###### Created: 2025-07-03 16:05 ###### Areas & Topics: #sport ###### Note Type: #permanent ###### Connected to: [[All NEW PADEL PLAYERS - Master the Game with These BEGINNER Padel Tips! - ThePadelSchool.com]] ### Background - Padel is thought to have originated in Acapulco, Mexico and to have started in 1969, after Enrique Corcuera modified his squash court to involve elements of platform tennis. - It started off growing in Spanish-speaking countries and has quickly spread out to Europe and other areas. - It is now thought to have around 25 million active players worldwide and is growing in popularity every year. - In Spain, Sweden and Portugal more people play Padel than tennis. - The Padel World Championship began in 1992 and has been played every 2 years since. - Part of its growth might be because three Padel courts can fit into one tennis court, so tennis court owners are keen to convert courts for more profit. ### Rules - Padel is a doubles game played on a 10x20m court, with glass walls and mesh wire fence sides. ![[3e20b8cc06cf4e40b2080512f6c4400c-2410097775.jpeg]] #### Serving - A serve in Padel is always underarm and hit below waist level. - The server must stand behind the service line when serving, and must bounce the ball before hitting it. - The serve must be delivered inside the diagonal service box and it cannot hit the wire fence after the first bounce. - The serve cannot be returned until **after** the ball has bounced - The first serve is delivered from the right side and the server switches sides after every point until the game is over. - Second serves are allowed. #### Gameplay - After the serve, any area of the court is playable. - The ball can be returned with a volley, after a bounce or by hitting it off of your glass wall. - The ball must hit the ground before hitting any other surface. - The ball can hit the wire fence or glass walls any amount of times, but must be returned before bouncing on the floor a second time. #### Scoring - The scoring in Padel is the same as tennis (15, 30, 40, Game). - Once a team scores 4 times, that counts as winning 1 game. - To win a set, a team must win 6 games. - To win the match, a team must win 2 out of 3 sets. - If both teams are on 40 during a game, this is a deuce and the winner of the game is the first team to score 2 consecutive points. ### Play Tips 1. Start off slow and controlled, so you can react to shots and not hit hard off the back wall and make it easier for your opponents. 2. Stay compact so you can react quickly to shots. 3. Use the glass wall to allow shots to slow down so you can lob them on the return. 4. Take a net position so you can return shots off the glass wall and more easily finish points. #### Return - Take your time and let the ball come low. - Don’t plant your feet too early. Move your body around the ball until you’re in a good position to hit it. - Keep the ball low where possible, so it’s not too easy for the opponents to return. #### Off the Glass - Don’t panic when the ball goes quickly towards the glass, just keep light on your feet so you can move your body and be next to the ball. - If the ball lands between the second and third metal posts, you shouldn’t let it hit the glass as it will be too slow to return. #### Smash - Use your non-racket hand as a guide for when to smash the ball. - If you’re holding it above your head, the point where the ball is at the same height as your hand is when you can smash it. - Remember it should be more of a flick with your wrist than a slow pushing forward motion. #### Serve - Stand as far to the middle edge of the service box as you can. - Aim for the back corner of the opponents service box where the glass begins. - Stand straight when serving, don’t bend low during the serve. - Cut the ball at a diagonal right angle when serving, not in a more curved angle. This will send the ball straighter and lower instead of in a looping, slower motion that will be easier to return. - When serving on the left, let the ball roll off your hand. This will cause it to bounce on your side but then move further along to the right as you hit it. This will make the angle more narrow for the opponent receiving it. ### Sources [[All NEW PADEL PLAYERS - Master the Game with These BEGINNER Padel Tips! - ThePadelSchool.com]] Padel - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Padel How to play padel? - Padel Tampere https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NX-68fxhL_4&t=27s&ab_channel=PadelTampere