How to Play Padel, Point by Point

Four players toss for serve, then begin each point with a bounced serve struck at or below the waist into the diagonal box. At Wildcard Sport, we research federation rulebooks to give players clear, sourced guidance. Teams then rally, using wall rebounds after the bounce, until the ball hits the net, strikes an opponent's wall directly, or bounces twice.

Points follow standard tennis scoring. Pairs switch court ends after every odd game. The LTA states padel is played only as doubles on a dedicated court.

Solo players will not find an official singles format in the rulebook. Tennis or squash fits singles competitors instead. If governing bodies like the International Padel Federation (FIP) ever sanction singles play, court tactics and partner movement would change completely.

A Match From Start to Finish

A complete padel match runs across best-of-three sets using doubles pairs on an enclosed court. Under FIP rules, the interior playing area measures 65 feet 7 inches by 32 feet 10 inches (20 m by 10 m). The net hangs at 34.6 inches (0.88 m) at the center and rises to 36.2 inches (0.92 m) at the posts.

Service lines lie 22 feet 10 inches (6.95 m) back from the net. Our guide to padel court dimensions details the full perimeter layout. Walls and wire mesh fencing surround all four sides.

Play moves quickly. FIP rules allow a maximum of 20 seconds between points. Games use tennis counts of 15, 30 and 40.

Six games win a set if the leading pair holds a two-game advantage. A tie-break takes place if the score reaches 6 to 6. Partners switch court ends after games 1, 3, and 5, as well as every 6 points inside a tie-break.

Our breakdown of padel scoring covers deuce and tie-breaks, and the padel basics guides links every guide. The match concludes once one pair secures two sets.

Before the Match: Setup and Warm-Up

Before a padel match begins, the teams conduct a coin toss and complete a mandatory three-minute warm-up rally. The FIP rules make this courtesy rally obligatory.

The coin toss decides who controls the opening choices. The toss winner selects whether to serve first, receive first, or choose a starting side. Alternatively, the winner can pass the choice to the opposing pair.

Once those selections are made, the opponents take the remaining options. If the winner chooses to serve, the opponents pick their court side. If the winner picks a side, the opponents decide who serves.

Serving and Receiving Order

Under FIP rules, serving and receiving orders are fixed for each set before the first ball is struck. The serving pair selects which partner serves the opening game. The LTA confirms that servers alternate throughout the set, with each player serving an entire game.

In the set's first receiving game, the returning pair decides which partner takes the first serve. That designated player must receive the opening serve of every game during the set.

Receivers alternate sides point by point as the server changes sides. This locked order turns the initial choice into a tactical decision rather than a routine formality. The only exception occurs on a deciding golden point or star point, where the receiving pair chooses which partner receives.

The server stands with one foot behind the service line and within the service box width. The ball must bounce in the server's box before being struck at or below waist height. The server must keep at least one foot on the ground during contact.

The serve must travel diagonally over the net into the receiver's box. Servers start from the right side for the first point and alternate sides each point. Each server receives two attempts before committing a double fault.

Receivers cannot volley the serve. The ball must bounce once inside the service box before the receiver strikes it. If the serve strikes the receiver or their racket before bouncing, the server wins the point automatically.

Our complete guide to padel rules covers service faults and wall contacts in greater detail.

Rallies, Volleys and the Walls

Once a legal serve is returned, players rally alternately by hitting the ball before a second bounce occurs. Only one player from a pair may hit each ball.

Rallies allow both volleys and groundstrokes. Players can strike the ball out of the air before it bounces, or play it after a single bounce. Once the ball bounces on your court, it may hit any glass wall or wire fence before you return it.

Letting the ball pass to the back glass is a core skill. The LTA says the biggest challenge for tennis players is using the back glass, because they play every ball in front of them. Our padel vs tennis comparison covers the other differences.

Padel rules permit players to hit the ball against their own glass walls. A defensive strike off your own back wall must cross the net and bounce into the opposing court. However, striking your own metal fence immediately loses the point.

Under LTA rules, a shot that bounces once in the opponent's court and travels over the back wall or cage remains in play. Conversely, any shot that hits the opponent's glass or wire fence without bouncing is out.

