Your first padel game
By the Finding Padel team · Updated 30 October 2026
For your first padel game: book a court at a club near you, bring three friends or join a beginner session, wear court shoes, and rent a racket if you do not have one. Arrive early, warm up with easy rallies, agree on scoring, and expect to be hooked by the end of the hour.
Step 1: find a court
Start with our directory. Every club page shows the address, map, opening hours, phone and website, and when we last checked the details.
Where to play padel near you
Club details last checked 30 Oct 2026.
Step 2: find your four
Padel is doubles, so you need four players. Options:
- Bring three friends. The easiest way to start.
- Book a beginner class or clinic. A coach shows you the basics and finds you partners. Many clubs run these.
- Join an open or social game. Many clubs and booking apps match players by level. Choose the lowest level honestly. Everyone enjoys a close game more.
Step 3: book
Ask the club, or check its website, for:
- how to book (club website, phone or a booking app)
- whether you can rent rackets and buy balls on site
- whether the court is indoor, covered or outdoor
- what shoes are allowed on their surface
Step 4: pack your bag
- Court shoes (not running shoes)
- Sports clothes and a spare shirt
- Water bottle and a towel
- Racket, or a rental booking
- A tube of padel balls, unless the club supplies them
- Cap and sunscreen for outdoor courts
More detail in padel equipment.
Step 5: arrive and warm up
Get there 10 to 15 minutes early to sign in and find your court. Spend the first few minutes rallying gently: forehands and backhands from the back, then volleys at the net, then a few lobs and overheads. Practise letting balls come off the back glass before you start keeping score.
Step 6: agree the rules
Before the first serve, agree:
- which player plays the right side and which plays the left
- scoring at 40 all: advantage, golden point or star point
- how many sets, or whether you play until the time runs out
Spin a racket to decide who serves first.
Padel etiquette regulars expect
- Be on time. Court time is shared and usually tightly booked.
- Enter between points. Wait for a rally to end before walking onto or behind a court.
- Call your own side fairly. Social padel runs on honesty. If in doubt, offer to replay the point.
- Return balls to the server. Roll or bounce them over gently, between points.
- Say sorry for net cords and lucky frames. A raised hand does the job.
- Look after your partner. Call "mine" or "yours", and encourage. Padel is a team game.
- Leave on time. Clear the court promptly for the next group.
- Shake hands or bump rackets at the end. Then grab a drink together. That is half the point of padel.
Staying safe
- Wear your wrist cord. Every time.
- Warm up properly. Padel is full of quick starts and stops.
- Watch your partner's swing, especially at the net.
- In hot weather, drink before you are thirsty and take your breaks.
Quick answers
Do I need lessons before playing padel?
No, but a beginner class is the fastest way to learn the walls and positioning, and to meet people to play with.
Can I play padel on my own?
You need four for a game. If you are on your own, a clinic or an open match is the way in.
How long is a padel game?
It depends on the format and your booking. Many social games simply play until the court time ends.
Keep reading
Learn how to play padel in ten minutes: the serve, the one-bounce rule, playing off the walls, where to stand with your partner and the shots to learn first.
What you need to play padel: a padel racket, padel balls, court shoes and a water bottle. How padel rackets differ from tennis rackets, which shape suits beginners, and what to wear.
Padel scoring works like tennis: 15, 30, 40, game, first to six games. Here is how deuce, golden point, star point and tie-breaks work, with worked examples.
The official rules of padel in plain English. Can the ball hit the wall? What if it hits the fence? Can you touch the net? Every common situation, with the FIP rule behind it.
A plain-English padel dictionary. What is a bandeja, a víbora, a chiquita or a por tres? The shots and words you will hear on court, explained for beginners.