Padel Tennis Rules & Scoring

What is Padel?

Padel is a racket sport that blends elements of tennis and squash. It's played almost exclusively as doubles on an enclosed court roughly a third of the size of a tennis court, with glass walls and metal mesh used as part of the play. It's the fastest growing sport in the UAE, and one of the most social games you can pick up.

The court

A Padel court measures 20m x 10m, divided by a net. The court is enclosed by walls (glass at the back, mesh on the sides) that are part of the game, and the ball can be played off your own walls after it bounces, similar to squash.

How to serve

• The serve is underhand: bounce the ball once behind the service line, then strike it at or below waist height.
• The serve must land diagonally in the opponent's service box.
• You get two attempts, just like tennis. A serve touching the side wall after bouncing in the correct box is in play; one touching the mesh fence is a fault.

Basic rules of play

• The ball must bounce once on your side before you hit it back.
• After the bounce, the ball may be played off your own walls before crossing the net.
• The ball can hit the opponent's walls only after bouncing on their court, never directly.
• A point ends when the ball bounces twice, hits the mesh on the fly, or goes out of the court.

The scoring system

Padel uses tennis scoring: 15, 30, 40, game. The first team to win 6 games (with a two-game lead) wins the set, and most matches are best-of-three sets. At 40–40 (deuce) most leagues use the "golden point": a single, sudden-death point decides the game, and the receiving team chooses which side to return from.

Equipment you need

• Racket: a solid, stringless Padel racket with a perforated face. Beginners should pick a round-shaped racket for a larger sweet spot.
• Ball: visually similar to a tennis ball but with slightly less pressure.
• Shoes: court-specific shoes with a herringbone sole for grip on artificial turf.
• Outfit: any breathable sportswear. Dubai courts can get warm, so light layers help.

Tips for your first session

• Position yourselves side-by-side, not one behind the other, because covering the court as a pair is the key skill.
• Patience beats power. Long rallies and well-placed lobs win more points than smashes.
• Use the walls. Let the ball bounce off your back glass before returning, as it's legal and often easier.