How to Play Padel: Rules, Scoring & Court Layout Explained
By Gary · 28 min read · 1 March 2026
How to Play Padel: Rules, Scoring & Court Layout Explained
By Gary, founder of RacketRise. Playing padel in the UK and tracking the sport's explosive growth.
Last Updated: March 2026
Quick Summary
- Padel is played on a 20m x 10m enclosed court with glass walls and metal mesh — the walls are part of the game
- Scoring follows tennis rules (15, 30, 40, game), with sets to 6 and a tiebreak at 6-6 — but serves are always underarm
- Over 400,000 people play padel in the UK across 1,000+ courts at 325 venues, and the sport is still growing fast
- Find courts near you — use the RacketRise Court Finder to find padel and pickleball courts across the UK
If you've already read about what padel is and you're ready to actually learn how to play padel, this is the guide you need. Not a surface-level overview — a proper breakdown of every rule, every line on the court, and every detail of the scoring system that will make you feel confident before your first session.
Quick Answer: Padel is played as doubles on a 20m x 10m enclosed court with glass walls. Serves are underarm and diagonal, scoring follows tennis rules (15, 30, 40, game, sets to 6), and the walls are in play — the ball can hit the glass after bouncing and you can still return it. Volleys are allowed except on the return of serve, and most UK social matches use golden point at deuce.
Table of Contents
- The Padel Court: Layout and Dimensions
- Scoring: How Padel Points, Games, and Sets Work
- Serving Rules: Everything You Need to Know
- Wall Play: The Rule That Makes Padel Unique
- Volleys, Lets, and Other Key Rules
- Positions: Net Player vs Back Player
- 10 Basic Strategy Tips for Beginners
- Common Rule Mistakes Beginners Make
- Social Rules vs Official Rules
- Where to Find the Official Rulebook
- Sources & Further Reading
- Related Articles
- Frequently Asked Questions
The Padel Court: Layout and Dimensions
The padel court looks like a shrunken tennis court trapped inside a glass cage. That glass cage is the whole point — it's what makes padel feel like nothing else.
Overall Dimensions
A standard padel court measures 20 metres long by 10 metres wide. That's roughly a third of the size of a tennis court, and it's always divided down the middle by a net. Each half of the court is 10m x 10m.
The court is completely enclosed. You're surrounded by walls on all four sides — a mix of glass panels and metal mesh fencing. There is no open space for the ball to escape through (except over the back wall, which we'll get to).
The Walls: Glass and Mesh
This is what makes padel courts distinctive. Here's how the walls break down:
Back walls: 4 metres of solid glass at the centre, with metal mesh extending to the full width of 10 metres. The glass portion is typically 3 metres high.
Side walls: A combination of glass and mesh. The first section nearest the back wall is glass (usually 3 metres high for the first 2 metres of length), then transitions to metal mesh for the remaining length towards the net. The side walls vary by court design, but the key principle is the same — glass near the back, mesh near the front.
Why it matters: Glass walls produce a predictable, consistent rebound. Metal mesh absorbs the ball's energy, so the ball barely bounces off it. This distinction is critical for the rules — and for how you play.
| Court Feature | Measurement | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 20m | Divided by net into two 10m halves |
| Width | 10m | Full width |
| Back wall (glass) | 3m high, 4m wide (centre) | Predictable rebound |
| Back wall (mesh) | Extends to full 10m width | Ball dies on mesh |
| Side walls | Glass + mesh combination | Glass near back, mesh near net |
| Minimum height (enclosed) | 6m | For indoor courts |
[IMAGE SUGGESTION: Overhead diagram of a padel court with all dimensions labelled — 20m length, 10m width, service boxes, net, glass wall sections, and mesh sections clearly marked]
The Net
The net runs across the full 10-metre width of the court. It's 88cm high at the centre and 92cm at the posts — slightly lower than a tennis net (which is 91.4cm at the centre). This subtle difference matters. The lower net in padel encourages more net play and volleys.
Service Boxes
Each half of the court is divided into two service boxes by a centre line. The service line runs parallel to the net at a distance of 6.95 metres from the net. Behind the service line is the back area where the server stands.
The service boxes work exactly like tennis — you serve diagonally from one side to the opposite box.
