What is Padel? Why This Fast, Fun Sport Is So Addictive

Fast, social and seriously addictive, Padel is energising racquet clubs across the world. A clever mix of tennis and squash (with a few twists of its own), it’s designed to be easy to learn and hard to resist — no wonder it’s already the fastest-growing sport in Europe.

Ready to find out what all the fuss is about? Here’s everything you need to know about Padel — and why it might just be your new favourite way to work out.

Why is Padel so popular now?

See why Padel’s winning fans worldwide — watch our video, then find out how to play.

What’s the difference between Padel and tennis?

A padel racquet on a court with two tennis balls.

First off, there’s the court: it’s half the size of a normal tennis court.
Then there’s the enclosure: this is framed by either Perspex or wire. Like in squash, the framing means you can hit the ball against the rear or sides of the court, in attack or when returning.
Next there are the ‘Padels’ themselves: made of plastic and foam, they’re kind of like giant table tennis bats and can deliver impressive force while being relatively light to hold. Only underarm serves are allowed in the game, although once the point begins, you can use whatever stroke you want.
The balls are adapted too: in order to reduce their pressure. In fact, most amateur and club games use standard tennis balls, which they de-pressurise with the help of a needle.

The combination of the smaller playing area, and the similarities to squash in allowing the back and side walls to become part of the game, gives Padel plenty of speed.

Is Padel a good workout?

Two people playing a volley in a game of padel on an outdoor court.

Padel has plenty of health benefits. There may be lighter bats, smaller courts and softer balls, but Padel can still give you a really good workout. The great thing about it is that even at its gentlest, it tests stamina, flexibility, and reaction times. As you practise and become more skilled, your game can become more challenging if you want it to.

It’s also easy to get kids into Padel, meaning you can enjoy a multi-generational workout if you want.

How does Padel work and what are the rules?

A woman on a padel court about to hit an underarm shot.

Padel is tactical, exciting and really addictive. It’s a low-impact, high-energy cardio workout that can be enjoyed by pretty much everyone.

The scoring is identical to tennis.
In Padel, all play begins with an underarm serve from the right service court into the opponent’s court, diagonally across.
The server must allow the ball to bounce once before hitting it and the ball must be hit at or below waist level.
The server must keep at least one foot on the ground when hitting the serve.
The server’s feet may not touch or cross the service line while serving.
Contact with the ball across the centre service line is allowed.
The serve must land in the opponent’s service box.
If the ball bounces in the service box and strikes the side or back wall, it is a valid serve and must be played by the opposing player.
If the ball hits the net, then bounces in the service box and strikes the side or back wall, it is a let and must be replayed.
If the ball lands in the service box and hits the wire fencing, it is considered a fault.
If the ball hits the net, then lands in the service box and hits the wire fencing, it is considered a fault.
Like tennis, in Padel, you get a second serve.
What counts as ‘in’:
- The following are allowed:
  - The lines on the court are considered in play only during the initial serve. Otherwise, they are not a factor in determining the outcome of each point in the game.
  - All players are permitted to play a ball off any of the walls on their side of the court.
What counts as ‘out’:
- The opposition wins a point if:
  - The ball bounces twice in any area on your side of the court.
  - The ball strikes you or your teammate while in play
  - The ball hits the wire fencing, posts, or any other fixture before going over the net or landing on the opponent’s court.
  - The ball hits the wire fence or walls before bouncing on the opponent’s side of the court.