Padel tennis

What it is

Padel is played on an enclosed court barely a third the size of a tennis court, with walls that are part of the game, and it has become one of the fastest-growing sports on the planet. Padel tennis is a racket sport played in doubles on that walled court, using solid stringless bats and a slightly depressurised tennis ball, where the back and side walls can be used to keep the ball in play, much like squash.

The walls are what make it so distinctive and so addictive. The ball can bounce off the glass walls behind and beside the players and still be played, so rallies last far longer than in tennis and the game rewards positioning, anticipation, and clever angles over raw power. The court is smaller and always played in doubles, which makes it intensely social and far less physically punishing to cover than a full tennis court, and the underarm serve and enclosed space mean beginners can rally and have genuine fun within their very first session.

That accessibility is the heart of its explosive popularity. Unlike tennis, where beginners spend ages just trying to keep the ball in, padel lets people of wildly different abilities play together and enjoy long, satisfying rallies almost immediately. It is sociable by design, four players in a small space, and the blend of easy entry, tactical depth, and sheer fun has driven a global boom in courts and players, particularly across Spain and Latin America where it is now hugely mainstream.

The honest trade-offs are court access and the depth that lies beneath the easy start. Demand for courts often outstrips supply in places where the sport is booming, and while anyone can rally on day one, mastering the wall play, the lobs, and the smashes takes real time. But as a sport that is fun from the first minute and endlessly improvable thereafter, padel is hard to beat.

How it works

The mistake beginners make is treating padel like tennis and trying to hit winners, when the walls and the doubles format reward patience and placement instead. Book a court, most facilities hire out rackets so you need no gear to start, find one other person since padel is always doubles, two against two, and simply begin. The underarm serve, struck below waist height after a bounce, means beginners can rally within their very first session.

The walls are what make padel distinctive and addictive, so learn to use them rather than fear them. The ball can rebound off the glass back and side walls and still be played, exactly like squash, which means a ball flying past you is often not lost at all. Let it bounce off the wall and play it on the way back. This single fact is why rallies last far longer than in tennis and why position and anticipation beat raw power.

Play the percentages from good court position, because padel is a tactical game of patience. Hit controlled shots, use the lob to push opponents back off the net, and wait for the loose ball to attack rather than going for broke every shot. The court is small and always doubles, so it is intensely social and far less physically punishing to cover than a full tennis court, which is a large part of why people of very different abilities can play together and all enjoy it.

The accessibility is genuine and it is the heart of padel's explosive popularity. Unlike tennis, where beginners spend ages just keeping the ball in, padel lets people rally and have real fun almost immediately, then improve endlessly through the wall play, the lobs, and the smashes, which take real time to master. Demand for courts often outstrips supply where the sport is booming, so book ahead.

Benefits

Most Accessible Racquet Sport Excellent Cardio Workout Intensely Social Format Reflexes and Agility Immediately Fun Fastest-Growing Sport Community

What you need

Here's what to gather before you start. The essentials are marked.

Padel court access

Padel racket

Padel balls

Sports shoes (with herringbone sole)

3 other players

FAQs

What is padel and how is it different from tennis?

Padel is a racket sport played in doubles on an enclosed court about a third the size of a tennis court, where the walls are part of play, like squash. You use a solid stringless bat and a slightly depressurised tennis ball, and the smaller court plus the walls make rallies longer and the game far easier to pick up than tennis. It's the fastest-growing racket sport in much of Europe for good reason.

Is padel easy for a complete beginner?

Yes, remarkably so, which is the secret of its popularity. The small court, underarm serve, and walls that keep the ball in play mean beginners have fun rallies within their first session, unlike tennis where early games can be frustrating. You'll be playing proper points on day one, even if the finer tactics take much longer to learn.

What equipment do you need to start?

A padel bat, suitable court shoes, and padel balls, though courts and clubs usually rent or lend bats to beginners. Don't buy a bat until you've played a few times, because the right bat depends on your level and style, and a club's loan bat is fine to learn on. A beginner bat costs around €50-90 when you do buy, and clean trainers with good grip work until you get padel-specific shoes.

Do you need a partner and a special court?

Yes to both, since padel is almost always played as doubles on a dedicated enclosed court. You can't play it on a tennis court, so you book a padel court at a club or centre, and you need three other people for a doubles game. Most clubs run social sessions and "Americano" mixers where you turn up alone and get matched with others, which is the easiest way in if you don't have a regular four.