Padel is one of the UK’s newest racket sports and as of 2020, there are 6,000 active UK players in the sport according to the LTA (Lawn Tennis Association). With so much interest in the sport at the moment, it is of no surprise that padel is attracting a tonne of new players each year. The game is usually played in doubles in a padel court set in an enclosed space, so you can score points by playing the padel ball off the walls on the side of the court.
You might be new to the sport and possibly even thinking about taking it up, but maybe you’re unsure of the rules? Getting familiar with the rules of any game can be daunting at first, but don’t hesitate, start playing padel today. The rules of padel are very simple to understand and if you’re already a tennis player or have played tennis in the past, you will be able to pick up the rules in an hour or so of playing padel. However, if you are a complete newbie to the sport, we at padelpadelpadel.com have listed 5 padel rules that you need to know about before starting the game below.
What Is The Format Of Padel?
The format of padel is usually played in pairs, but you can play as a single which increases the difficulty level significantly. Padel is played in a court that is 20M long x 10M wide, which is about the third the size of a traditional tennis court. The court is enclosed by 4 walls, which usually consist of a combination of glass and mesh. Glass and mesh are used to ensure that the padel ball maintains a good bounce rate at all times throughout a game.
How Is Padel Scored?
The scoring system in padel is exactly the same as tennis, so if you have experience with tennis you will have an idea of how padel is scored. If you are unfamiliar, here is how padel is scored:
- A game (played until a player scores 4 points)
- A set (a collection of games, which is played until a player wins 6 games)
- A match (winner is determined by a best of 3 or 5 sets)
What Are The Rules For Padel Service?
Here is a breakdown of how to complete the perfect service in padel:
- All serves begin underarm and must reach your opponent diagonally
- The server must allow the ball to bounce once before service
- The server must keep one leg on the ground
- The server’s feet must not touch or cross the service line
- The serve must land in the opponent’s service box
- You get a second serve if the first fails
Ways to win a serve:
- Padel ball bouncing in the service box and striking the side or back wall
- Padel ball hitting the net, bouncing in the service box and striking the side or back wall
- Padel ball landing in the service box and striking the wire fencing
When Do You Know When A Padel Shot Is In?
Follows these rules to know when your shot is in:
- The padel court lines are considered in play only during the first serve
- In normal play, service lines aren’t a factor in determining if a point is scored
- All players can play shots of their own walls
When Do You Know When A Padel Shot Is Out?
Follows these rules to know when your shot is out:
- The padel ball bounces twice in any area on your side of the court
- The padel ball hits you or your teammate
- The padel ball hits the wire fencing, posts or any other fixture before going over the net
- The padel ball strikes the wire fence or glass walls before bouncing on the opponent’s side of the court.
If you enjoyed this blog and want to know more about the rules before picking up a padel racket, read our 5 Rules Of Padel Tennis You Need To Know Before Playing today.
