Padel Rules: How to Play, Score and Serve

Last updated: 6 July 2026

Padel is a doubles racket sport played on an enclosed court measuring 10 × 20 m, with glass and mesh walls that are part of play. Scoring is the same as tennis (15, 30, 40, game; six games win a set; best of three sets), the serve is always underhand and played cross-court after one bounce, and you may let the ball rebound off your own glass walls before returning it. The rules below cover scoring, serving and how points are won and lost. New to the game? A forgiving round racket is the easiest way to start - see our padel rackets.

Padel is one of the fastest-growing sports in the world in recent years, and it has taken Estonia by storm. The secret to its success lies in its simplicity and social nature, making it an ideal hobby for players of all ages and levels. Essentially, padel is a racket sport that requires no prior experience. Here is a clear explanation of the game of padel, giving you a comprehensive overview of scoring, serving, and other essential rules you need to know before stepping onto the court.

What is Padel?

Padel is a sport that combines elements of tennis and squash. It is a doubles game played by four people on an artificial grass court covered with a thin layer of sand. The court is enclosed by mesh and glass walls, which are an active part of the game and allow the ball to bounce off them, adding a strategic dimension.

Where did Padel originate?

The history of padel dates back to 1969, when Mexican businessman Enrique Corcuera invented the game at his home in Acapulco. Since his property didn't have space for a full-sized tennis court, he adapted his squash court and added walls to prevent the ball from getting lost. Initially, the walls and surface were concrete, and spectators couldn't watch the game. Over time, glass walls and artificial grass replaced the concrete.

The game spread quickly to Europe through his Spanish friends. Padel remained a niche sport for decades, but its popularity exploded during the COVID-19 pandemic, as it can be played outdoors and involves no direct physical contact. Now, there are approximately over 30 million padel players worldwide, and it has never been more popular.

How to play Padel?

Padel rules and basics are universal - playing padel in Tallinn means following the same rules as playing padel anywhere else in the world.

Padel Scoring System

A padel match consists of three sets, which in turn consist of games. To win a match, you must win two sets.

To win a set, you must win six games and hold a lead of at least two games. If the score in games reaches a 6-6 tie, a tie-break is played where points are counted 1, 2, 3, etc., until one team reaches at least seven points with a two-point lead.

Serving works differently in the tie-break, and this is where most confusion comes from. Per the FIP rules:

• The player whose turn it is to serve (following the set's service order) starts the tie-break and serves only one point, from the right side.
• Serve then passes to the opposing team, who serve the next two points - starting from the left side, then the right.
• From there, each player serves two consecutive points in turn, always in the set's service order, and every server starts their pair of points from the left. This is the "reversal" players talk about: in a normal game the first serve of a game goes from the right, but in a tie-break each two-point block begins on the left.
• Teams change ends every six points, and whoever wins the tie-break takes the set 7-6.
• The next set is opened by a player of the team that did not serve first in the tie-break.

To win a game, you must score four points with a two-point lead. Points in a padel game are counted the same way as in tennis. Padel points:

• 15 - one point;
• 30 - two points;
• 40 - three points.

If the game reaches 40-40 (deuce), how it is settled depends on the format being used:

• Advantage (traditional): you must win two points in a row - win the next point for "advantage", then win again to take the game; lose it and the score returns to deuce, repeating until one team leads by two.
• Golden point: a single sudden-death point decides the game immediately at 40-40. The serve stays with the same player who has been serving the game. The receiving team chooses whether to take the serve on the right or the left side - but the receivers cannot swap positions for it. (In mixed matches, the receiver must be the same sex as the server.)
• Star point (new for 2026): the International Padel Federation's latest option, now used on the Premier Padel and FIP tours. It runs exactly like advantage for two cycles - "deuce 1" and "deuce 2", each followed by an advantage that can win the game. If the score comes back to deuce a third time, a single deciding point, the star point, is played under the same rules as a golden point (receivers choose the side, no swapping positions).

Which format applies depends entirely on your club or tournament - traditional advantage and golden point are both common in everyday play, and the star point is what you will see on the professional tours. Agree on it before the match starts.

Serving

In padel, the serve differs from tennis primarily in that the shot is always taken underhand.

Serving position and technique:

• The server stands in their service area diagonally opposite the opponent's box.
• Before hitting, the ball must be bounced once on the ground, staying behind the service line.
• The hit must occur below waist level (hip height), i.e., underhand.