The Service Line Area
There's a line 3 metres from the back wall on each side — this is the service line. The server must stand behind this line when serving. There's no baseline like in tennis — the back wall itself is the boundary.
Court Tip: When you first step onto a padel court, take a moment to feel the walls. Press the glass, touch the mesh. Understanding how the ball will behave off each surface is the single most useful thing you can do before playing your first point.
Scoring: How Padel Points, Games, and Sets Work
If you've ever watched or played tennis, padel scoring will feel immediately familiar. It uses the same system with a few practical additions.
Points Within a Game
Each game uses the tennis scoring sequence:
- 0 points: Love (0)
- 1 point: 15
- 2 points: 30
- 3 points: 40
- 4 points: Game (if you're ahead)
The server's score is always called first. So "30-15" means the server has won two points and the receiver has won one.
Deuce and Advantage
When both teams reach 40-40, it's called deuce. In traditional scoring, the next point gives one team "advantage." If the team with advantage wins the following point, they win the game. If they lose it, the score returns to deuce.
This can go back and forth indefinitely — which is why the golden point rule was introduced.
The Golden Point Rule
In much of UK social and league play, golden point applies at deuce. Instead of advantage, the next point after deuce wins the game outright. The receiving team chooses which side to receive the serve.
Golden point speeds up matches significantly. A game that could drag through five or six deuces in traditional scoring is settled in one sudden-death point. It's exciting, it's tense, and it keeps matches moving.
Important: Golden point is widely used in UK social play, most domestic leagues, and even some professional formats. But it's not universal. Always check what rules your venue or league uses before you play.
Games Within a Set
A set is won by the first team to reach 6 games with a two-game lead. So 6-4, 6-3, 6-1 — all valid set scores.
If the set reaches 6-6, a tiebreak is played. The tiebreak is first to 7 points with a two-point lead. Serves alternate every two points, and players switch ends every 6 points.
Match Formats
| Format | Description | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|
| Best of 3 sets | First to win 2 sets | Standard competitive match |
| 1 set to 9 | Single set, first to 9 games | Quick social format |
| Timed matches | Play for a set time (60-90 min) | Venue bookings, social play |
| Round robin | Multiple short matches with rotating partners | Social events, group play |
| Golden point | Applied at deuce to speed up games | UK social play, many leagues |
Most venue bookings are 60 or 90 minutes. In that time, you'll typically get through one full match (best of 3 sets) or a couple of shorter-format sets. Don't worry too much about formal match structure for your first few sessions — just play points and keep score however works for your group.
Serving Rules: Everything You Need to Know
The serve in padel is fundamentally different from tennis, and it's one of the things that makes the sport accessible to beginners. No overhead smashing. No 120mph aces. Just an underarm bounce-and-hit that anyone can learn in minutes.
How to Serve: Step by Step
1. Stand behind the service line. The server must be behind the service line (3 metres from the back wall) on the correct side — right side for the first point, alternating each point.
2. Bounce the ball. The server drops or bounces the ball on the ground. It must bounce before you hit it — you cannot throw it up and strike it like a tennis serve.
3. Hit the ball at or below waist level. At the moment of contact, the racket must be at or below waist height. This is what makes it an underarm serve. No overhead or sidearm motion is allowed.
4. Serve diagonally. The serve must go diagonally across the court into the opponent's service box — just like tennis. Right-side serve goes to the left-side box, and vice versa.
5. The ball must bounce in the service box. After crossing the net, the ball must land in the correct diagonal service box. What happens after the bounce determines whether the serve is in or out.
What Counts as a Good Serve
After the ball bounces in the correct service box:
- Ball bounces and stays in play — good serve, play continues
- Ball bounces, then hits the back glass wall — good serve, play continues (the receiver plays the ball off the wall)
- Ball bounces, then hits the side glass wall — good serve, play continues
What Counts as a Fault
- Ball lands outside the service box — fault
- Ball hits the net and doesn't cross — fault
- Ball bounces in the service box, then hits the metal mesh fencing — fault (this is the one beginners find confusing — mesh means fault, glass means play on)
- Server makes contact above waist height — fault
- Server's feet cross the service line before contact — fault
- Ball bounces in the service box, then hits the side wall before the service line — fault (in some rule interpretations)
Two Serve Attempts
Just like tennis, you get two attempts per point. If the first serve is a fault, you get a second serve. If the second serve is also a fault, it's a double fault and the receiving team wins the point.
