Padel for beginners: start here
By the Finding Padel team · Updated 30 October 2026
Padel is a doubles racket sport played on a small court with glass walls you can play the ball off. It is quick to pick up, very social and seriously addictive. These guides take you from "what is padel?" to your first game, in plain English, checked against the official rules of the International Padel Federation (FIP).
Start here
- What is padel? The sport in two minutes, where it came from and why everyone is talking about it.
- How to play padel The basics of a rally, the serve, using the walls and where to stand.
- Your first padel game Booking a court, what to bring, what to wear and the unwritten etiquette.
Rules and scoring
- Padel rules Every common "is that in?" moment, answered with the official rule.
- Padel serve rules How to serve legally, and what counts as a fault.
- Padel scoring 15, 30, 40, golden point, star point and tie-breaks, with worked examples.
Court, kit and shots
- Padel court dimensions The official court size in metres and feet, with a labelled diagram.
- Padel equipment Rackets, balls and shoes, and what you actually need on day one.
- Padel shots and terms Bandeja, víbora, chiquita and the rest of the padel dictionary.
Padel compared
- Padel vs pickleball Two fast-growing sports, side by side.
- Padel vs tennis What carries over from tennis and what does not.
Padel near you
Where to play padel near you
Club details last checked 30 Oct 2026.
Singapore
Singapore has padel clubs right across the island. With the heat and the rain, check whether a court is indoor, covered or open air before you book. In October 2026 Singapore became a member of the International Padel Federation. See every padel court in Singapore.
Australia
Australian padel is run by Padel Australia, the governing body of padel in Australia and an FIP member, which works alongside Tennis Australia. See every padel court in Australia.
United States
The United States Padel Association (USPA) is the national governing body for padel in the US and the association recognised by FIP. See every padel court in the US.