Serving fundamentals

All padel points start with an under‑arm serve. Stand behind the service line, bounce the ball once and strike it below waist height into the opposite service box. Keep both feet behind the line until after contact. As in tennis, you get two serves per point [oai_citation:0‡ltapadel.org.uk](https://www.ltapadel.org.uk/play/how-to-get-started-playing-padel/rules/#:~:text=Padel%20is%20played%20only%20as,on%20a%20specific%20padel%20court).

Rallying and using the walls

After the serve, the ball must bounce once before touching a wall. You can play the ball directly over the net or off your own back or side wall to reset a rally. The walls make padel rallies longer and more strategic, so practice reading angles and anticipating rebounds [oai_citation:1‡ltapadel.org.uk](https://www.ltapadel.org.uk/play/how-to-get-started-playing-padel/rules/#:~:text=Padel%20is%20played%20only%20as,on%20a%20specific%20padel%20court).

If your opponents lob you high, let the ball bounce off the back glass and position yourself to drive it back. You can even run outside the court to return balls that rebound beyond the fence [oai_citation:2‡ltapadel.org.uk](https://www.ltapadel.org.uk/play/how-to-get-started-playing-padel/rules/#:~:text=Padel%20is%20played%20only%20as,on%20a%20specific%20padel%20court).

Scoring and doubles play

Padel is almost always played in doubles. Scoring follows the same 15–30–40–game progression as tennis, with matches decided over sets. Communicate with your partner to cover the court, switch sides after odd‑numbered games and plan point patterns together.

Tips for mastering the walls

• Watch the bounce: stay low and read the ball’s angle off the glass.
• Use back wall rebounds to reset: when defending, let the ball bounce and rebound before returning calmly.
• Attack off the side wall: a ball coming off the side glass can be driven cross‑court with topspin to surprise your opponents.