Serving Tip: Don't try to be clever with your serve as a beginner. Just get it in the box. A consistent, reliable serve that starts the rally is infinitely more valuable than an ambitious serve that hits the mesh fence. Power comes later.
Serve Rotation
The serve rotates just like tennis doubles. One player serves an entire game, then the serve passes to a player on the opposing team, then to the server's partner, then to the other opponent. The four-player rotation repeats throughout the set.
[IMAGE SUGGESTION: Diagram showing a padel serve — server behind the line, ball bounce position, diagonal trajectory into the service box, with arrows indicating legal serve paths]
Wall Play: The Rule That Makes Padel Unique
This is it — the thing that separates padel from every other racket sport. The walls are in play, and understanding when and how changes everything about how you approach the game.
The Basic Wall Rule
After the ball bounces on your side of the court, it can hit any wall — back glass, side glass — and you can still return it. The ball remains in play as long as it hasn't bounced on the ground a second time.
The sequence matters: bounce on the ground first, then wall, then you hit it. The ball can never hit the wall before bouncing on the ground on your side (except in specific advanced situations).
Glass Walls vs Metal Mesh
This is where it gets nuanced.
Glass walls produce a strong, predictable rebound. When the ball hits the glass after bouncing, it comes back towards the court with enough speed and energy that you can track it and hit it cleanly. Most of your wall play will involve glass.
Metal mesh absorbs the ball's energy. If the ball hits the mesh after bouncing, it barely comes back at all — it drops dead. In most situations during a rally, if the ball hits the mesh after bouncing, it's effectively unreturnable, though technically still in play.
On serve specifically: If the ball bounces in the service box and then hits the mesh directly, it's a fault. This is one of the most common rules that catches beginners out.
Can the Ball Go Over the Back Wall?
Yes — and this is one of padel's most spectacular moments. If the ball is hit high enough that it bounces on your side and then clears the back wall entirely, you can actually leave the court through the side entrance and play the ball from outside the cage.
This happens almost exclusively at professional and advanced levels. At beginner level, if the ball goes over the back wall, just let it go and concede the point graciously. Don't try to be a hero on your first day.
When the Ball Hits the Wall on the Full
If your opponent's shot hits your back wall or side wall without bouncing on the ground first, your team wins the point. The ball must always bounce on the ground before hitting any wall on your side. The exception is the net — if the ball clips the net and goes over, it's still in play (like tennis).
Wall Play Tip: The hardest adjustment for new players is learning to wait. When you see the ball heading towards the back glass, your instinct is to hit it before it reaches the wall. Resist that urge. Let the ball bounce, let it hit the glass, watch how it rebounds, and then hit it. The wall gives you more time, not less.
| Wall Scenario | Result |
|---|---|
| Ball bounces, then hits back glass | Still in play — return it |
| Ball bounces, then hits side glass | Still in play — return it |
| Ball bounces, then hits mesh (during rally) | Technically in play, but ball usually dies |
| Ball bounces in service box, then hits mesh | Fault |
| Ball hits wall before bouncing | Point to your team (opponent's shot is out) |
| Ball bounces and goes over back wall | Can be played from outside the court (advanced) |
| Ball hits two walls after bouncing | Still in play — return it (e.g., back glass then side glass) |
[IMAGE SUGGESTION: Side-view diagram showing ball trajectory — bounce on ground, rebound off back glass wall, player returning the ball after the wall bounce]
Volleys, Lets, and Other Key Rules
Beyond serving and wall play, there are several rules that come up regularly during play.
Volleys
You can take the ball out of the air (volley) during a rally. Volleying is a huge part of padel, especially at the net. But there's one critical exception:
The return of serve must bounce. The receiving player must let the serve bounce before hitting it. You cannot volley the return of serve. After that first return has bounced and been played, volleys are fair game for the rest of the rally.
Let Rules
A let is called when the serve clips the net and lands in the correct service box. When this happens, the serve is replayed — no penalty, no point. Just like tennis.
