Scoring
Padel uses the same scoring system as tennis: 15, 30, 40, game. At deuce, one team must win by two points. A set is won by the first team to reach 6 games with at least a 2-game lead. Most matches are best of 3 sets.
Serving
The serve must be underhand — the ball must bounce on the ground first, then be hit at or below waist height. The serve is diagonal, just like tennis. You get two attempts.
Walls are in play
After the ball bounces on your side, you can play it off the glass walls — just like squash. You can even leave the court through the side openings to retrieve a lob. This is one of the most unique and exciting aspects of padel.
Key wall rules
- The ball must bounce on the floor before hitting a wall on the receiving side
- You can hit the ball against your own glass wall to send it into the opponent's court
- If the ball hits the metal fence (not glass) on the full, it's out
Lets and faults
- Let: If the serve hits the net but still lands correctly, it's replayed
- Foot fault: Both feet must be behind the service line when serving
- Double bounce: If the ball bounces twice on your side, you lose the point
Quick summary
That's really all you need to know. The beauty of padel is that it's simple to understand but endlessly deep in strategy. The walls create long rallies, and the doubles format means communication and positioning are key.