What do I need for my first padel game?

Court shoes (padel shoes or clay-court tennis shoes), a racket and padel balls. Most clubs rent rackets, so for a first game the shoes are the main thing to sort out.

How many players do you need for padel?

Padel is usually played as doubles, so a standard court is for 4 players. Some clubs also have single courts for 2.

How long is a padel court booking?

It depends on the club, usually 60, 90 or 120 minutes. Open matches usually last 90 minutes.

Do you pay per person or for the whole padel court?

For a private booking you pay for the whole court and can split the payment between players. Two players on a doubles court still pay the full price. In an open match you pay only for your own spot.

How do I find people to play padel with?

Join an open match, where you reserve only your own spot; if four players don't sign up, it is cancelled and refunded. Beginner clinics and open play sessions at clubs are other good ways in.

What shoes should I wear for padel?

Padel shoes or clay-court tennis shoes with herringbone or omni tread. Herringbone suits sand-filled artificial grass; omni suits courts with less sand and indoor courts. Avoid running shoes.

Padel for beginners: your first time on court

Padel is a racket sport usually played as doubles, two against two, on a small court enclosed by walls and mesh. For your first time you need court shoes, a racket (most clubs rent them), padel balls and a booked court or a spot in an open match. Here is what to expect, from booking to your first serve.

What to wear on your feet

Shoes matter more than anything else you wear. Choose padel shoes or clay-court tennis shoes with a herringbone or omni-directional tread. Running shoes slide poorly when you move side to side.

The right sole depends on the court:

Herringbone (zigzag): suits artificial grass filled with sand.
Omni (small studs or circles): suits courts with less sand and indoor courts.
Hybrid: for players who play on different kinds of court.

Not sure what the court is like? Ask the club before you go.

What to bring

A racket. Most clubs rent rackets, so you don't need to buy one for your first game.
Padel balls.
Court shoes (see above).

Padel rackets have a wrist safety cord, and FIP rules make it mandatory. It must be non-elastic and no longer than 35 cm. Put it around your wrist before you start hitting.

If you buy a racket later, two points help beginners. Round rackets have a large, central sweet spot and are built for control, which is why they are suggested for beginners. Fibreglass faces are softer and more forgiving than carbon fibre, though less durable.

How booking works

In padel you book the whole court, not a place on it.

Players per court. A standard doubles court is for 4 players. Some clubs also have single courts for 2.
Slot length. It depends on the club, usually 60, 90 or 120 minutes.
Payment. You pay for the whole court. Booking apps such as Playtomic let you split the payment between players. If only two of you play on a doubles court, you still pay the full court price.

Prices vary between clubs, so check the price before you book.

Finding three other players

Four players is the norm, so you need three more. You have three main options:

Bring your own group. Book a court and split the cost.
Join an open match. In an open match you reserve and pay only for your own spot. Open matches usually last 90 minutes. If four players don't sign up, the match is cancelled and everyone gets a refund.
Join a beginner clinic or open play at a club.

If an open match or open play session mixes levels, ask the organiser or the other players before you join. It keeps the game fair for everyone.

Lessons

Beginner clinics and open play are suggested starting points. A clinic or a lesson with a coach is a simple way to learn the serve, how the walls work and how scoring goes before you play a full match. On padelsworld you can filter clubs that offer beginner lessons (more on that below).

The basics of play

The court

The playing area is 20 m long and 10 m wide. At each end there is a 3 m wall with 1 m of metal mesh on top. The sides have walls at each end and mesh in the middle. The net is 0.88 m high in the centre and 0.92 m at the ends.

The serve

Stand with one foot behind the service line (FIP rules, 2026 edition).
Bounce the ball on the ground first, then hit it at or below waist height. This is why padel serves are underhand.
Serve diagonally. The ball must bounce first in the receiver's service box. Lines count as good.
You get two serves. A double fault loses the point.
If the serve bounces in the box and then touches the metal fence before its second bounce, it is a fault.
If the serve touches the net and then lands in the box, it is replayed, unless it then touches the metal fence.

Playing off the walls

The walls are what make padel different. The main rules:

Return the ball before its second bounce.
Once the ball has bounced on your side, it can come off the walls and you can still play it.
You may also hit the ball against your own walls so that it then crosses the net.
Your shot must bounce on the opponents' side first. If it hits their wall or fence before bouncing, you lose the point.
If it bounces on their side and then hits a wall or the fence, it is a good shot.
If your shot touches the metal fence or the ground on your own side, you lose the point.

Other ways to lose a point

You, your racket or anything you wear touches the net or the posts.
The ball bounces twice before you return it.
You hit the ball twice, or you and your partner both hit it.
After you hit it, the ball touches you or your partner.

Scoring

Padel scores like tennis. Points go 15, 30, 40, game. The first pair to 6 games with a 2-game margin wins the set. At 5-5 you play on to 7-5, and at 6-6 there is a tie-break: first to 7 points with a 2-point margin. A match is best of three sets.

At 40-40 (deuce), FIP rules allow three options. Each club or league picks one:

Advantage: you need a two-point lead to win the game.
Golden point: one deciding point. The receiving pair chooses whether to receive on the right or the left.
Star Point: up to two advantage points; if the score returns to deuce a third time, one deciding point is played. It has been used on the professional tours in 2026.

Agree on the format before you start.

Find a court

On padelsworld you can search clubs by city and filter for clubs that offer beginner lessons. Pick a club near you, book a court with three friends or join an open match, and bring your shoes. Most clubs rent rackets.