Lets also apply in some other situations:
- If a ball from an adjacent court rolls onto your court during a point, it's a let
- If an unexpected obstruction interferes with play, the point may be replayed
- If both teams agree they couldn't determine whether a ball was in or out, they can replay the point
Ball Touches the Net During a Rally
During a rally (not on serve), if the ball clips the net and goes over into the opponent's side, it's still in play. There are no lets during rallies — only on serves.
Your Body and the Net
You cannot touch the net at any point during play. If you touch the net — with your racket, your hand, your body, or your clothing — you lose the point. This is the same rule as tennis and it applies throughout the rally.
You also cannot reach over the net to hit the ball on the opponent's side. The ball must cross to your side before you can hit it.
Hitting the Ball Into Your Own Wall
This catches beginners off guard — you can hit the ball into your own glass wall, and if it then goes over the net and lands on the opponent's side, it's a legal shot. It's called a "contra-pared" or wall shot. It's rarely used except at advanced levels, but it's legal and spectacular when it works.
Positions: Net Player vs Back Player
Padel is a game of positioning. Where you stand on the court at any given moment is often more important than how hard you hit the ball.
The Two Positions
Net position (attacking): Standing roughly 2-3 metres from the net. From here, you're looking to intercept the ball with volleys and smashes. This is the dominant position — the team that controls the net usually controls the point.
Back position (defending): Standing roughly 1-2 metres from the back glass wall. From here, you're playing defensively — returning balls off the walls, lobbing over the net players' heads, and looking for an opportunity to move forward.
Moving as a Pair
This is the most important tactical concept in padel: you and your partner must move together. Both at the net. Both at the back. Both shifting left. Both shifting right. If one of you is at the net and the other is at the back wall, you're leaving a massive gap in the middle of the court.
Think of it like you're connected by an invisible 3-metre rope. Where your partner goes, you go. When they move up, you move up. When they retreat, you retreat.
When to Be at the Net
Move to the net when your team has hit a strong shot — a deep lob, a low slice, anything that puts your opponents under pressure. The net is where you win points. If you stay at the back all match, you'll be on the defensive constantly.
When to Drop Back
Move back when your opponents have hit a good attacking shot — a smash, a fast volley, or anything that pushes you behind the service line. Don't try to hold the net when you're under pressure. Retreat together, use the glass walls, and wait for an opportunity to push forward again.
Positioning Tip: Watch professional padel for 10 minutes and count how often players move from the back to the net and vice versa. It's constant. The best players in the world spend their entire match moving up and back as a unit. Copy this pattern and you'll instantly play better padel.
[IMAGE SUGGESTION: Court diagram showing both pairs in position — one team at the net (attacking) and one team at the back (defending), with arrows showing movement patterns]
10 Basic Strategy Tips for Beginners
You don't need to master advanced shots like the bandeja (a controlled overhead played from behind the service line) or the bajada (an aggressive overhead drive) right away. These will come with time. For now, here are 10 tips that will make you a better player from your very first session.
1. Get the serve in. Don't try anything fancy. Bounce the ball, hit it softly into the diagonal service box, and start the rally. A consistent serve is worth more than an ambitious one.
2. Return the serve deep. When receiving, hit the ball back deep into the opponents' court. This stops them from rushing to the net straight away.
3. Control the net. The team at the net wins more points. Period. Look for every opportunity to move forward and take the dominant position.
4. Lob when under pressure. If you're stuck at the back and your opponents are at the net, lob the ball high and deep. This pushes them back and gives you a chance to move forward.
5. Don't hit the ball hard. This is the single most common mistake in beginner padel. The enclosed court means power often works against you — the ball rebounds off walls and comes back to your opponents. Focus on placement and consistency instead.
6. Let the wall do the work. When the ball is heading for the back glass, resist the urge to hit it before it reaches the wall. Let it bounce, let it hit the glass, and play it off the rebound. The wall gives you more time and better positioning.
7. Communicate constantly. "Mine!" "Yours!" "Switch!" Talk to your partner on every single point. Padel is a doubles game and communication is half the battle.
8. Move together. Both up. Both back. Both left. Both right. Never leave your partner isolated. Move as a unit — always.
9. Play down the middle. When in doubt, aim down the centre of the court. This reduces your opponents' angles, can create confusion about who should take the ball, and is the safest target on court.
