Padel Rules — Scoring, Serving & How to Play

Padel is the fastest-growing racket sport in the world — and Ireland is catching on fast. Whether you've just booked your first court or you're watching from the sidelines trying to make sense of the glass walls, this guide covers every rule you need to know before stepping onto the court. Already know the basics? Jump ahead to our beginner strategy guide or find a court near you.

1. The Court

A padel court measures 20 metres long by 10 metres wide — roughly one-third the size of a tennis court. The smaller dimensions are a big reason why padel is so accessible: there's less ground to cover, so rallies last longer and the game is more social.

What makes padel courts instantly recognisable is the enclosed structure. The court is surrounded by a combination of glass walls and metallic mesh fencing:

• Back walls: Solid glass, 3 metres high.
• Side walls: Glass sections that taper from the back wall (3m) down to a lower height, with metallic fencing making up the remaining length toward the net.
• Metallic fencing: Sits above and alongside the glass, bringing total enclosure height to 4 metres.

A net divides the court in half. It sits slightly lower than a tennis net — 88 cm at the centre and 92 cm at the posts. Each half is divided into two service boxes by a central service line.

2. Scoring

If you've ever watched tennis, you already know how padel scoring works — it's identical.

Points Within a Game

• Points progress: 0 (love) → 15 → 30 → 40 → Game
• If both teams reach 40, it's called deuce.
• At deuce, a team must win two consecutive points: the first gives them advantage, the second wins the game.
• If the team with advantage loses the next point, it goes back to deuce.

Sets and Matches

• A set is won by the first team to reach 6 games, with at least a 2-game lead.
• At 6-6, a tiebreak is played (first to 7 points, must win by 2).
• A match is best of 3 sets — the first team to win 2 sets takes the match.

Golden Point (Punto de Oro)

Some tournaments — especially on the World Padel Tour and Premier Padel — use the golden point rule at deuce. Instead of playing advantage, the receiving team chooses which side to receive on, and the next single point decides the game. This speeds up matches and adds extra drama. In casual play, you can decide with your group whether to use golden point or traditional advantage.

3. Serving

The serve is one of the biggest differences between padel and tennis. Forget the overhead power serve — in padel, the serve is underhand and more about placement than power.

How to Serve

1. Stand behind the service line, to the right or left of the centre line (depending on the point). At least one foot must be on the ground at the moment of contact.
2. Bounce the ball on the ground, then strike it at or below waist height. You cannot toss the ball in the air and hit it overhead.
3. Aim diagonally into the opposite service box — just like tennis.
4. The ball must bounce inside the service box before it can touch the glass wall. If the ball bounces in the box and then hits the glass, that's a valid serve.
5. If the ball bounces in the box and hits the metallic fence (rather than glass), it's a fault.

First and Second Serve

Like tennis, you get two attempts. If your first serve is a fault (into the net, outside the box, or otherwise illegal), you have a second serve. If both serves fault, the receiving team wins the point (a double fault).

A let occurs when the ball clips the net but still lands in the correct service box — the serve is replayed.

4. The Walls — Padel's Unique Feature

This is what makes padel unlike any other racket sport. The glass walls aren't just boundaries — they're part of the playing surface.

Playing Off the Glass

After the ball bounces on the ground, it can hit a glass wall and still be in play. You can let the ball bounce, come off the back glass or side glass, and then strike it. This creates unique angles and extends rallies far longer than in tennis. Learning to read the ball off the glass is one of the most enjoyable parts of picking up padel — check out our beginner tips for more on this.

The Key Rule

The ball must bounce on the ground first before it hits a wall. If a shot hits the glass wall directly (without bouncing on the floor on that side first), the point goes to the team that hit the shot. In other words, the wall only comes into play after the bounce.

Playing Outside the Court

One of the most spectacular moves in padel: if the ball bounces on your side, goes up over the side glass and out of the court, you can run outside and hit it back in. This is sometimes called a "bajada" or "por tres" move, and it's perfectly legal. Many courts have doors on the side walls to allow this. It's a rare occurrence in casual play, but when it happens, it's always a crowd-pleaser.

Metallic Fence

If the ball strikes the metallic fence directly (without having bounced on the floor of the opponent's side first), the ball is out and the point is lost by the hitter. The fence is not a playing surface in the same way the glass is. However, if the ball bounces on the floor, then hits the glass, then the fence, it is still in play.

5. General Play Rules

Here's a summary of the essential rules that govern every point in padel:

6. Common Faults

A fault gives the point (or serve) to the opposing team. Here are the most common ones you'll encounter:

7. Tips for First-Timers

Heading to your first padel session? Here's what you need to know to show up prepared and enjoy every minute:

For more on getting started, read our complete Padel for Beginners guide, or learn about the differences between padel and paddle tennis.