The Tennis Player’s Quick Start Guide to Playing Padel

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The Tennis Player’s Quick Start Guide to Playing Padel

Get Started

"Incredibly Enjoyable"
"Padel is growing at an incredible rate, and it's highly addictive. For a tennis player, adjusting to the glass walls and the completely different bounce is a fun challenge, but it's incredibly enjoyable because of the continuous rallies."

Novak Djokovic

Your tennis background is your biggest advantage, if you know how to use it. While the footwork, hand-eye coordination, and volley technique translate almost instantly, padel’s glass walls and unique pacing require a tactical shift.

Master the key adjustments below to leverage your existing racquet skills, avoid common rookie traps, and start dominating the court from day one.

Key Similarities

Similar ball

Padel uses a ball virtually identical to a tennis ball in size and feel, just operating at a slightly lower pressure. You will get the exact same strike response off your racquet, giving you immediate control over your depth and ball placement from your very first hit.

Same Scoring

Padel keeps the standard tennis format: 15, 30, 40, game, set, and match. The only major shift happens at deuce, where a maximum of two advantage points are played before reaching a decisive point. On that final point, the receiving team chooses which side receives the serve to settle the game on the spot.

Net game wins the court

Just like in doubles tennis, controlling the net is how you control the point. Your instinctive volleys, court coverage, and ability to shut down passing angles will give you a major competitive edge from your very first match.

Doubles Teamwork

Padel relies on the exact same court movement and verbal cues as tennis doubles. Shifting together to cover gaps, calling out net positions, and communicating ball ownership happen in real time. Your existing double-play habits mean you and your partner start with instant synergy.

  • Tip #1

    Forget topspin.

    Flatten out your strokes and hit through the ball with neutral or slightly downward angle. Topspin causes the ball to kick UP off the back glass into your opponent's strike zone. A flat stroke or subtle under-spin keeps the ball low after hitting the wall, making it far harder to return.

  • Tip #2

    Win at the net

    Padel is rarely won from the baseline. Use deep groundstrokes or well-placed lobs to force your opponents back, then charge forward to claim the net. Your objective in the back court is purely defensive; your net presence is where you finish points.

  • Tip #3

    Don't aim for perfection.

    Resist the urge to paint the edges or hit within inches of the glass. Target the middle of the court or deep into the corners with pace. High-margin depth creates awkward bounces off the back wall and forces more unforced errors than high-risk line shots.

  • Tip #4

    Let it bounce.

    When a deep ball or overhead clears your head toward the back court, resist the instinct to hit it on the fly. Turn, let the ball strike the back glass, and hit it on the rebound. Letting the glass do the work gives you far more time and a setup opportunity.

  • Tip #5

    Give the wall space

    Avoid hugging the back glass when defending deep shots. Stand 3 to 4 feet off the back wall so you have room to swing as the ball rebounds off the glass toward you. Step into the shot rather than getting trapped against the wall.

  • Tip #1

    Forget topspin.

    Flatten out your strokes and hit through the ball with neutral or slightly downward angle. Topspin causes the ball to kick UP off the back glass into your opponent's strike zone. A flat stroke or subtle under-spin keeps the ball low after hitting the wall, making it far harder to return.

  • Tip #2

    Win at the net

    Padel is rarely won from the baseline. Use deep groundstrokes or well-placed lobs to force your opponents back, then charge forward to claim the net. Your objective in the back court is purely defensive; your net presence is where you finish points.

  • Tip #3

    Don't aim for perfection.

    Resist the urge to paint the edges or hit within inches of the glass. Target the middle of the court or deep into the corners with pace. High-margin depth creates awkward bounces off the back wall and forces more unforced errors than high-risk line shots.

  • Tip #4

    Let it bounce.

    When a deep ball or overhead clears your head toward the back court, resist the instinct to hit it on the fly. Turn, let the ball strike the back glass, and hit it on the rebound. Letting the glass do the work gives you far more time and a setup opportunity.

  • Tip #5

    Give the wall space

    Avoid hugging the back glass when defending deep shots. Stand 3 to 4 feet off the back wall so you have room to swing as the ball rebounds off the glass toward you. Step into the shot rather than getting trapped against the wall.

  • Tip #1

    Forget topspin.

    Flatten out your strokes and hit through the ball with neutral or slightly downward angle. Topspin causes the ball to kick UP off the back glass into your opponent's strike zone. A flat stroke or subtle under-spin keeps the ball low after hitting the wall, making it far harder to return.

  • Tip #2

    Win at the net

    Padel is rarely won from the baseline. Use deep groundstrokes or well-placed lobs to force your opponents back, then charge forward to claim the net. Your objective in the back court is purely defensive; your net presence is where you finish points.

  • Tip #3

    Don't aim for perfection.