10. Stay patient. Padel rallies are longer than you expect. Don't try to win every point with a single shot. Build the rally, wait for a short ball, and then take your chance. The patient team usually wins.
Ready to put these tips into practice? Find padel courts near you with the RacketRise Court Finder.
The honest take: Every padel beginner's guide makes the rules sound simple. They are — until you actually play. The wall play, the underarm serve, the return-of-serve bounce rule — these take a few sessions to feel natural. Don't try to memorise everything before your first game. Learn the serve rule, the wall rule, and the scoring. The rest clicks once you're on court.
Common Rule Mistakes Beginners Make
After watching hundreds of beginners play their first sessions, these are the mistakes I see most often. Learning them now will save you arguments on court later.
1. Volleying the Return of Serve
The return of serve must bounce before you hit it. This is the most commonly broken rule among beginners. You see the serve coming, your tennis instincts kick in, and you take it out of the air. It's a natural mistake — but it loses you the point.
2. Confusing Glass and Mesh on Serve
When a serve bounces in the service box and then hits the glass wall, it's a good serve — play continues. When it bounces and hits the mesh, it's a fault. Beginners regularly get these confused. The simple rule: glass is fine, mesh is a fault (on serve).
3. Standing Too Close to the Back Wall
New players tend to hug the back glass. This is a disaster. If you're pressed against the wall, you can't react when the ball rebounds off it. Give yourself at least a metre of space between your body and the glass.
4. Not Moving Together
One player charges the net while their partner stays at the back. This leaves a gap you could park a car in. Always move as a pair — both forward, both back.
5. Hitting the Ball Before It Bounces Off the Wall
When the ball is heading for the back glass after bouncing, beginners panic and try to hit it before it reaches the wall. Let it go. The rebound gives you more time and a better angle.
6. Touching the Net
In the heat of a rally, players sometimes stumble into the net or reach across it. Any contact with the net loses you the point — no exceptions.
7. Serving Overarm or Above the Waist
Tennis players are the worst offenders. The serve must be underarm, with contact at or below waist height. If you swing up and make contact above your waist, it's a fault.
8. Forgetting Which Side to Serve From
The first point of each game is served from the right side (deuce side). After that, the server alternates sides with each point. It sounds simple, but in a fast-paced game with golden point, it's easy to lose track.
Social Rules vs Official Rules
There's a difference between what the FIP (International Padel Federation) rulebook says and what actually happens at your local venue on a Tuesday evening. Here's how they diverge.
| Rule | Official (FIP/LTA) | Common Social Play |
|---|---|---|
| Deuce scoring | Advantage scoring (traditional) | Golden point (next point wins) |
| Match format | Best of 3 sets | Timed matches (60-90 min), sometimes 1 set |
| Let serves | Replayed | Often replayed, sometimes "play on" |
| Line calls | Player calls (or referee at pro level) | Honour system, benefit of the doubt |
| Serve faults | Strictly enforced (waist height, foot position) | More relaxed — general underarm is fine |
| Warm-up time | Defined (usually 5 minutes) | Until everyone feels ready |
| Coaching during play | Restricted at competitive level | Partners advise each other freely |
| Ball changes | After a set number of games | When the ball feels dead |
Which Rules Should You Follow?
For casual play, social rules are perfectly fine. The golden point rule is used almost universally in UK social padel because it keeps games moving during timed bookings. Nobody is going to fault you for a serve that might have been marginally above waist height.
For league play and competitive matches, know the official rules. Most UK leagues follow FIP rules with golden point at deuce. The LTA British Padel Tour uses the official FIP rulebook.
Social Play Tip: Before starting a match with people you haven't played with before, agree on the rules upfront. Golden point or advantage? Let serves replayed or played on? It takes 30 seconds and prevents arguments later.
Where to Find the Official Rulebook
If you want the definitive, complete rules of padel, here are your two authoritative sources:
The FIP (International Padel Federation) publishes the official international rules of padel. These are the rules used at professional tournaments and form the basis of all national governing body rules. You can find them on the FIP website at fippadel.com.
The LTA (Lawn Tennis Association) governs padel in the UK and publishes UK-specific rule guidance on ltapadel.org.uk. The LTA follows FIP rules with minor domestic adaptations. Their website includes beginner-friendly rule guides alongside the full official rulebook.
