By Cassandra Toroian, co-founder of VolleyBird · Updated September 25, 2026

Padel is the racket sport everyone seems to be talking about, and for good reason: it's easy to learn, it's social, and your first rally usually happens in your first ten minutes. The U.S. now has 1,110 padel courts across 38 states, according to a September 2026 industry report, with new clubs opening every month.

This guide walks you through exactly how to start: where to play, the rules you actually need, what the court looks like, and what gear to buy (and not buy) as a beginner.

What Is Padel?

Padel is a racket sport played in doubles on an enclosed court about a third the size of a tennis court. You use a solid, stringless racket and a low-pressure ball, serve underhand, and score like tennis. What makes it unique is the walls: after the ball bounces on your side, you can play it off the glass, which keeps rallies going and makes the game feel like a mix of tennis and squash.

It was invented in Acapulco, Mexico, in 1969 and is now one of the biggest participation sports in Spain. Read more in our history of padel.

How to Get Started Playing Padel in 6 Steps

Step 1: Find a padel court near you

Search "padel near me" or use a court-booking app like Playtomic, which many clubs use for reservations. The U.S. now has more than 1,100 padel courts across 38 states, and Florida, Texas and California have the most.

Step 2: Book an intro clinic or a lesson

Most clubs run beginner clinics and "intro to padel" sessions. One lesson teaches you the serve, the scoring and, most importantly, how to play the ball off the glass. It saves you weeks of confusion.

Step 3: Rent or borrow a racket first

Many clubs rent rackets and sell balls at the front desk. Play a few times before you buy, so you know what feels right.

Step 4: Learn the basic rules

Padel is always played underhand on the serve, uses tennis scoring, and lets the ball bounce off the walls after it lands. The five rules below cover almost everything in a beginner match.

Step 5: Find three other players

Padel is played as doubles on almost every court. Join an open-play session or a social "Americano" (a round-robin format where partners rotate) to meet players at your level.

Step 6: Buy your own beginner gear

Once you're hooked, get a round, forgiving beginner racket, a can of padel balls and court shoes with a herringbone or clay-court sole. More on gear below.

Padel Rules for Beginners

You don't need the full rulebook for your first match. These five rules cover almost everything:

1. Always doubles. Two players per side, and each player covers roughly half the court.
2. Serve underhand. Bounce the ball behind the service line, then hit it at or below waist height, diagonally into the opponent's service box. You get two serves per point, just like tennis.
3. Let it bounce, then use the walls. The ball must bounce once on your side before it touches your walls. After that bounce, you can let it come off the glass and still return it, as long as it hasn't bounced twice.
4. Your shot must land in their court first. If your return hits the opponent's glass or fence before bouncing on their side, you lose the point.
5. Volleys are allowed. You can hit the ball in the air before it bounces, except on the return of serve.

How Padel Scoring Works

Padel uses tennis scoring: 15, 30, 40, game, with sets to six games and a tiebreak at 6–6. At 40–40 (deuce), there are three official options, and your club will tell you which it uses:

• Advantage: traditional tennis deuce; win two points in a row.
• Golden point: one sudden-death point at 40–40. Very common in social and club play.
• Star point: new for 2026. After two advantages are lost, the next point decides the game, and the receiving team chooses which side to receive on. It's mandatory on the pro tour and optional in club play.

Padel Court Dimensions

The back walls are glass topped with metal mesh, and the side walls are part glass, part mesh. The surface is usually sand-filled artificial turf. For comparison, a doubles tennis court is 78 by 36 feet, so a padel court fits roughly three to a tennis court's footprint.

What Gear Do You Need for Padel?

Only three things: a racket, balls and the right shoes. Rent or borrow for your first few sessions, then buy.

A beginner padel racket

Look for a round head shape, which puts the sweet spot in the center and is the most forgiving, and a softer, lighter feel for control. Diamond-shaped rackets are built for power and are harder to control. Every racket must be solid, perforated and no longer than 45.5 cm, with a wrist cord. Our guide to choosing a padel racket goes deeper.

From our shop: the Beginner Padel Bundle with a Blanca racket ($240) has everything to get started, or pick a racket on its own like the Del Mar by Blanca Padel ($180).

