How Do I Get Started Playing Padel?

New to padel and wondering “how do I get started playing padel?” This beginner-friendly guide walks you through the basics: what padel is, simple rules, the gear you really need, a padel racket beginner guide, and practical tips for your first matches.

What Is Padel?

Padel is a doubles racket sport played on an enclosed 20×10 m court with glass walls and a central net. Think of it as a mix of tennis and squash: underhand serves, long rallies, and lots of teamwork. You play with a solid racket (no strings) and a low-compression ball designed for padel.

• Format: Almost always doubles (2 vs 2).
• Serve: Underhand, below the waist, diagonally into the service box.
• Court: Glass and mesh walls that keep the ball in play and reward angles and placement.

How Do I Get Started Playing Padel?

1. Find a local padel court. Search for “padel clubs near me” or check your local racket club. Many facilities now have dedicated padel courts and beginner sessions.
2. Book a beginner-friendly court slot. Look for “intro to padel”, “padel for beginners” or social mix-ins where everyone is starting from a similar level.
3. Grab basic gear. You can rent a racket at many clubs to try the sport, then upgrade to a beginner padel racket once you know you enjoy it.
4. Learn the simple rules. Understand the serve, bounce and wall rules so you can keep rallies going instead of stopping to debate points.
5. Play regularly for 4–6 weeks. One or two sessions per week are enough to build confidence, timing and basic court positioning.

Essential Padel Equipment for Beginners

You don’t need a full pro setup to get started playing padel. Focus on three essentials: racket, balls, and shoes.

Your First Padel Racket (Beginner Guide)

Your racket has the biggest impact on comfort and learning curve. As a rule of thumb for a padel racket beginner guide:

• Weight: 350–365 g for most adults. Lighter = easier to swing; heavier = more power but more demanding on the arm.
• Shape: Round or teardrop for a big sweet spot and easier control.
• Balance: Even or slightly head-light for maneuverability.
• Face material: Fiberglass or softer carbon for a forgiving feel and better comfort.
• Core: Medium/soft EVA for easier ball exit at lower swing speeds.

If you’re unsure where to start, browse our beginner-level padel rackets and filter by weight, shape and level.

Beginner padel rackets

Intermediate padel rackets

Beginner Padel Racket Cheat Sheet

Padel Balls

Padel balls look like tennis balls but are slightly less pressurized, which keeps the bounce controlled on an enclosed court and makes rallies easier to manage for beginners. Fresh balls matter more than most new players think — swap them regularly so your shots feel consistent.

Padel balls

Padel Shoes & Apparel

Good padel shoes give you grip and stability on synthetic turf with sand. Tennis-only shoes can make you slip or stop too abruptly, especially on side steps and lunges.

Look for:

• Herringbone / clay-style outsole for traction on sand-dressed courts.
• Cushioning + lateral support for quick changes of direction.
• Breathable upper to keep feet cool in longer matches.

Padel shoes

Padel apparel

Basic Padel Rules and Scoring for First-Time Players

You don’t need to memorize the full rulebook to get started. Focus on these basics for your first games.

Scoring System

• Points: 0, 15, 30, 40, game (just like tennis).
• Games & sets: First to 6 games by 2 wins the set. Most matches are best of 3 sets.
• Deuce/advantage: At 40–40, you must win two points in a row to take the game.

Serve Basics

• Serve underhand, below the waist, after bouncing the ball once behind the service line.
• Hit diagonally into the opposite service box.
• If the ball hits the net and lands in the correct box, it’s a let — replay the serve.

When the Ball Is in Play

• After the ball bounces on the court, it can hit the glass walls and still be in play.
• If it hits the wall first and then the ground, the point is over.
• You can volley (hit before the bounce) as long as the ball has crossed the net.

Beginner Padel Techniques & Strategy

Grip & Contact

Use a continental grip (like holding a hammer). It works for serves, volleys and overheads, so you aren’t changing grips every shot.

• Keep your wrist relaxed, not stiff.
• Make contact slightly in front of your body.
• Focus on clean, centered hits over raw power.

If you want a deeper breakdown of swing mechanics, timing, and common mistakes, check our dedicated guide on perfecting your padel forehand techniques .

Beginner Padel Tips: What to Focus on First

Build Your First Padel Starter Kit

Once you’ve tried a few sessions and know you enjoy padel, investing in the right starter gear will make every rally more fun and comfortable.

• Racket: Start with a beginner-friendly frame, then upgrade as your technique and power improve.
• Shoes: Court-specific padel shoes for grip and stability.
• Accessories: Overgrips, wristbands and a bag to protect your gear.

Once you understand how to get started playing padel, the next step is choosing a brand you trust. In our in-depth guide to the best padel brands we compare top padel racket brands like Bullpadel, Nox, Adidas, Head, Wilson, Babolat and Siux, with examples of who each brand suits best.

FAQs — Getting Started With Padel

Ready to start? Explore our full padel gear lineup and build a beginner setup that helps you grow from your very first match.