The Easy Guide to Padel Rules

Padel is one of the fastest-growing sports in the world, and a big part of its charm is how easy it is to play. If you’ve ever been curious about the rules but felt unsure where to start, here’s your quick, no-nonsense guide - with a few fun PadelFrog tips to help you leap ahead.

1. The Basics of the Game

• Padel is played in doubles most of the time (two vs. two).

• The court is smaller than a tennis court, surrounded by glass and mesh walls.

• The ball is the same as a tennis ball, but the rackets are solid and stringless, with holes for airflow.

🐸 Padel Frog Tip: Think teamwork. Just like frogs in a pond, you’re never alone out there - your partner is your biggest advantage.

2. Serving Made Simple

• The serve is underhand - no high tosses like in tennis.

• Stand behind the service line, bounce the ball once and hit it diagonally into the opposite service box.

• The serve must land in the box; if it touches the net but still lands in, it’s a let (just redo it).

🐸 Padel Frog Tip: Stay calm on the serve. A steady bounce and smooth swing are better than a wild leap.

3. Scoring System

• Padel uses the same scoring as tennis: 15, 30, 40, game.

• Six games usually make a set, and the best of three sets wins the match.

• If it’s 40-40, that’s deuce - you need two points in a row to win the game.

🐸 Padel Frog Tip: Don’t let the numbers stress you. Frogs don’t count lily pads - they just keep jumping! Focus on the rally, not the score.

4. Using the Walls

• After the ball bounces once on your side, it can hit the glass walls - and it’s still in play!

• You can also hit the ball off your own walls to return it, adding clever angles and strategy.

• Just remember: the ball must bounce on the ground before hitting a wall - if it hits the wall first, it’s out.

🐸 Padel Frog Tip: Embrace the walls! Just like a frog uses water to glide, use the glass to keep rallies alive.

5. The “One Bounce” Rule

• The ball is allowed one bounce only on your side.

• You can volley (hit it before it bounces) or let it bounce once - but never twice.

🐸 Padel Frog Tip: Leap early! Don’t wait too long, or the chance might hop away.

6. Winning the Point

You win a point when:

• The ball bounces twice on the opponent’s side.

• The opponent hits the ball into the net or out of bounds.

• The opponent hits the ball against their wall before it touches the floor.

🐸 Padel Frog Tip: Keep your eyes on the ball - frogs never miss a flying insect, and neither should you!

7. Spirit of the Game

Padel is meant to be fast, fun and social. While rallies can get competitive, it’s also about enjoying the game with your partner. Sportsmanship, laughter and a bit of creative play with the walls make the game what it is.

🐸 Padel Frog Tip: Have fun! A game with smiles is always a game well played.

Ready to Play?

That’s really all you need to get started! The beauty of padel is how quickly you can learn the rules and start enjoying long rallies. Whether you’re new to racket sports or a seasoned player, padel gives you the perfect balance of simplicity, strategy and fun.

So grab your racket, channel your inner frog, and get ready to leap into the game!