For most players, you don't need to read the full rulebook. The rules in this guide cover everything you'll encounter in social and club-level play. But if you're playing competitively or have a rules dispute you need to settle, the FIP and LTA documents are the final word.
Sources & Further Reading
- LTA Padel — Over 400,000 players — Official participation and court growth statistics for Great Britain
- LTA Padel — 1,000 courts milestone — Court growth from 68 in 2019 to 1,000 in July 2025
- FIP — Official Rules of Padel — The international governing body's official rulebook
- Playtomic — Basic padel rules — Court dimensions, scoring, and serving rules explained
- The Padel Directory — UK market guide — Market size, awareness stats, and industry forecasts
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- What Is Padel? The Complete UK Beginner's Guide
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- Padel vs Pickleball: Which Should You Play?
- How Much Does Padel Cost in the UK?
- Best Padel Shoes UK
- Padel Courts London: Complete Guide
Frequently Asked Questions
How many players do you need to play padel?
Padel is almost always played as doubles — four players total, two on each side. Singles padel exists on some modified courts, but it's rare in the UK. If you can't find four people, the Playtomic app lets you join "open matches" where you're paired with other players looking for a game. Over 90,000 open matches per month were being played through Playtomic in the UK by the end of 2025.
Is padel scoring the same as tennis?
Yes — padel uses the identical point scoring system as tennis: 15, 30, 40, game. Sets are first to 6 games with a two-game lead, and a tiebreak is played at 6-6. The main difference in UK social play is the golden point rule, where at deuce (40-40) the next point wins the game instead of playing advantage. This keeps matches moving during timed court bookings.
Can you hit the ball off the wall in padel?
Yes — this is what makes padel unique. After the ball bounces on your side of the court, it can hit the back glass wall or side glass wall and you can still return it. The ball remains in play as long as it hasn't bounced on the ground a second time. However, the ball must always bounce on the ground before hitting a wall on your side — if an opponent's shot hits your wall without bouncing first, it's their point (the ball was out, as it went over or past the boundaries of the court).
Why must the serve in padel be underarm?
The underarm serve rule is one of padel's defining features and a big reason the sport is so accessible. It prevents powerful overhead serves that dominate tennis, keeping the serve as a way to start the rally rather than win points outright. The server must bounce the ball and hit it at or below waist height, sending it diagonally into the opponent's service box. You get two attempts per point, just like tennis.
What happens when the score is deuce in padel?
In official FIP rules, deuce (40-40) is followed by advantage scoring — one team must win two consecutive points. In UK social play and many domestic leagues, the golden point rule applies: at deuce, the receiving team chooses which side to receive, and the next point wins the game outright. Golden point is popular because it creates exciting sudden-death moments and keeps timed matches moving.
Can you volley in padel?
Yes — volleying (hitting the ball out of the air before it bounces) is allowed and is a core part of padel strategy, especially when you're at the net. The one exception is the return of serve: the receiving player must let the serve bounce before hitting it. After that initial return, volleys are allowed for the rest of the rally. Controlling the net with strong volleys is one of the most effective ways to win points.
What is the kitchen in padel? Is there one?
No — padel does not have a kitchen or no-volley zone. You may be thinking of pickleball, which has a 2.1m non-volley zone on each side of the net called the kitchen. In padel, you can volley from anywhere on the court at any time during a rally (except when returning serve). If you're curious about the differences, read our padel vs pickleball comparison.
Where can I find padel courts in the UK?
There are over 1,000 padel courts across 325 venues in the UK, with the LTA projecting 1,300+ by the end of 2026. The biggest concentration is in London and the South East, but courts are spreading rapidly to Manchester, Leeds, Bristol, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and beyond. Use the RacketRise Court Finder to find your nearest venue, or download the Playtomic app to search for available court slots and book directly.
Free Download: Padel Rules Cheat Sheet
A one-page printable guide covering scoring, serving rules, wall play, and court layout — everything you need on your phone or in your bag for your first match. No jargon, just the rules that matter.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. Equipment recommendations are based on research and testing — individual preferences may vary. Always consult venue staff about court-specific requirements. Prices and availability are subject to change.