What Is Padel?

Padel is the world’s fastest-growing racket sport – but what actually is padel? This guide explains the game in simple terms: how it works, where it comes from, how it compares to tennis and squash, and how to try it for yourself at padel courts near you.

Padel in One Paragraph

Padel is a doubles racket sport that combines the rallies of tennis with the walls of squash. You play on a smaller, enclosed court with solid rackets and an underarm serve, which makes the sport easier to start, more social and more accessible than many other racket games.

Key Features at a Glance

  • Always played as doubles – 2 vs 2.
  • Smaller enclosed court with glass and mesh walls.
  • Underarm serve, usually easier than a tennis serve.
  • Ball can rebound off the walls after it bounces.
  • Scoring system is the same as tennis.

Why People Love It

Because the court is small and the walls keep the ball in play, rallies last longer, even for beginners. That means more touches, more laughs and more cardio in less time. It’s a perfect blend of competition and fun.

What Does a Padel Court Look Like?

If you’ve only seen tennis courts before, padel courts look unusual at first. Here’s what you’re looking at when you visit a typical UK padel venue.

Court Layout

  • Roughly 10m x 20m, about a third smaller than a tennis court.
  • Surrounded by glass and mesh walls up to around 3–4 metres.
  • Net in the middle, with service boxes marked on both sides.
  • Most UK courts use artificial turf with sand for grip and consistent bounce.
  • Venues may be indoor, roofed or outdoor – you’ll see all three in the UK.

Padel Equipment

  • Padel racket – solid, perforated and stringless.
  • Padel or tennis balls – often slightly lower pressure.
  • Sports clothing you’d wear for tennis or the gym.
  • Comfortable trainers with a non-marking, grippy sole.

Most clubs and many of the padel courts near you offer racket and ball hire so you can try the sport before buying anything.

How Is Padel Actually Played?

Now that you know what padel looks like, here’s what a typical point, game and match feels like.

Serving & Rallies

  • Serve is underarm, after bouncing the ball once behind the line.
  • The ball must land in the diagonal service box (like tennis).
  • After the bounce, it may hit the walls or fence and still be in play.
  • Rallies often include multiple wall rebounds on both sides of the net.

When Points End

  • Ball bounces twice on one side of the court.
  • Ball is hit into the net and doesn’t cross.
  • Ball lands out of bounds without a legal wall bounce.
  • Player touches the net or hits the ball before it crosses the net.

These basics are usually enough for you to join a beginner session. Once you’re comfortable, you can go deeper with our How to Play Padel guide.

Scoring

  • Uses tennis scoring: 15, 30, 40, game.
  • Six games usually win a set, with a two-game margin.
  • Most social matches are best of 3 sets or a single timed set.

Padel vs Tennis & Squash

People often ask, “Is padel just like tennis?” or “Is it more like squash?”. The short answer: it sits between the two – but with its own personality.

Padel vs Tennis

  • Padel court is smaller and enclosed; tennis is open and larger.
  • Padel uses a solid racket; tennis uses a strung racket.
  • Padel serve is underarm; tennis is usually overarm.
  • Padel uses walls during rallies; tennis does not.
  • Both share the same scoring system.

Padel vs Squash

  • Padel is played on a rectangular outdoor-style court with a net; squash is indoors only.
  • In padel, the ball must go over the net; in squash it hits the front wall.
  • Both sports use the walls, but in different ways.
  • Padel is almost always doubles; squash is often singles.

The Sweet Spot Between the Two

Padel borrows the best elements of both sports – the net play and angles of tennis, plus the creative use of walls from squash. That’s why many UK players from both backgrounds are switching to or adding padel to their weekly routine.

Where Did Padel Come From – And Why Is It Booming?

Padel may feel new in the UK, but the sport has been around for decades and is huge in Spain, Argentina and across Europe.

Origins of Padel

Padel was invented in Mexico in the late 1960s and quickly spread to Spain and Argentina, where it found its natural home. Clubs loved how many people could play on a small footprint, and players loved the long rallies and social format.

Growth in the UK

  • Over the last few years, the UK has seen rapid padel growth.
  • Clubs, leisure centres and private venues are building courts nationwide.
  • Many venues now offer indoor or roofed courts to beat the British weather.
  • National and local leagues, tournaments and rankings are emerging.

To see where you can play, check dedicated resources like Padel Courts Near Me or use the PaddlePals Court Finder.

Who Is Padel For?

The short answer: almost everyone. Padel is designed to be easy to start and hard to put down.

Great for Beginners

  • Underarm serve and short rackets make the game easy to pick up.
  • Small court keeps you involved in every point.
  • Walls help keep the ball in play, so rallies last longer.
  • Ideal for mixed-ability groups and families.

Perfect for Ex-Racket-Sport Players

  • Tennis, squash and badminton players adapt quickly.
  • Footwork and racket skills translate almost straight away.
  • Many players find padel kinder on joints than full-court tennis.

Social by Design

Because padel is always doubles, you’re guaranteed a social experience. Many clubs run mix-in sessions, social nights and box leagues, making it easy to meet new people while you play.

How to Try Padel for the First Time

Knowing what padel is is one thing – playing your first game is where it really clicks. Here’s how to go from curious to on-court in a few simple steps.

1. Find a Local Court

  • Use Padel Courts Near Me to see UK venues.
  • Filter for indoor or roofed courts if you want weather-proof play.
  • Look for clubs offering intro to padel or social sessions.

2. Book a Beginner Session

  • Choose a group coaching session or social mix-in.
  • Ask if the venue provides racket and ball hire.
  • Bring comfortable sports kit and a bottle of water.

3. Learn the Basics

  • Skim through our How to Play Padel guide.
  • Focus on simple forehands, backhands and volleys at first.
  • Ask your coach or partner to explain walls and scoring as you go.

4. Play, Then Track Progress

  • Play a few social matches at different padel courts near you.
  • Create a free PaddlePals account to log results and follow friends.
  • Use our tips and drills pages to improve week by week.

Ready to Turn “What Is Padel?” into “When Can We Play?”

Sign up to PaddlePals, find games at padel courts near you, and use our How to Play Padel guide to feel confident from your very first match.

Start Your Padel Journey