← AFTERpadel, explained

Padel in 60 seconds.

(everything you need before your first match. the rest you'll pick up on court.)

  1. 01

    Four on court. Always.

    padel is doubles.

    two a side, one racket each, glass all round.

    you never play alone here anyway.

  2. 02

    Serve underhand.

    let the ball bounce once by your feet.

    then hit it below your waist.

    no smashing it from above. that's the whole rule.

  3. 03

    Diagonal, into the box.

    you serve from behind the line, diagonally, into the box across from you.

    into the net or short? relax. you get a second serve.

    after the bounce it can hit the side glass. still good.

  4. 04

    Floor first, then glass.

    the ball has to bounce on the ground before it touches a wall.

    floor, then glass: in play.

    glass, then floor: their point.

  5. 05

    The walls are on your side.

    after it bounces, the ball can come off the glass. you just play it.

    off your own wall works too.

    that's the whole trick of the game.

  6. 06

    Two bounces, point over.

    bounces twice on your side? the point's theirs.

    same if it hits the net.

    same if it flies out over the glass.

  7. 07

    Count like tennis.

    15, 30, 40, game.

    tied at 40? one point decides it.

    here a match is about 20 minutes. keep score if you want to, nobody's checking.