TrustPadel Beginner’s Guide to Padel Rules

New to padel? Welcome to TrustPadel.
We’re here to make learning this exciting sport easy and enjoyable. Whether you're picking up a racket for the first time or just brushing up on the rules, this guide covers everything you need to know to get started on the right foot.

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 The Basics

Padel is always played in doubles – 2 players per team.
The game is played on a smaller, enclosed court surrounded by glass walls and metal fencing, with doors on both sides.
Each side of the net includes two service boxes, similar to a tennis court.

🎯 How to Serve in Padel

Serves are underarm only and must be hit diagonally across the court.
Serve procedure:
- Stand behind the service line.
- Bounce the ball once before striking it.
- The ball must be hit below waist height – do not bounce the ball too high before serving.
A valid serve:
- Lands in the opposite service box.
- May bounce and hit the back glass wall.
A fault occurs if:
- The ball hits the net and doesn’t land in the service box.
- The bounce causes it to hit the side cage.
- The ball is hit above waist level or not bounced before striking.
Let serve:
- If the serve clips the net but still lands correctly in the service box, it’s a let – replay the serve with no fault counted.
Players take turns serving a full game, alternating sides between points.

🕹️ Playing the Point

The rally starts after a valid serve and continues until a point is won.
The ball must:
- Clear the net.
- Bounce in the opponent’s court before hitting any wall or fence.
You may:
- Hit the ball after it bounces off a wall.
- Play the ball off your own back glass wall to return it.
You may not:
- Hit the ball directly into the wall or cage without a bounce.
- Hit the ball into your own cage during a rally.
- Let the ball bounce twice – doing so loses the point.

🚪 Playing Outside the Court

If a ball bounces and leaves the court over the wall or through the side openings:
- You can exit through the door and return it – but only before it bounces a second time.

🧱 Using the Walls

Walls are a strategic part of padel. You can:
- Let the ball bounce and hit the glass wall, then return it.
- Hit the ball off your own glass to curve it into your opponents' side.
- Use your opponent’s cage or glass to force difficult returns.
Serves cannot hit the cage at any time.

⏱️ Scoring in Padel

TrustPadel follows the traditional tennis scoring system:

Points: 15 – 30 – 40 – Game.
At 40-40 (deuce), the game continues until one team wins by two clear points:
- First point = advantage.
- Next point = game, if the advantage team wins it.

🟡 Golden Point (Optional Format)

In some formats (especially tournaments), a Golden Point is used at deuce:
- Next point wins the game.
- The receiving team chooses who receives the serve.
- It adds extra tension and excitement — one point, winner takes all.

🏆 Sets, Games & Tiebreaks

A match is usually played as best of 3 sets.
To win a set:
- A team must win 6 games, with a lead of at least 2 games (e.g., 6–4).
At 6–6, a tiebreak is played:
- First to 7 points (with a 2-point margin) wins the tiebreak and the set.
- Tiebreak points are scored numerically: 1, 2, 3...
- Serve alternates every two points after the first.

✅ Quick Tips for Beginners

Always let the ball bounce once on a serve before hitting it.
Keep your serve low – under waist height.
Use the walls wisely — they’re your friend.
Stay alert — padel is all about reflexes, angles, and teamwork.
Communicate with your partner — it’s a doubles game!

At TrustPadel, we believe in making the sport inclusive, fun, and easy to learn. With these rules in your back pocket, you’re ready to hit the court with confidence and style.