    Resist the urge to paint the edges or hit within inches of the glass. Target the middle of the court or deep into the corners with pace. High-margin depth creates awkward bounces off the back wall and forces more unforced errors than high-risk line shots.

  • Tip #4

    Let it bounce.

    When a deep ball or overhead clears your head toward the back court, resist the instinct to hit it on the fly. Turn, let the ball strike the back glass, and hit it on the rebound. Letting the glass do the work gives you far more time and a setup opportunity.

  • Tip #5

    Give the wall space

    Avoid hugging the back glass when defending deep shots. Stand 3 to 4 feet off the back wall so you have room to swing as the ball rebounds off the glass toward you. Step into the shot rather than getting trapped against the wall.

Key Differences

1

The Glass Walls

If the ball bounces on the court first, it can strike the glass walls and remain live. Instead of backing into the back wall as a hard shot approaches, step forward toward the net to create space. Let the glass slow the ball down, then take it on the rebound.

1

The Glass Walls

If the ball bounces on the court first, it can strike the glass walls and remain live. Instead of backing into the back wall as a hard shot approaches, step forward toward the net to create space. Let the glass slow the ball down, then take it on the rebound.

2

Underhand serve

Serves in padel are hit underhand below waist height after a single drop-bounce. The goal is not to score an outright ace, but to place the ball deep, keep the return low, and allow you and your partner to quickly charge forward to capture the net.

2

Underhand serve

Serves in padel are hit underhand below waist height after a single drop-bounce. The goal is not to score an outright ace, but to place the ball deep, keep the return low, and allow you and your partner to quickly charge forward to capture the net.

3

Shorter swings

Leave your heavy baseline tennis loops behind. Large backswings lead to late contact, unforced errors, and hitting the back wall on your follow-through. Padel rewards compact block strokes, quick hand speeds, and controlled directional pushes.

3

Shorter swings

Leave your heavy baseline tennis loops behind. Large backswings lead to late contact, unforced errors, and hitting the back wall on your follow-through. Padel rewards compact block strokes, quick hand speeds, and controlled directional pushes.

4

Embrace the lob

In tennis, a lob is often a last-ditch defensive move. In padel, a high, deep lob is your main offensive reset. It forces the net players back to their baseline, giving you and your partner the time needed to take over the net and control the point.

4

Embrace the lob

In tennis, a lob is often a last-ditch defensive move. In padel, a high, deep lob is your main offensive reset. It forces the net players back to their baseline, giving you and your partner the time needed to take over the net and control the point.

Positioning

Use the panel dividers to help remember where to stand

Opponents are serving

Your starting position when receiving a serve

Stand behind the baseline, right where the first wall panels join. This gives you time to read the serve without getting pinned against the back glass.

Partner is serving

Your starting position when your partner is serving

Start right at the net near the side wire to lock down the down-the-line return. This shuts down their easiest escape route and forces them into a high-risk crosscourt hit toward your partner.

You are serving

Serve and immediately move towards the net.

Both partners being at the net is the best position to win the point.

Moving together

If your partner is forced deep you should move back with them.

Unlike in tennis, you and your partner should both be back together or both up at the net together.

your Opposite opponent is returning

Stand close to the side when your opposite partner is returning.

Your partner should move closer to the center line to block shots down the middle.

your Diagonal opponent is returning

Move closer to the center line.

When your diagonal opponent is returning, you should move closer to the center line to block shots down the middle.

5 Classic Tennis Habits to Break on the Padel Court

5 Classic Tennis Habits to Break on the Padel Court

Standing in No-Man’s Land

Avoid setting up inside the baseline. Either retreat behind the baseline to defend or step all the way up to control the net.

Attacking from the Baseline

Don’t hit for outright winners from the back court. Use high, deep lobs to buy time, push opponents back, and take the net.

Over-Smashing Without Slice

Flat smashes bounce high off the glass and hand your opponent an easy setup. Add slice to deaden the bounce, or let high balls drop to pick your angle.

Relying on Topspin

Heavy topspin kicks up high off the rear glass right into the hit zone. Flatten out your swing or use under-spin to keep the rebound low.

Playing One Up, One Back

Moving independently creates open lanes. Always move as a synchronized unit, either both at the net or both at the back court.

Gear

Padel uses a solid, foam-core racquet designed for lightning-fast touch, short backswings, and total control at the net. For shoes, skip the stiff hard-court soles and leave running shoes in the locker. You need deep-tread clay tennis shoes or padel-specific soles to handle aggressive lateral cuts and fast direction changes on artificial turf.

Padel uses a solid, foam-core racquet designed for lightning-fast touch, short backswings, and total control at the net. For shoes, skip the stiff hard-court soles and leave running shoes in the locker. You need deep-tread clay tennis shoes or padel-specific soles that have herringbone grips to avoid slipping on the sand covered turf.

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Where to Play

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Padel Gear

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Padel Gear

Where to Play padel

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