Padel is the racket sport everyone in Manchester seems to be talking about, and if you have landed here you are probably wondering what all the fuss is about. Good news: it is one of the easiest sports to pick up, you can have a proper rally within minutes, and you do not need to be sporty or young to enjoy it. This guide covers the lot from scratch, so by the end you will know what padel is, the kit you need, how the rules and scoring work, and how to get on court. Come back to the deep dives whenever you want more detail.
What is padel, and why has it taken off?
Padel is a doubles racket sport played on an enclosed court about a third of the size of a tennis court. It uses a solid, stringless racket and a soft ball that looks a lot like a tennis ball. The twist that makes it so much fun is the walls: the glass and mesh around the court are part of play, so the ball can carry on after it hits the back or side, a bit like squash. That means fewer dead points, longer rallies, and a lot of laughing when a shot you thought was gone comes flying back to you.
It has grown fast for simple reasons. It is social (always four people), it rewards clever placement over raw power, and beginners can rally with experienced players and still have a great time. The numbers back it up: the LTA reported Britain passing one million padel players in 2026, up from around 860,000 earlier in the year, with close to 1,900 venues nationwide and more opening every month. Manchester has been one of the busiest cities for new courts, which is why we built this site.
If you are coming across from tennis, a lot will feel familiar but plenty will not, so it is worth reading switching from tennis to padel before your first session. And if you are simply wondering how tricky it really is, we answer that honestly in is padel hard to learn.
The court and the walls
A standard padel court is 20 metres long and 10 metres wide, split across the middle by a net. The net sits at 88cm in the centre and rises to about 92cm at the posts. Around the outside there are back walls and side walls, usually made of toughened glass at the bottom (roughly 3 metres) with metal mesh above (another metre), giving a total wall height of around 4 metres.
Those walls are the whole point. Once the ball has bounced on the floor on your side, it can carry on and hit your glass or the mesh, and you can still play it back over the net. What you cannot do is let the ball hit your own wall before it has bounced on the floor. It takes a game or two to click, then you start using the back glass on purpose. A service line inside each half marks out the two service boxes, which matters when you serve.
The kit you need to start
One of the best things about padel is how little you need to buy up front. Here is the short version.
The racket
Padel rackets are solid with no strings, a foam core, and a face full of holes. They come in shapes (round, teardrop and diamond) that suit different players. As a beginner you want a round or teardrop racket that is soft, forgiving and easy to control, and you do not need to spend a fortune. Our racket finder narrows it down in a couple of taps, and to understand what you are buying, read how to choose your first padel racquet and padel racket shapes explained. Ready to buy? Our best padel rackets of 2026 roundup has current picks.
Shoes
Trainers are fine for a first go, but proper court shoes make a real difference to grip and stop you rolling an ankle on the fast direction changes. Look for a padel or clay-court sole. Try the shoe finder or read the best padel shoes of 2026.
Balls
Padel balls look like tennis balls but sit at a slightly lower internal pressure, so they bounce a touch less and behave properly off the glass. Diameter is around 6.35 to 6.77cm and weight is about 56 to 59 grams. Do not use tennis balls, as they bounce too high off the walls and ruin the game. A tube of three lasts a fair while for casual play. See balls compared and best padel balls of 2026.
Clothing
Wear whatever you would for a run or a gym session: breathable top, shorts or leggings, and bring water. That is genuinely it. There is a full checklist in what to wear and bring for your first padel game. Most importantly, nearly every venue hires rackets and sells balls at the desk, so you can turn up with just trainers and borrow the rest. Do not let kit be the thing that stops you booking. When you do want your own gear, everything is in the shop.
The rules and scoring
Padel rules are quick to learn. Here are the ones that actually matter on day one.
The serve
The serve is underarm and gentle, which is a big relief for newcomers. You bounce the ball once on the floor, then hit it at or below waist height, and it must land in the service box diagonally opposite. You get two serves, just like tennis, so a fault on the first is no drama. One quirk: if your serve clips the net and still lands in the correct box, it is a let and you take it again, with no penalty. This is different from tennis, where a net-cord serve that lands in is simply played on.
Walls in play
After the ball bounces once on the floor on your side, it is allowed to hit your walls and you can still return it. If the ball comes off your opponents' serve, it must bounce on the floor before it touches your glass. You cannot volley the return of serve, and you can never let the ball bounce twice.
The score
Scoring follows tennis: 15, 30, 40, then game. If both teams reach 40-40 (deuce), many clubs and leagues now use a golden point, which means the very next point decides the game, and the receiving team chooses which side to receive on. You win a set by reaching six games with a two-game lead. At 6-6 you play a tiebreak, first to seven points and win by two. Most casual matches are best of three sets, but for a kickabout you can just play a set or agree a time limit. If you want a proper walkthrough with examples, read padel rules and scoring explained simply or the full complete rules of padel explained. When you are on court, our free scoreboard tool keeps track for you.
How to play your first game
Padel is almost always doubles, so you need four players and two per side of the net. You and your partner share your half of the court and cover it together, which is part of the fun and part of the challenge.
