In short
To play padel, team up in pairs, serve underhand into the diagonal box, and keep the ball in play: let it bounce once, use the walls when it passes you, and lob to push opponents back from the net. Most points are won by the pair that controls the net, so patience beats power.
Updated
What do you need before your first padel match?
You need three other players, a court booking, a racket, balls and court shoes. Most padel clubs let you book online, rent rackets, and join beginner clinics or open-play sessions that match you with other players at your level, which is the easiest way to start if you do not have a group. Our club directory lists courts by city, and padel near me explains what to look for in a club.
Wear comfortable sports clothes and court shoes with a herringbone or clay-style sole; running shoes slip on sanded turf. A borrowed or rented racket is fine at first. When you buy, start with a round, control-oriented model; see best padel rackets for beginners.
How should you warm up for padel?
Spend five to ten minutes raising your heart rate, then loosen the areas padel loads most. LTA Padel's coaches recommend getting the body moving first, then using padel-specific movements to activate the arms, shoulders, thighs and calves. Padel is full of short sprints, lunges and quick changes of direction, so a few side shuffles, lunges and shoulder rotations go a long way. In matches, FIP's rules provide a short warm-up rally before play starts.
How does a padel match start?
Spin a racket or toss a coin. The winners choose to serve or receive, or choose an end, or let the other pair choose first. Each pair then decides who serves first and who receives on the right side; those orders hold for the whole set.
Agree the scoring format before the first point: advantage, golden point or Star Point at deuce, and whether you will play full sets or a match tiebreak. Our scoring guide explains each option.
How do you serve and return in padel?
Stand behind the service line on the right side, bounce the ball, and hit it underhand at or below waist height, diagonally into the opponent's service box. You have two attempts. The serve must not hit the mesh fence after it bounces; the glass is fine. After each point, switch to the other side. Details are in padel serve rules.
When receiving, let the ball bounce in your box. If it is deep, let it come off the back glass and play it as it comes back to you. Aim your return low through the middle or as a lob over the net player, rather than trying to hit a winner.
How do you use the walls?
Once the ball has bounced on your side, it can hit your walls and you can still play it before it bounces again. For beginners, the single most useful habit is to let deep balls come off the back glass rather than lunging at them early. LTA Padel's coaches suggest using the glass as much as possible early on, to get comfortable with it.
The technique is simple to describe: turn side-on, take the racket back early, move to give yourself space from the wall, and hit the ball as it comes forward toward the net, keeping the swing short. Your own shot can also hit your own glass and still be good if it then lands in the opponents' court. Our guide to playing off the glass has drills.
Which shots should beginners learn first?
Learn four shots and you can play a real match:
- Groundstrokes: forehand and backhand from the back of the court, with a short backswing and the ball kept low over the net.
- The volley: a short, punched shot at the net, with the racket held up in front of you. Most points in padel are won at the net.
- The lob: a high, deep ball over the net players that pushes them back. Coaches call it the most important shot in padel. See the padel lob.
- The bandeja: a controlled, sliced overhead that answers a lob while keeping you at the net. See the bandeja.
Power comes later. Padel rewards accuracy and placement; a hard shot from the back usually gives the net team an easy volley.
Where should you stand on the court?
Partners move as a unit, either both up at the net or both back near the glass, roughly side by side. Splitting up, with one up and one back, leaves a diagonal gap that opponents aim at. When your team gets a chance, such as after a good lob or a weak return, move forward together. When you are lobbed, move back together.
At the net, stand about two meters from it, not glued to the net, so you can cover lobs. At the back, stay a step or two in front of the glass so the ball has room to rebound. Talk constantly: "mine", "yours", and who takes balls down the middle. Agree that the player whose forehand covers the center takes middle balls unless you decide otherwise.
What is padel etiquette?
Call the score before each serve, server's score first. Call out lines and doubles honestly on your own side. Wait for a point to finish before crossing behind another court's glass, and return stray balls between points. Always wear the wrist cord, since padel rackets are heavy and the court is small. And meet your opponents at the net at the end; a racket tap or handshake is the usual way to finish.
Your first racket should favour control and comfort: compare options in the best padel rackets for beginners, then book a beginner session through the padel near me finder.
How to play padel: frequently asked questions
How long does it take to learn padel?
Most beginners can rally and play a simple match in their first session. Becoming comfortable off the back glass and at the net usually takes several weeks of regular play or a few lessons.
Do I need lessons to start padel?
No, but one or two lessons speed things up a lot. A coach can fix grip, swing length and positioning early, before bad habits form.
What is the most important skill for a beginner?
Consistency: getting the ball back over the net and into the court. Most points at beginner level are lost on errors, not won with winners.
Can you play padel with three people?
Not a normal match. Three players can practice drills or play games such as one player against two at the net, but official padel is two against two.
Which side should I play, left or right?
Beginners usually start on the right, the forehand side for right-handers. Stronger overheads often play the left, since the left-side player covers the middle with their forehand and takes more overheads. Try both.
What should I wear to play padel?
Light sports clothes and court shoes with a herringbone or clay sole for grip on sanded turf. Some players add a glove for grip or sweatbands in hot weather.
Sources
- International Padel Federation, Rules of Padel (review in force January 1, 2026), checked October 11, 2026.
- LTA Padel, Six padel tips for beginners and Padel match tactics for beginners, checked October 11, 2026.
- LTA Padel, Volley tips and Master your lobs, checked October 11, 2026.
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