Out-of-court play is legal when facilities provide the required safety perimeter. The LTA notes that leaving through an access door to retrieve a ball is permitted if the ball left after bouncing in court. If the enclosure lacks this safety zone, play outside the court boundaries remains forbidden.

Ending a Point

A padel point ends the moment a ball bounces twice, hits an illegal surface, or violates rally rules. Allowing the ball to bounce twice on your side awards the point to the opponents. Hitting the net on a return also ends the exchange immediately.

Striking the perimeter walls incorrectly causes an immediate fault. Your shot loses the point if it hits an opponent's wall or wire fence before bouncing on the court surface. Striking your own wire fence or the ground on your side also costs your team the point.

Team infractions conclude the rally as well. If both partners touch the ball or one player strikes it twice, the point is lost. Our padel rules guide lists every way to lose a point.

Where to Stand

Effective court positioning in padel divides the court into an attacking zone at the net and a defending zone at the back. The LTA defines the net as the attacking position, where players execute volleys and smashes. The back of the court serves as the defending zone for groundstrokes and back-glass returns.

Teams control points by holding the net rather than retreating to the baseline. In padel, defending pairs work from the back to neutralize attacking shots until an opening appears.

Moving With Your Partner

Partners should move together. The LTA emphasizes that partners should move as a pair across the court. When one player moves forward to attack at the net, the partner advances alongside them.

If a defensive lob forces one player backward, both players retreat together to defend.

Basic Shots for Beginners

New padel players should focus on three foundational shots: the lob, the bandeja, and the back-glass return. The LTA describes the lob as the way to push net players back and regain the net.

The LTA defines the bandeja as a high volley hit like a smash with underspin, which reduces the ball's bounce.

When defending, the LTA instructs players to hit the ball after it comes off the back wall. Waiting for the rebound gives players extra time to read the trajectory and position their feet.

Shots Unique to Padel

Padel has a few shots of its own. The LTA identifies distinct padel shots including the bajada, the bandeja, and the double glass.

Most other shots, such as standard volleys and groundstrokes, originate in traditional tennis. The LTA recommends using a short backswing on both the forehand and the backhand. That gives faster reactions and more control.

Checking our guide on padel tips for beginners provides practical drills to build these technical habits. Read our guide to finding a padel court near you, then book a court with three partners to learn how to play padel in a real game.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do beginners play padel?

Beginners play padel as doubles on an enclosed 20 m by 10 m court using solid rackets and low-pressure balls. Each point starts with an underhand bounced serve hit diagonally, followed by rallies where the ball can rebound off the glass walls after bouncing once. Review our how to start playing padel guide for equipment and booking advice.

Who serves first in padel?

A coin toss decides who serves first. Under FIP regulations, the toss winner can choose to serve first, receive first, or select their preferred side of the court. The serving pair then chooses which partner serves the opening game, and that serving order remains fixed for the entire set.

Do you switch serve every game in padel?

Yes, service alternates between teams after every completed game, with each player serving an entire game. Under FIP rules, the order of servers within each pair is set at the start of each set and cannot change until the set ends. Teams also switch court ends after every odd game, such as games 1, 3, and 5.

Can you volley in padel?

Yes, except on the return of serve. The receiver must let the serve bounce once inside the service box before hitting it, and striking an incoming serve out of the air forfeits the point immediately. Once the rally begins, players regularly volley at the net to maintain an attacking position.

Can you hit the ball off the wall on your side?

Yes, you can hit the ball against your own glass walls so that it rebounds over the net into the opposing court. The ball must bounce in the opponents' court without hitting their walls or fence first. Your own metal fence is different: hitting it loses the point.

Where should you stand in padel doubles?

Partners should stand together either in the attacking position at the net or in the defending position at the back. The LTA emphasizes moving as a synchronized pair, shifting forward together when attacking and retreating together when defending.

What is a bandeja in padel?

The LTA defines the bandeja as a high volley hit like a smash with underspin, which reduces the ball's bounce. It is one of the padel-specific shots the LTA names, along with the bajada and the double glass.