Everything You Need to Know about Padel

One of the fastest-growing sports is padel.

At the beginning of 2024, there were over 60,000 padel courts worldwide, a 240% increase in the number of courts available in 2021.

In the UK, there were 60 padel courts in 2020. This number rose to more than 400 in 2023, with an average of 120,000 players picking up a racket.

British padel players are making their mark at the highest level while the Lawn Tennis Association has brought padel into its daily operations.

Padel has roots in Spain and Mexico.

It was recognised as a professional sport in the 1990s and is made to be a more social game.

Here is everything you need to know about padel.

What is Padel?

This sport has clear influences from tennis and squash when it comes to where you play, the rules, scoring and some of the shots involved.

Padel is typically played as doubles, although you can play singles.

Padel is played on specially designed courts that resemble tennis courts but feature walls and a surrounding cage, allowing players to hit shots off the walls, similar to squash.

The sport uses rackets that look like tennis rackets but without strings.

Instead, they have solid faces made from materials like carbon fibre or fibreglass.

The balls used in padel are similar to tennis balls in appearance but are smaller and less pressurised, meaning they are not as bouncy.

What are the Rules?

The core rules are similar to tennis.

Games and sets are played and players need to win six games to win a set. A set must be won by at least two games.

The scoring system in padel is the same as in tennis, including calling “deuce” when the score reaches 40-40.

Like tennis, one player serves for the entire game, but the serve is done underarm.

The ball must clear the net and bounce in the opponent’s side of the court before it can be returned.

Players can use the walls to their advantage, hitting shots that rebound to make it into the opponent’s side.

You can also let the ball hit a wall after your opponent’s shot before returning it, which can help improve your angle or make it more difficult for your opponent.

If a serve hits the wall or cage without bouncing first, it’s considered out.

How Big is the Court?

A padel court is 20 metres long and 10 metres wide, with a similar appearance to a tennis court like services lines, a centre line and a net.

A tennis court measures 23m by 8.23m for singles or 10.97m for doubles.

A padel court is also surrounded by walls or a cage, typically measuring up to 4m high and made from glass or brick to make sure there isn’t any sort of irregular bounce when the ball strikes it.

Do you have to be Fit to Play Padel?

Ben Nichols, CEO of Padel 22, says:

“You can have a good workout playing padel.

“It’s not as athletic as squash so that’s not going to put people off because it’s a strenuous activity.

“Put it this way, you can do it without being able to run a marathon.

“That instantly makes it more inclusive, for people who don’t consider themselves as athletic that can easily get on the court and can enjoy a game.”

Do you Need to Play other Racket Sports?

Houman Ashrafzadeh, founder of the Canary Wharf-based padel club Padium, says:

“No, you don’t need to have any prior racket sport experience to play padel.

“It’s a lot easier to learn than tennis, but it’s hard to master. There isn’t a steep learning curve to play padel.

“We see from our statistics that it takes people two padel sessions to feel like okay, I can do this.”

Nichols adds: “It definitely helps having played tennis or squash for different reasons.

“It’s a miniature tennis court so there’s similar reactions and the sort of volleys played, but there’s also the squash element of having the walls that can throw tennis players.

“I’d say being a tennis player is probably slightly more advantageous than being a squash player, but I think both of those help.

“You don’t need to be a racket sports player to get up to a good level quickly and that’s the biggest asset padel has, the speed at which you can pick it up and enjoy it.

“I think that’s what puts people off a lot of other sports, is just how long you have to practise it, particularly when you get to an adult age.”

Can you Play Singles?

Unlike tennis, padel is made to be a doubles sport and most courts are designed for doubles. But there are singles courts at some clubs.

If you want to play singles, the scoring is the same and it is the same area of play.

When serving, players must stand behind the baseline and serve diagonally across the net into the opponent’s service box.

The receiver must let the ball bounce before returning it; failing to do so results in losing the point.

Similar to singles tennis, you’ll need to cover more ground than in doubles, but the core gameplay remains the same.

Nichols explains: “It’s a bit more of a selfish and highly competitive, independent sport in that way.

“Where padel thrives is with the interaction with other people, whether it be your partner or the people on the other side of the net.”

However, if you are struggling to get a quartet together, there are apps like Playtomic that are designed to help you find teammates or another duo to put your skills to the test against.

Is it like Pickleball?

Pickleball is another rapidly growing racket sport and it shares some similarities with padel in terms of how and where it’s played.

However, the key differences begin with court size – padel is played on a larger court.

The design is also different, with padel courts resembling tennis courts, while pickleball courts have service areas much closer to the net.

Unlike padel, pickleball does not incorporate walls for play.

The equipment differs as well: padel rackets are made from fibreglass or carbon fibre, whereas pickleball paddles are typically plastic.

Additionally, in padel, players use a ball similar to a tennis ball, while pickleball uses a plastic ball with reduced bounce, designed for smaller courts.

Nevertheless, pickleball is another sport that is growing in popularity, particularly in the United States.

Nichols says: “There are so many pickleball courts being built because they are very cheap in comparison to padel ones.

“You don’t need the glass or the cage and it’s an even easier sport to play so that’s what Pickleball has in its armoury.”

Is Booking a Padel Court Expensive?

Currently, booking a padel court varies by club and where courts are located.

Some operate on a pay-and-play basis while others might require a membership.

Ashrafzadeh explains: “You can probably book a tennis court for £20 for an hour for an entire court that’s twice the size of a padel court.

“That’s not really possible in padel.

“Padel requires a ceiling height for example, so the properties you need to get into to play are so few and limited.”

“The rents padel clubs are paying to operate in those locations is far greater than most tennis clubs and therefore the price per hour can be significantly higher.”

Meanwhile, Nichols says: “I’m seeing massive differences in cost.

“I think initially we’re going to see the price being quite high, and we’re going to question if we’re trying to make this a very inclusive, accessible sport, isn’t price a deterrent to that?

“That price should come down as there’s more competition and there are more options because people can then choose, do they go to a club where they have to get a membership or do they go somewhere where they can book locally, at a local park?”

Padel is an exciting sport that is rapidly growing and more clubs are introducing it.

The best way to get into the sport is to go to a club as Ashrafzadeh says:

“Most clubs actually offer introductions to padel sessions.

“They typically last around one to one and a half hours with a coach with four players.

“You can get a good taste of padel and the rules. Towards the end of the session, you get to actually play a game.”

With its easy-to-learn rules, engaging use of walls, and social nature, it’s accessible to players of all skill levels.

Nichols adds: “It’s a sport that everyone can play. There’s no hierarchy in the sport.”

So whether you’re looking for a fun way to stay active or a new competitive challenge, padel is a fantastic option.