Padel rules for beginners: serve, walls and scoring
Padel is quick to pick up. The serve is underhand, the court is small and you always have a partner. Learn the serve, two rules about the walls and how a game is scored, and you can play your first match today.
Serve underhand: bounce the ball behind the service line and hit it at or below waist height, diagonally into your opponents' service box. The return must bounce first. Every shot must bounce on their side before it touches their walls, but after it bounces on your side you can play it off your own glass. Scoring is like tennis: 15, 30, 40, game.
The court
The serve
- Underhand onlyBounce the ball behind the service line, then hit it at or below waist height, with at least one foot on the ground.
- DiagonallyInto the opponents' service box, cross-court. You get two tries.
- Where it may go after the bounceIf the serve bounces in the box and then hits the glass, it is in play. If it touches the metal fence before bouncing again, it is a fault.
- LetA serve that touches the net and lands in the correct box, without touching the fence, is replayed.
The rules in a rally
| Rule | What it means |
|---|---|
| The return | The return of serve must bounce first. During rallies, volleys are allowed. |
| Their walls | Every shot must bounce on the opponents' side before it touches their glass or fence. Hitting their wall first is out. |
| Your walls | After the ball bounces on your side, it can come off your walls and you can still play it. You can also hit it against your own walls to get it over. |
| One hit per side | Either partner can take the ball, but only one of you, once. |
| The net | Touching the net, or hitting the ball before it has crossed to your side, loses the point. |
Playing the back glass
The walls give you a second chance. The biggest step for beginners is learning to wait for the ball instead of rushing at it.
- Read the bounce. If the ball will clearly reach the back glass, move back with it.
- Turn side-on to the glass, not facing it, so you can see the ball and swing.
- Hit it on the way down, at about waist height, once it comes out.
Scoring
Padel uses tennis scoring: 15, 30, 40, game. A set is first to six games, two clear; at 6–6 there is a tiebreak to 7 points, two clear. Change ends after the first game, then after every two games. At 40–40 there are three formats:
| Format | How it works | Where you will see it |
|---|---|---|
| Advantage | Win two points in a row from deuce to win the game, as in tennis. | Traditional; many friendly games. |
| Golden point | One deciding point at 40–40. The receiving pair chooses who receives. | Very common in clubs and amateur play. |
| Star Point | Up to two advantage points are played. If neither side converts its advantage, the game goes to a single deciding "Star Point". | Used since 2026 on Premier Padel and the FIP tours, including the amateur FIP Beyond circuit. |
New to the Star Point? See how the 2026 Star Point works, step by step.
Clubs and groups use different scoring formats and local rules, for example about playing balls outside the court. Agree on them before the first serve.
Serving order in pairs
- One player serves a whole game, starting from the right side, then alternating sides after every point.
- Serve then passes to the other pair, then to the first server's partner, so all four players take turns.
- Receivers keep the same side (right or left) for the whole set.
Etiquette that makes you welcome
- Say the score before you serve.
- Apologise for a lucky net cord or a ball that clips the frame and drops over.
- Never hit the ball hard at a player at the net on purpose.
- Shake hands with everyone after the match.
The serve, the wall rules and scoring on one image.
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Rules and scoring are chapter 3. The guide then covers choosing a racket, the grip, every basic shot, the walls, where to stand in pairs and an 8-week plan.
Questions beginners ask
Is the padel serve always underhand?
Yes. You bounce the ball behind the service line and hit it at or below waist height, diagonally into the opponents' box.
Can you hit the ball off the wall in padel?
Yes, on your side: once the ball has bounced on your side it can come off your walls and you can still play it. Your shot must bounce on their side before touching their walls.
What is the golden point in padel?
One deciding point at 40–40 instead of playing advantage. The receiving pair chooses which player receives it.
What is the Star Point in padel?
A scoring format introduced by the International Padel Federation for 2026. Up to two advantage points are played; if neither is converted, one "Star Point" decides the game.
Can you volley the return of serve?
No. The return of serve must bounce first. After that, volleys are allowed.
More beginner tips
Sources
- Between innovation and tradition: introducing the "Star Point", International Padel Federation, December 2025.
- Premier Padel and the International Padel Federation unveil the 2026 calendar and the Star Point system, FIP, December 2025.
- Repvela, Start Playing Padel: The Complete Beginner's Guide, chapters 3 and 6.
This article is general information for healthy beginners, not medical advice. If something hurts sharply, keeps getting worse or does not settle, see a doctor or physiotherapist.