How to Start Playing Padel: Your First Game, Gear and Five-Session Plan

Book your first session in seven steps

Padel venues are commonly found through national federation directories, club sites and booking services. FIP lists its affiliated national federations. USA Padel runs a US court directory, while the LTA maintains a British court finder. Playtomic and other booking platforms cover many clubs but no single directory contains every court.^{1 2}

Search more than one place before deciding there is no padel near you. New venues may appear on their own websites before a federation or booking directory is updated.

What should you book for your first padel session?

For most people, the best first booking is a group introduction with a coach. It gives you the rules, a working serve, safe court movement and players at roughly the same stage without the cost of a private lesson.

A 60- to 90-minute session gives a coach time to explain the court, teach the serve and let the group play points. Session lengths differ by venue, so check the booking rather than assuming.

The six questions to ask before paying

1. Is this session suitable for someone who has never played padel?
2. Is the court fee included in the advertised price?
3. Can I rent a racket, and are balls supplied?
4. How many players and coaches will be on court?
5. Is the court indoor or outdoor, and what happens if weather stops play?
6. Are there membership, booking or cancellation charges?

Ask about accessibility, junior safeguarding or a recent injury when any of those affect the session you need. A useful club will tell you which class fits before it takes payment.

Can you start padel without three friends?

Yes. Book a clinic, beginner social or open match that accepts individual players.

Open-match systems let a player join alone and fill one place in a four-person game. Playtomic, for example, lets users search by place and time, join an existing match or create one, and choose between casual and competitive play. It also applies level ranges. Those are platform features, not universal rules for every club.⁸

For a first-ever session, a coached clinic is easier than guessing your level in a public match. After that, ask the coach or club host which social group fits. Local club groups can be more useful than an app in places where the player base is still small.

What equipment do you need for padel?

You need a padel racket, padel balls, suitable shoes, comfortable sports clothes and water. You can usually avoid buying padel-specific equipment for the first session if the venue rents rackets and supplies balls.

A padel racket is solid and perforated rather than strung, and it carries a wrist cord that must be worn during play.¹ Beginners are usually steered towards a controllable round or teardrop shape with a generous sweet spot rather than a heavy power racket.⁵ Once you are ready to buy, the racket chooser narrows the shortlist by shape, weight and balance.

What shoes should a beginner wear?

Use shoes that hold the foot securely during side steps, stops and turns. Padel or tennis shoes are the clearest choice. The LTA highlights lateral support and surface-appropriate traction as the main footwear needs.⁶

A clean, stable sports shoe can get you through an introductory session if the venue allows it. A worn running shoe with a tall, soft sole is a poor choice for repeated side-to-side movement. Ask the club which outsole suits its surface before buying a specialised shoe. The padel shoes database lists outsoles by surface.

The padel rules you need for a first game

The official rulebook is longer than a beginner needs. These five rules are enough to start a normal point correctly.

1. Standard padel is doubles

Four players use a court that measures 10 metres by 20 metres. A net divides the court, and glass or solid walls plus metal fencing enclose it.¹

Singles padel courts exist at some clubs, but they are not the standard FIP doubles court.

2. Serve underarm after a bounce

Stand behind the service line, bounce the ball in your service area and hit it at or below waist height. At least one foot must stay in contact with the ground. Send the ball diagonally into the opposite service box. You get a second serve after a first fault.¹

The first serve of a game starts from the right. The server changes side after every point.

3. The return of serve must bounce

The receiver cannot volley the serve. Let it bounce in the service box and return it before a second bounce. During the rest of the rally, volleys are allowed.¹

4. The opponent’s floor must come before the wall

Your shot must cross the net and land on the opponent’s court before it touches their glass or fence. A direct hit into the opponent’s wall or fence is out.

On your own side, you may return the ball after it bounces and then hits the glass. You still have to hit it before the second floor bounce.³

One small service exception matters. A serve that lands in the correct box and then reaches the glass can be good. A serve that lands and then touches the metal fence before the second bounce is a fault.³

5. Scoring usually follows tennis

Points are called 15, 30, 40 and game. The standard FIP option uses deuce and advantage at 40-all. The rulebook also permits alternative deciding-point formats, including versions of the golden point. Ask which format the coach, club or league is using before the match starts.¹

The first-rally cheat sheet

What happens in a first padel lesson?

