The Padel court has two service boxes either side of the net – like in tennis – but it’s surrounded by glass walls, a metal cage, and doors on either side.

Padel is played as doubles and is scored in the same way as tennis, with service starting from the right-hand court into the diagonally opposite service box.

Serving

• The server must stand behind the service line and serve underarm, allowing the ball to bounce once before hitting it at or below waist height.
• The ball must bounce in the service box to be considered in. However, if it hits the metal cage after the first bounce, it is considered a fault. If the ball hits the glass wall after the first bounce, the point is still live.
• The return of serve must be hit before the ball bounces twice, either before or after contact with the glass wall. It cannot be volleyed
• If the served ball hits the net before bouncing in the service box it is considered a let unless the ball hits the metal cage after the first bounce.
• Servers have a second serve as in tennis.

Playing out a point

• Once the service has been returned, all players are permitted to play a ball that bounces off any of the walls on their own side of the court.
• The ball must land in the court on the opposite side of the net. If it hits the metal cage or glass wall on the opposite side of the net before bouncing it is out. Additionally, if it hits the metal cage before going over the net, it is out. Players can, however, hit the ball against the glass wall on their own side of the net before it goes over.
• The walls can therefore be used to your advantage in two ways: by letting the ball bounce and hit the wall (either glass or cage) before hitting it back, or by hitting the ball against the wall (glass only) in an attempt to land it on your opponents’ side of the net.
• In a rally you can also aim your shots to bounce and hit the cage to create awkward rebounds for your opponents (except on service).
• The ball may be volleyed (except on service) and may bounce only once and be hit only once.

Introduction to Padel