volleys near the net — The "no-volley zone" or "kitchen" prevents players from smashing at the net. You cannot volley if any part of your body or racket is in this zone
• Doubles only — Padel is always played in pairs. Communication with your partner is essential
• Let serves count — Unlike tennis, a let serve (touching the net) is replayed
• The ball can bounce twice — On your own side, the ball can bounce once on the ground and once on a wall before you must return it

Winning Points in Padel

Points are won when: the ball bounces twice on the opponent's side, the opponent hits the ball into the net, the opponent hits the ball out of the court (without touching a wall first), or the opponent touches the net or enters the no-volley zone during a volley. The "bandeja" — a controlled overhead smash — is the most common winning shot, but placement and strategy usually beat power.

Ready to put these rules into practice? Book a beginner camp and learn from the pros.