A useful first lesson should make you capable of playing a short game. There is no reason to cover every named shot in padel.

Expect the coach to cover:

• Court safety and the racket cord
• A comfortable ready position and basic grip
• A short forehand and backhand
• The underarm serve and return
• One-bounce and wall rules
• Simple scoring
• Where partners stand at the back and net
• A cooperative rally followed by points

You do not need a bandeja, víbora, kick smash or out-of-court retrieval in session one. Those shots make more sense after you can control a forehand, backhand, volley and lob.

The PadelFormat first five

The aim of the first five sessions is to remove one layer of confusion at a time. This is a PadelFormat editorial plan, not an official federation syllabus.

Session one: start the point

Leave with one dependable serve rather than five service variations. A slow legal serve that starts the rally is more useful than a hard serve that misses.

Learn how the score moves and who serves. Use short swings. Your first success is a rally, not a winner.

Session two: defend the back

The glass is the part that feels least familiar to tennis, pickleball and badminton players. Start with predictable feeds that bounce once and reach the back glass. Give the ball space, turn with it and contact it in front after the rebound.

Do not try to use every wall. Learn one clean back-glass return first.

Session three: take the net

Padel teams often defend together near the back and attack together near the net. Move forward as a pair after a ball that gives you time. Keep volleys compact and aim away from the glass corners until your control improves.

Session four: change positions

The lob is the beginner’s route out of defence. A good lob sends the opponents away from the net and gives both partners time to move forward.

Learn a controlled overhead that keeps the ball in play. The hard smash can wait.

Session five: play the match

Play enough continuous points to feel the serving order, side changes and gaps between partners. Keep the score without asking the coach after every rally.

Afterwards, write down one technical problem and one positioning problem. Those two notes give the next lesson a job.

How should a beginner position themselves?

Think in pairs, not as two singles players sharing a court.

When defending, both partners are usually near the back of the court with enough room for the glass. When attacking, both move towards the net. One player at the net and one stranded at the back leaves a large diagonal gap.

Use these first-session rules:

• Move forward and back with your partner.
• Keep the racket in front when waiting.
• Use a short backswing because the court gives you less reaction time.
• Let deep balls reach the back glass instead of taking every ball early.
• Choose the middle when neither player has a clear call.
• Say “mine”, “yours”, “leave” and “switch” early.
• Use a lob when you need time to leave the back.

The LTA’s beginner guidance also puts control ahead of power and treats the lob, compact swings and use of the glass as core early skills.⁴

For stroke details, continue with PadelFormat’s padel techniques, padel shots and padel tips for beginners after the first booking is made.

How much does it cost to start playing padel?

There is no useful worldwide average. Venue, country, time, indoor cover, coaching and membership all change the price.

Use this first-session formula:

First-session cost per person = clinic fee or your share of the court + racket hire + booking charge

Balls may be included in a clinic. A private court booking may require the group to bring or buy them. Shoes and sports clothes cost nothing extra if you already own suitable kit.

Two real examples show why the booking label matters:

Sources: LTA and Misitrano Consulting.^{10 11} The four-player US shares are PadelFormat calculations.

The rows are not a UK versus US price contest. One measures off-peak bookings and the other peak bookings. They also come from different countries and collection methods.

Both examples exclude coaching, membership, racket hire and booking fees. Check the live venue price before travelling. The UK padel statistics and US padel statistics pages explain the wider market data behind each figure.

The cheapest sensible first session

Look for a group introduction that includes the court, coach, racket and balls. If that is unavailable, share an off-peak court with three friends and ask one experienced player to spend the first 15 minutes on the rules.

The cheapest booking is not good value when nobody brings balls, the racket desk is closed or the session level is wrong. Check the full cost and what is included.

How do padel levels work?

There is no universal beginner number. Clubs, leagues and apps use different scales.