The golden rule for beginners: get to the net. The team that controls the net area, standing a couple of metres back from it, wins most points, because they can hit down and put the other pair under pressure. When your team is on top, push forward together. When you are defending a lob, drop back towards your own glass and use it. Move as a pair, roughly in a line, rather than one up and one back. You will get pulled out of position at first, and that is normal. Talk to your partner, call the ball, and do not both chase the same shot.
For your very first session, forget tactics. Just keep the ball in play, let it come off the glass, and enjoy the rallies. It comes together faster than you would think.
The basic shots to know
You do not need a big toolkit to start, but it helps to know the names so a coach or a mate can point you in the right direction.
The serve
Underarm and controlled, as above. Aim for consistency over power. A serve that reliably goes in beats a fancy one that misses.
The volley
Hitting the ball out of the air before it bounces, usually from near the net. This is your bread and butter once you get forward. Keep it short and firm rather than swinging hard.
The bandeja
A padel signature. It is a controlled, sliced overhead you use when the other team lobs you, letting you stay near the net instead of retreating. It is not a smash, it is a placement shot, and learning it early makes a huge difference.
The lob (globo)
A high, floaty shot over the opponents at the net to push them back towards their glass and let your team move forward. Deeply underrated and hugely effective at every level.
Off the glass
Letting the ball bounce, rebound off your back wall, then hitting it as it comes off. Scary at first, second nature within a few sessions. Wait, watch the bounce, and be patient.
Every shot with a proper how-to is in padel shots explained, and any unfamiliar term is defined in the glossary.
Etiquette and the unwritten rules
Padel has a few bits of common courtesy that keep everyone happy. Turn up on time, because courts run in tight blocks. Call your own lines honestly and give the benefit of the doubt on close ones. Wait for a neighbouring point to finish before you fetch a stray ball. Do not coach your opponents unless they ask. And if you are the stronger player in a friendly, mix your shots so everyone gets a rally rather than blasting winners. It all makes you the sort of person other people want to play with. There is more in padel court etiquette.
Where to play and how to book
Manchester has a growing list of venues across the city and out into the suburbs, indoor and outdoor, from dedicated padel clubs to leisure centres that have added courts. Our venues page lists them with locations, court numbers and booking links so you can find one near you. Most places book online through an app, in one-hour or ninety-minute slots, and peak evening and weekend times go quickly, so book a few days ahead. Step-by-step help is in how to book a padel court in Manchester, and if you are brand new the getting started page pulls the essentials together.
Roughly what it costs
As a rough guide, a court in Manchester usually costs somewhere between about 30 and 50 pounds an hour, split between four players, so you are often looking at around 8 to 12 pounds each for a game. Racket hire is usually a few pounds, and a tube of balls is a similar amount. That makes a casual game genuinely affordable, especially compared with a lot of other activities. We break down real local prices, off-peak deals and how to keep costs down in how much does padel cost in Manchester.
How to improve and find people to play with
The fastest way to improve is a beginner lesson or two, because good habits early save you months of frustration. Our coaches page lists instructors around Manchester who run beginner sessions and clinics. After that it is mileage: play regularly, watch better players, and work on one thing each session rather than everything at once. There is a simple plan in how to get better at padel.
Finding people is easier than you think. Use our find a partner tool to connect with other players at your level, keep an eye on events for socials, leagues and open sessions, and try our quizzes to test what you have learned. Social formats like Americano and Mexicano are perfect for meeting people, because you rotate partners throughout, and we explain both in Americano vs Mexicano formats explained. Run a club or business and want to reach local players? See advertise with us.
FAQ
Do I need any experience to play padel?
None at all. Padel is designed to be picked up quickly, and most people are having proper rallies within their first session. If you have played any racket sport before it helps, but plenty of complete beginners start from zero and love it.
Do I have to buy a racket before I play?
No. Nearly every venue in Manchester hires rackets for a few pounds and sells balls at the desk, so you can turn up with just trainers and borrow the rest. Buy your own once you know you are hooked, and use our racket finder when you do.
How many people do I need?
Four. Padel is played as doubles, two against two. If you cannot get a group together, use find a partner or join an open session listed on our events page.
Is padel the same as tennis?
No, though they are cousins. Padel uses a smaller enclosed court with walls in play, a solid stringless racket, an underarm serve and a softer ball. Tennis players adapt quickly but have habits to unlearn, which we cover in switching from tennis to padel.
Can I use tennis balls?
Best not to. Tennis balls sit at a higher pressure and bounce too much off the glass, which spoils the game. Padel balls are cheap and easy to get, so stick with those. See balls compared.
What does it cost to play?
Around 8 to 12 pounds per person for an hour once you split the court four ways, plus a small amount for racket hire and balls if you need them. Full local pricing is in how much does padel cost in Manchester.
How do I actually book a court?
Pick a venue from our venues page, book a slot through its app or website, ideally a few days ahead for evenings and weekends, and turn up ten minutes early. The full walkthrough is in how to book a padel court in Manchester.