What is padel?

People often call it "padel tennis", and it does borrow tennis scoring. But it plays more like a mix of tennis and squash, and most people find it easier to pick up than either.

How is padel played?

Two pairs face each other across a net on a 20 m by 10 m court that is enclosed by walls. The basics:

• Serve underarm. Bounce the ball and hit it at or below waist height into the diagonal service box.
• Let it bounce, then use the walls. After the ball bounces on your side, it can hit the glass and you can still play it.
• Volley at the net. Except for the return of serve, you can hit the ball before it bounces.
• Score like tennis. 15, 30, 40, game, with six games to a set.

The full detail is in my padel rules guide and scoring guide.

What does a padel court look like?

The court is 20 m long and 10 m wide inside the walls, split by a net that is 0.88 m high in the middle. The back walls are 3 m of glass or solid wall topped with 1 m of mesh, and the sides are part glass, part mesh. These measurements come from the International Padel Federation (FIP) rules.

Courts can be indoor or outdoor. The FIP rules allow a cement, synthetic or artificial grass surface. More on that in the courts section.

What equipment do you need?

Very little, which is part of the appeal.

• A padel racket. Solid, with no strings, a perforated face and a wrist cord. The FIP limits total length to 45.5 cm. Most Australian venues hire rackets, so you do not need to buy one for your first game.
• Padel balls. Similar to tennis balls but made to padel specifications. Venues usually supply or sell them.
• Court shoes. Sports shoes with grip suited to artificial grass or hard courts. Running shoes are not ideal.

My gear section covers buying your own.

Where did padel come from?

According to the International Padel Federation, padel was invented in 1969 at Las Brisas, a house owned by Enrique Corcuera in Acapulco, Mexico. FIP says it was taken to Spain in the early 1970s by Prince Alfonso of Hohenlohe, and from Spain to Argentina by Julio Menditeguy. Spain and Argentina became the sport's two big strongholds.

The International Padel Federation itself was founded in Madrid on 12 July 1991. FIP now says 100 federations are affiliated with it, padel is played in more than 150 countries, and there are about 35 million amateur players worldwide.

Is padel the same as paddle tennis or pickleball?

No, and the names cause a lot of confusion.

• Padel is the enclosed-court game on this page.
• Pickleball is played on a much smaller open court with no walls, using a solid paddle and a plastic ball with holes. See padel vs pickleball.
• Paddle tennis and platform tennis are different sports again. If you see "paddle" spelled with two d's, check which sport is meant.

Why is padel so popular?

A few reasons come up again and again:

• Easy to start. The underarm serve and the walls mean beginners can have long rallies in their first session.
• Always doubles. Four players on a small court makes it social by default.
• Less running than tennis. The court is much smaller, though good players still get a solid workout.
• Smaller footprint. A padel court takes up far less space than a tennis court, which makes it easier for clubs and councils to fit in.

How big is padel in Australia?

Padel Australia describes itself as the governing body for the sport in Australia and a member of the FIP, working alongside Tennis Australia. Venues have opened in every mainland capital, and my where to play section lists the ones I could verify, city by city. Read why padel clubs are opening in Australia for the numbers behind the growth.

Is padel hard to learn?

Most people can hold a rally in their first hour. The serve is simple, the racket has no strings to mishit off, and the court is small. The harder skills, such as reading the ball off the back glass and the overhead shots, take longer. My beginner's guide walks you through the first few sessions.

How do I try padel?

1. Find a venue near you in my where to play section.
2. Book a beginner class or social session, or book a court with three friends. See how to book a padel court.
3. Hire a racket at the venue, wear sports shoes, and bring water.

What it costs depends on the city and time of day. My cost to play padel page has real prices from Australian venues.