The padel cheat sheet
Everything a new player needs, on one page. Court, serve, walls, scoring and the shots that matter. Save it to your phone before your first game. Want the long version? Read the ultimate beginners guide.
The basics
Four players, two against two. Court is 20m by 10m, enclosed by glass and mesh walls that are part of play. The net sits about 88cm high in the middle.
The serve
Underarm and below your waist. Bounce the ball once on the floor first, then hit it diagonally into the box opposite. You get two serves. A serve that clips the net and lands in is a let, take it again.
The walls
After the ball bounces on the floor it can come off the glass and still be live. It must hit the floor before any wall. You can play the ball off your own back glass to dig yourself out of trouble.
Scoring
Points go 15, 30, 40, game. Level at 40-40 is deuce, win by two, unless you play golden point (sudden death, receivers pick the side). First to six games wins the set, win by two. At 6-6 you play a tie-break to seven. Most matches are best of three sets.
Where to stand
The net wins points. Get up there with your partner and hold it. Move as a pair, roughly level, and cover the middle. Do not leave the net without a good reason.
The key shots
Bandeja: a controlled sliced overhead to hold the net. Vibora: a more aggressive, spinnier version. Lob (globo): floated over the net players to push them back. Chiquita: low and soft to their feet. Smash: the finisher, used sparingly.
Serving order
You choose which partner serves first, then the order is fixed for the whole set. All four players serve one game each, teams alternating. You cannot just swap who serves mid-set.
Etiquette
Bring or buy your own balls (courts do not usually supply them free). Call your own side honestly. Never walk across a court while a point is live, though passing around the outside is fine. Turn up on time, socials move quickly.
Ready to play?
Find a court near you and book in a couple of taps.