Padel balls

Padel balls look like tennis balls but have slightly lower pressure, so they bounce lower and come off the glass more predictably. Don't use tennis balls. Renewaball makes circular, eco-friendly balls approved for both padel and tennis.

Padel shoes

Padel courts are sand-filled turf, so you want a herringbone or clay-court outsole for grip and solid lateral support. Running shoes slide and don't protect your ankles on quick side-to-side moves.

Nice-to-haves

• A bag to carry it all, like the Vacay All Day Duffle ($50)
• Cushioned court socks, like Vacay padel socks ($6)
• A hat for outdoor courts, like our "Bandeja, Darling" or "Off the Glass, Darling" hats
• Overgrips, for a fresh, tacky handle

Want a curated mix of padel gear from brands you won't find at big-box stores? Try the VolleyBird Padel Box ($140).

5 Beginner Padel Mistakes to Avoid

1. Hitting too hard. Power usually comes back at you off the glass. Placement and patience win more points.
2. Hitting the ball before it comes off the wall. Let the ball come off the back glass and meet it as it slows down. It feels wrong at first, and then it becomes your favorite shot.
3. Standing in no-man's-land. Mid-court is where balls land at your feet. Be up at the net with your partner, or back near the glass.
4. Not talking to your partner. Call "mine," "yours" and "switch." Most beginner points are lost in the middle of the court.
5. Buying an expensive racket too soon. Pro-level rackets are stiff and power-focused. A forgiving round racket will improve your game faster.

Padel vs. Tennis vs. Pickleball

Coming from tennis? Your volleys and overheads transfer directly. The adjustment is learning to wait for the ball off the glass instead of attacking it early.

Want the full breakdown? Read padel vs. pickleball: 9 key differences.

Frequently Asked Questions About Getting Started in Padel

How do I get started playing padel?

Find a padel court near you, book a beginner clinic or lesson, rent a racket for your first few sessions, learn the basic rules, and join open play or a social round-robin to meet other players. Buy your own racket, balls and court shoes once you know you enjoy it.

Is padel hard to learn?

Padel is one of the easiest racket sports to pick up. The court is small, the serve is underhand, and the walls keep the ball in play, so beginners can rally in their first session. Using the glass well takes longer to master.

Do you need four players for padel?

Almost all padel is played as doubles, with two players on each side. Some clubs have narrower singles courts, but they are rare. Clubs and apps make it easy to join open play if you don't have a group.

Can you use a tennis racket or tennis balls for padel?

No. Padel uses a solid, stringless perforated racket, and padel balls have slightly lower pressure than tennis balls, so they bounce lower and are easier to control off the walls.

What are the basic rules of padel?

Serve underhand after bouncing the ball, hitting it at or below waist height, diagonally into the opponent's service box. The ball must bounce once on your side before you can play it off the walls, and it must land in the opponent's court before touching their walls. Scoring is the same as tennis.

How big is a padel court?

A padel court is 20 meters long and 10 meters wide (about 65.6 by 32.8 feet), enclosed by glass and metal mesh walls. The net is 0.88 meters high in the center and 0.92 meters at the posts.

What should I wear to play padel?

Wear breathable athletic clothes and court shoes with a herringbone or clay-court outsole, which grips the sand-filled artificial turf most padel courts use. Running shoes don't give enough lateral support.

Is padel the same as pickleball?

No. Padel uses a solid racket, a pressurized ball, tennis scoring and an enclosed court with walls you can play off. Pickleball uses a paddle, a plastic ball with holes, rally-style scoring to 11 and an open court.

Where did padel start?

Padel was invented in Acapulco, Mexico, in 1969 by Enrique Corcuera, then spread to Spain and Argentina before becoming popular across Europe and, more recently, the United States.

The Bottom Line

Getting started in padel takes one booking: find a court, take an intro clinic, and play. Rent gear for the first few sessions, learn the five rules above, and join open play to meet players at your level. Within a few weeks, you'll be the one explaining the glass to your friends.

Shopping for a padel player? See our guide to padel gifts.