Padel explained: the rules in five minutes
Tennis in a glass cage, with four players and an underarm serve. After one evening you know how it works. Here you can read the rules, what it costs in Leeuwarden and where to start.
Sportspots editorial team, updated on
Photo: fitconcept.nl
The court
A padel court is 20 metres long and 10 metres wide, considerably smaller than a tennis court. Surrounding it are walls of glass and mesh, and these are part of the game. You almost always play doubles, two against two.
How to serve
- Stand behind the service line and let the ball bounce on the ground first.
- Hit it underhand, with the ball at or below hip height.
- It must land diagonally in the box on the other side. After that it may hit the glass, but not the mesh.
- You get two attempts, just as in tennis.
The walls are the key
The main rule is simple: the ball may bounce once on your side and then hit the walls as often as it likes. After that you hit it back, even if it has already been against the back wall. That's what makes padel different from tennis: a ball you've passed can still come back to you.
On your side you may also play the ball off your own wall, as long as it then goes over the net and first bounces on the ground on the other side. If your ball hits the wall on the other side directly, the point goes to your opponent.
The mistake almost every beginner makes: hitting too early and too hard. Let the ball come off the back wall, then hit it back calmly. That's the whole game, and it's also why you're having fun after just an hour.
This is how you count
Just like tennis: 15, 30, 40, game. Six games make a set, and you usually play the best of two sets. If the score is 40-40, there are three ways to continue: with advantage, as in tennis, with a golden point where the next point decides, or with the star point that the international federation introduced in 2026: you play two points with advantage, and then one point decides. Agree before you start what you'll do. With a court time of 90 minutes, you usually won't get to finish the set, and that's fine.
If you want the details, the official rules are published by the international federation FIP.
What it costs in Leeuwarden
You pay per court and split it four ways. The price depends on the time and is shown on the hall's booking page. Here you can play in Leeuwarden:
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Tennis & padelvereniging Stiens Sports club in Stiens
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How to get started
If you have three other people, just book a court and rent rackets. If you don't know anyone who wants to play, or you want to learn properly from the start, take a lesson or clinic. There you learn to use the walls within an hour, and you meet people at your level straight away.
Lessons and clinics are held at the halls themselves. You can find them via padel in Leeuwarden.
Frequently asked
Do I have to become a member to play padel?
No. You rent a court per session and share the price with your fellow players. At many venues you only need to create a free account to book.
Do I need my own racket?
Not at first. Most venues let you hire a racket. Do bring shoes that grip the court and support you well when moving sideways.
Can you play padel if you've never played tennis?
Yes. Because you serve underarm and the court is smaller, you get into a rally more quickly than in tennis. Players who do play tennis, however, have to get used to the walls.