Padel for Beginners: Everything You Need to Know Before Your First Lesson

Padel is the fastest-growing racket sport in the world — and one of the reasons for that is how quickly new players can pick it up. Unlike tennis, you do not need years of training to enjoy competitive rallies. Most beginners are having genuine fun within their first two sessions. Here is everything you need to know before you step onto a court for the first time.

What Is Padel?

Padel is a racket sport played in pairs (always doubles) on an enclosed court roughly a third the size of a tennis court. The court has glass walls and metal mesh sides — and crucially, the ball can be played off these walls, which is what makes padel unique and much easier to learn than tennis.

You use a solid padel racket (no strings — a perforated solid surface) and a slightly depressurised tennis ball. Scoring is identical to tennis: 15, 30, 40, game, set, match.

Padel vs Tennis: The Key Differences

• No overhead serve: In padel, you serve underarm with the ball bounced below waist height. No power serve required — beginners find this far less intimidating.
• Walls are in play: After a bounce, the ball can hit the glass walls and still be returned. This keeps rallies alive much longer and makes the game social and fun from day one.
• Always doubles: Padel is always played 2v2. You are never alone on the court, which reduces pressure and makes it naturally sociable.
• Smaller court: Less ground to cover means less physical demand. Padel is genuinely accessible for all ages and fitness levels.
• Lower learning curve: Most tennis players take years to develop a reliable serve. In padel, you can start playing proper points from your very first session.

The Rules in Plain English

1. The serve is underarm, cross-court, bounced at waist height or below. One attempt only (unlike tennis' two serves).
2. The ball must bounce once before it can hit the walls. You cannot play a wall shot directly off a serve.
3. After the bounce, the ball may hit the walls on either side of the court — and your opponents can still return it.
4. Scoring: 15, 30, 40, game. Sets to six games (with tiebreak at 6-6). First to two sets wins the match.
5. The net divides the court. The ball must go over the net on every shot.

Equipment: What You Need

Padel racket

Solid, no strings. Three shapes are available:

• Round: Best for beginners. Forgiving sweetspot, easier control.
• Diamond: More power, smaller sweetspot. For experienced players.
• Teardrop: Balance between control and power. Good for intermediate players.

For your first sessions, use a loaner — most clubs and all Padel & Go packages provide them. If you want to buy, a mid-range round racket (€60–100) is the right starting point.

Padel shoes

Essential. Padel courts have artificial grass (outdoor) or synthetic surfaces (indoor). Standard trainers do not grip correctly and increase injury risk. Padel-specific shoes with a herringbone sole pattern are a must. Do not show up in running shoes.

Clothing

Any breathable sports clothing works. Court temperatures in Spain can reach 30–35°C in summer — light, quick-dry fabrics are your best friend.

What to Expect in Your First Session

A good coach will start you with the basics in roughly this order:

1. Grip and stance — how to hold the racket and position your body
2. Forehand and backhand groundstrokes — the bread-and-butter shots
3. The serve — underarm, simple, quick to learn
4. Playing off the walls — the fun part that makes padel unique
5. Short points — friendly games to put it all together

By the end of the session, you will be playing real points and understanding why padel is so addictive.

Common Beginner Mistakes

• Hitting too hard: Power is rarely the answer in padel. Control wins points.
• Standing too close to the back wall: Give yourself room to play off the glass.
• Ignoring the lob: The lob is a crucial weapon in padel — beginners often underuse it.
• Playing alone at the net or back: In padel, both players should move as a unit.

Ready to Play?

All Padel & Go packages are fully beginner-friendly. Our certified coaches work with players from their very first rally — no previous experience required. You will be rallying confidently within a single session.