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Sport explainer

What is padel?

Padel is a doubles racket sport played on an enclosed court where the glass walls are part of the game. The racket is solid and stringless, and serves are underarm.

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Quick facts

Type
Racket sport
Players
4 (doubles)
Match length
60–90 minutes per match
Origin
Invented in Acapulco, Mexico in 1969; exploded across Spain, Sweden and the UK
Cost to start
Court hire around $20–40 per hour split four ways; a starter racket $60–120.
Fitness needed
Moderate. Short sprints and lots of lateral movement, but points are short.

Padel explained

Padel is a doubles racket sport played on an enclosed court where the glass walls are part of the game. The racket is solid and stringless, and serves are underarm.

It is the fastest-growing racket sport in Europe because rallies start immediately — beginners get long, fun points on day one.

Tactically it rewards positioning and patience over raw power, which is why mixed-ability groups play together happily.

The rules that actually matter

You don't need the full rulebook to play your first session. These are the rules that shape every game of padel.

  • Played almost always as doubles on an enclosed 20m × 10m court
  • Serve is underarm and must bounce before being hit
  • Walls are in play — the ball can be played off the glass after it bounces
  • Scoring is the same as tennis: 15, 30, 40, game
  • The ball may not hit the walls before bouncing on the opponents' side

Equipment you need

Beginners consistently overspend here. This is the realistic starting kit list for padel.

  • Padel racket (solid, no strings)
  • Padel balls
  • Court shoes
  • Sportswear

Formats you can play

Padel isn't one thing. Picking the right format is the difference between enjoying your first month and quitting it.

  • Doubles (standard)
  • Americano
  • Mexicano
  • Club leagues
  • Open tournaments

Where it's played

Typical venues for padel, and the places worth checking when you're looking for a session near you.

  • Enclosed glass padel courts
  • Racket clubs
  • Sports centres
  • Rooftop and pop-up courts

Why people take up padel

Beyond the sport itself, these are the reasons adults commit to it.

  • Genuinely playable and fun within one session
  • Doubles format makes it social by default
  • Lower impact on the body than singles tennis
  • Courts are indoor or covered in most cities — year-round play
  • Easy to find a fourth through club groups and apps

Similar sports

If padel isn't quite right, these sports attract similar players: Tennis, Pickleball, Squash, Badminton.

Your first month

  1. 01

    Week 1 — first court booking

    Rent rackets, play a casual match, don't worry about technique. Learn how the walls behave.

  2. 02

    Week 2 — one coached session

    A single lesson on the underarm serve and the bandeja fixes most beginner habits before they set.

  3. 03

    Week 3 — play a social night

    Americano or Mexicano formats rotate partners so you play everyone and meet the club.

  4. 04

    Week 4 — find regular partners

    Lock in a weekly slot with three players at a similar level. Regularity is what makes you improve.

Find people to train with

SportConnect is free: set your sport and level, browse players, coaches, clubs and gyms near you, and message the ones running beginner-friendly sessions.

Find padel near youExplore your city

Frequently asked questions

Is padel hard to learn?

Fun on day one, tactically deep after a year.

How much does it cost to start padel?

Court hire around $20–40 per hour split four ways; a starter racket $60–120.

Do I need to be fit to play padel?

Moderate. Short sprints and lots of lateral movement, but points are short.

How many players do you need for padel?

4 (doubles). Doubles (standard) is the standard format, but smaller variants exist: Americano, Mexicano, Club leagues.

Do I need experience to join a club or session?

No. Most local clubs, gyms and open sessions run beginner groups and are used to people arriving with zero background. Say you're new when you message them — it changes how they set the session up for you.

Is SportConnect free?

Yes. Creating a profile, browsing players, coaches, gyms and events, and messaging other members is free.

How do I find people at my level nearby?

Set your sport, level and city on your profile, then browse players, coaches and gyms in your area. Filtering by level is the fastest way to find sessions you'll actually enjoy.

Find a padel coach

A few sessions with a coach shortcuts months of guesswork. Every coach on SportConnect lists their sport, location, session formats, rates and availability, so you can compare before you message.

Browse padel coachesPadel on SportConnectHow to find a coachCoach directory
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Keep reading

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