your Beginner’s Guide to Padel

What is Padel?

Padel is one of the fastest-growing racket sports in the world. It’s easy to pick up, great for staying active and, because it’s played as doubles, it’s a really social sport too.

You don’t need any previous experience with tennis, squash or other racket sports to get started. At Destination Padel, we have sessions specifically designed to introduce complete beginners to the game and help you build your confidence on court.

What do you need to play padel?

A padel racket – available to hire at our clubs
Padel balls – available to buy in-club
Comfortable sportswear
Trainers suitable for playing on court
Water to keep you hydrated

The basic rules of padel

You don’t need to know every rule before your first game, but understanding a few of the basics will help.

Serving

Padel serves are underarm.

Stand behind the service line, bounce the ball once and hit it at or below waist height diagonally into your opponent’s service box.

You have two attempts to make a successful serve.

How do you win a point?

You win the point when the opposing team is unable to return the ball legally.

For example, you’ll win the point if your opponent:

Hits the ball into the net
Allows the ball to bounce twice
Hits the ball directly into a wall or fence before it bounces on your side
Hits the ball out of play

Scoring

Traditional padel scoring follows the same system as tennis:

15 → 30 → 40 → Game

Sets are usually played to six games, with a team needing a two-game advantage to win the set. If the score reaches 6–6, a tie-break will usually be played.

Depending on the match or competition, you may also come across alternative scoring formats such as Golden Point.

Using the glass

The glass is one of the biggest differences between padel and other racket sports – and learning how to use it is all part of the fun.

If the ball bounces on your side of the court and then hits the glass, it’s still playable. You can allow it to rebound from the glass before returning it, as long as you reach it before the second bounce.

You can even use your own glass to help return the ball, hitting it against the glass so that it travels back over the net.

It might feel unusual at first, but once you become comfortable letting the ball come off the glass, it becomes a huge part of your game.

Is the ball in or out?

A simple way to remember it is that the ball generally needs to bounce on the court before hitting the glass or fence on your opponent’s side.

IN/PLAYABLE

The ball bounces on your opponent’s court and then hits the glass
The ball bounces on your opponent’s court and then hits the fence
On your side, the ball bounces and then hits the glass or fence, and you return it before the second bounce

oUT/POINT LOST

The ball hits the glass or fence on your opponent’s side before bouncing on the court
The ball bounces twice on your side
You hit the ball into the net and it doesn’t cross to your opponent’s side
The ball is hit out of play without first bouncing legally on your opponent’s side

Your Padel Journey at Destination Padel

One of the hardest parts of trying a new sport can simply be knowing where to start.

At Destination Padel Cheadle and Northwich, we have sessions designed to help you learn the game, meet other players and gradually build the confidence to start playing independently.

Here’s what your padel journey could look like.

Intro to Padel

Never picked up a padel racket before? Start here.

Our Intro to Padel sessions at Cheadle and Northwich are designed for complete beginners and will introduce you to the basics of the game in a relaxed environment.

You don’t need any previous racket-sport experience – just turn up ready to give it a go.

Intro+

Once you understand the basics, Intro+ is the next step.

These sessions build on what you learned in your Intro and help you become more confident on court, covering areas such as:

Different types of shots and when to use them
Court positioning
Playing with and communicating with your partner
Building confidence during points

Beginners Socials

Ready to start playing more games?

Our Beginners Socials are a great way to meet other players at a similar stage and enjoy relaxed, organised matches in a friendly environment.

We run socials for different levels across both clubs, so our team can help you find the right session for you.

Keep developing your game

From here, you can start playing regular matches, join more socials or take part in coaching sessions to continue developing your game.

As your confidence and level increase, there are plenty of opportunities to challenge yourself and play with a wider range of players.

Tournaments

When you’re ready to add a competitive edge, keep an eye out for our tournaments and events.

They’re a great opportunity to put what you’ve learned into practice, play against different opponents and experience the competitive side of padel.

Ready to give padel a go? Book on to any of the above sessions for Cheadle Here and Northwich Here