Correct serve:

• The ball must fly over the center net and land in the opponent's diagonal service box.
• After bouncing on the ground, the ball may hit the glass part of the opponent's wall.
• The ball must not touch the wire fence part of the wall after bouncing on the ground.
• If the ball grazes the net but lands in the correct box, the serve is considered valid and play continues.

The ball is not in play if:

• The ball lands in the wrong service box;
• The ball hits the opponent's side or back wall (directly from the air) before bouncing on the ground;
• The ball stays in the net;
• The ball touches the wire fence part of the wall after bouncing on the ground.

The server has two attempts for each point - if both fail, they lose the point (double fault).

Who serves when? One player serves for the entire game, and the serve then passes to the other team. Before each set, each pair decides which of the two partners will serve first for their team; once set, that order cannot change until the next set. In practice the four players rotate like this: team A's first server takes game 1, team B's first server game 2, team A's second player game 3, team B's second player game 4 - and then the cycle repeats, so each player serves every fourth game. Receiving works the same way: each pair decides at the start of the set who receives the first serve of each game, and the receivers cannot swap sides mid-set.

Keeping the Ball in Play

After a successful serve, the point begins. The goal is to hit the ball to the opponent's side so that they cannot return it according to the rules. Here are the main padel rules to remember for keeping the ball in play.

Allowed shots during a point:

• The ball can be returned after it has bounced once on your side of the court.
• The ball can also be hit directly from the air (volley) before it reaches the ground (except when receiving a serve!).
• After bouncing on the ground, you can let the ball hit the glass wall and only then hit it back over the net. This is one of the most important strategic elements of padel.
• Players can also hit the ball against the glass wall on their own side to direct it over the net to the opponent's side via the rebound.

How is a point lost?

A point is considered lost if:

• The ball bounces twice on your side of the court;
• You hit the ball into the net;
• You hit the ball directly (without a prior bounce on the opponent's ground) against the opponent's side or back wall/fence;
• The ball hit by the opponent hits you or your partner (except the racket);
• You touch the net or net posts with your racket or body while playing the point.

Padel vs Tennis

Although there are many similarities, the difference between padel and tennis is noticeable.

• The padel court (10x20m) is smaller than a tennis court and is surrounded by walls.
• In padel, the serve is underhand; in tennis, it is overhead.
• The padel racket is shorter, thicker, and stringless.
• The padel ball is somewhat smaller, and its internal pressure is lower.

Is Padel easier than tennis? Padel is considered easier for beginners to pick up. The smaller court and slower ball allow players to find the rhythm of the game faster.

Although the list of padel rules might seem long at first, the best way to learn them and master the game is through practice. Don't let the theory discourage you - once on the court with a racket and friends, everything quickly becomes intuitive and natural. The true charm of padel lies not in the rulebook, but in the dynamic rallies, good company, and shared joy of the game.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does scoring work in padel?

Padel uses tennis scoring: points go 15, 30, 40, then game, and you need a two-point margin. Six games (with a two-game lead) win a set, and the first team to two sets wins the match. At 6-6 a tie-break to seven points is played, and at 40-40 clubs play either advantage (win by two), a single golden point, or the new 2026 star point (up to two advantages, then one deciding point).

Why is the padel serve underhand?

The rules require the ball to be bounced once behind the service line and struck below waist height, so the serve is always underhand - never overhead like tennis. It must land in the diagonal service box, and it may touch the glass after bouncing but not the mesh fence.

Who serves first in a padel tie-break?

The player whose turn it is to serve in the set's normal order opens the tie-break - but serves only one point, from the right side. The other team then serves two points starting from the left, and from there every player serves two points in turn, each block starting on the left. Ends are changed every six points, and the next set is opened by the team that did not serve first in the tie-break.

Can you play the ball off the walls in padel?

Yes. After the ball bounces once on your side of the court, you may let it rebound off your glass wall and then return it over the net. You can even play the ball into your own wall to send it back. What you cannot do is let the ball bounce twice, or hit it directly onto the opponent's walls without it bouncing on their floor first.

How many players does padel need?

Padel is almost always played as doubles - two against two - which is part of what makes it so social. Singles is possible on a narrower court but is far less common.

Is padel easier to learn than tennis?

For most beginners, yes. The court is smaller, the ball is slower and lower-pressure, and the walls keep rallies alive, so new players find a rhythm quickly. A round-shaped racket with a large sweet spot makes the learning curve gentler still - see our guide to choosing a padel racket.

Know the rules and ready to play? Find a court near you in our guide to padel courts in Estonia, and gear up with a racket from our padel rackets collection.