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Jun 8, 2026
Everything You Need to Know About Padel: Rules, Scoring System, and Equipment
New to padel? Here’s a plain-language rundown of the rules, how scoring works, and what gear you actually need.
The Basics of the Court
Padel is played on an enclosed court roughly a third the size of a tennis court, with glass and mesh walls that stay in play. That smaller footprint is what makes long, entertaining rallies possible from your very first game.
Scoring, Simplified
Padel uses the same scoring format as tennis — 15, 30, 40, game — played in sets across doubles matches. The underhand serve and wall rebounds are the main rule differences newcomers need to learn.
What Gear You Need
A solid paddle, comfortable court shoes, and padel-specific balls (slightly less pressurized than tennis balls) are all you need to get started — most clubs rent equipment for your first few sessions.
