Learn to play padel

This section is the place to start if you have never played, or if you have played a few times and still are not sure why that last point went to the other pair. Everything here is based on the official Rules of Padel published by the International Padel Federation (FIP), the sport's world governing body, and written for Australian players.

Where should I start?

If you are brand new, read these in order:

1. What is padel? The sport in one page: court, racket, ball and where it came from.
2. Padel rules explained. The whole rulebook boiled down to what you need on court.
3. How to play padel: a beginner's guide. Grip, ready position and the shots that matter early.

Then dip into the detail as you need it:

• Padel scoring, including golden point and the new Star Point format used on the pro tours in 2026.
• Padel serve rules, including the waist-height rule and the mesh fence fault.
• How to use the walls, the skill that makes padel different from tennis.
• Doubles positioning: left side, right side and taking the net.
• The padel glossary: bandeja, vibora, chiquita and the rest.

How accurate are these guides?

Every rule on these pages comes from the FIP Rules of Padel (application 1 January 2026), linked on each page and on my sources page. Where I give tactical or technique advice, I say so, because that is coaching opinion rather than rules. A qualified coach is the best way to learn technique, and my padel lessons guide explains the options in Australia.

Do local clubs use the same rules?

Australian clubs play to the FIP rules, but social games often adjust a few things for time: golden point instead of advantage, shorter sets, or a set number of minutes per game. If you are joining a social or a club competition, ask which scoring format they use before you start.