Playtomic uses a 0 to 7 rating system, while other organisations use their own categories or larger numerical ranges. A number only makes sense inside the system that issued it.⁹

For your first booking:

• Choose “absolute beginner”, “introductory” or the lowest genuine playing level.
• State that you have never played padel, even if you play tennis or pickleball.
• Ask for a club assessment when the labels are unclear.
• Do not raise a self-rating to enter a convenient match time.
• Treat a platform estimate as a starting point, not a permanent verdict.

Tennis experience may help with tracking a ball and basic racket contact. It can also bring a long swing, too much pace and reluctance to use the glass. Let the coach see your padel game before choosing an intermediate group.

Are you ready for an open match?

You do not need to be good. You need to be able to keep a beginner match running without stopping after every point.

• You can serve underarm into the correct diagonal box.
• You can let the serve bounce and return it.
• You know how the score is called and who serves next.
• You can play one ball off your own back glass.
• You can hit a compact volley from the net.
• You can lob when you are pushed back.
• You can move forward and back with a partner.
• You can play twenty minutes without stopping to ask for the rules.

If most of that list is comfortable, book the lowest open-match level and say it is one of your first matches. Warming up properly before the first point protects the shoulder, elbow, knees and back that padel loads most.⁷ Read our guide to padel injuries if you are returning from a complaint.

Common beginner mistakes

Buying an advanced racket immediately

The words “pro” and “power” do not make a racket easier to use. Rent first and choose for control.

Booking a level because the time is convenient

A mismatched open match is frustrating for the beginner and the other three players. Ask the club where first-timers belong.

Hitting with a long tennis swing

The enclosed court reduces reaction time. Short preparation and clean contact keep more balls in play.

Trying to smash every high ball

The glass can send a hard shot back. A controlled overhead or lob usually teaches more in the first month.

Refusing to let the ball reach the glass

The back wall is not the edge of the point. After a floor bounce, it can give you time and space to return the ball.

Moving alone

Rushing to the net while your partner stays back opens the middle and diagonals. Move as a pair.

Wearing the wrist cord loosely

The cord belongs around the wrist during play. It is an official safety requirement.

Starting with too much court time

Three hard matches in a weekend can be a large jump for a new player. Build frequency and intensity one step at a time.

Frequently asked questions

Is padel easy for a complete beginner?

Most beginners can start a rally in their first session because the serve is underarm and the racket has a short handle. Reading the walls, moving with a partner and choosing the right shot take longer.

Do I need a lesson before playing padel?

No. Four friends can rent a court and learn the basic rules. A beginner group lesson is the smoother first booking because a coach can teach the serve, glass and positioning before habits form.

Can I play padel alone?

A standard match needs four players. You can attend a one-to-one lesson, practise permitted solo drills or book a singles court where one exists. For normal doubles, join a clinic, social or open match if you do not have three partners.

Do I need tennis experience?

No. Tennis, squash, badminton and pickleball experience may help with coordination, but none is required. Tennis players still need to shorten the swing, use the walls and move with a partner.

Can I use a tennis racket for padel?

No. Padel uses a solid perforated racket with a wrist cord. Rent a padel racket for the first session rather than buying one immediately.

Can I use tennis balls for padel?

Use padel balls when possible. Tennis balls have different pressure, size and bounce specifications, so they change the way the court and glass play.

What should I wear for my first padel lesson?

Wear comfortable sports clothes and secure court or tennis shoes. Bring water. Ask the venue about its surface and footwear rules, especially for indoor courts.

How many people do you need for padel?

Standard padel is played by four people in two teams. A group lesson may contain more players rotating through drills, and some venues have non-standard singles courts.

How long is a padel session?

Club bookings commonly use fixed slots such as 60 or 90 minutes, but there is no single worldwide session length. A full best-of-three-set match lasts as long as the score requires. Read the booking details before arranging travel.

How much does a first padel game cost?

Add your share of the court or clinic fee, racket hire and any booking charge. Balls may be included. Published examples range from about £7 per person for an average British off-peak court in 2025 to $20 or $25 per person for average US peak outdoor or indoor court time in Q2 2025. Those figures use different markets and booking periods.

What level should a first-time padel player choose?

Choose absolute beginner, introductory or the lowest genuine category. Rating numbers differ between clubs and apps. Tell the organiser that you have not played padel before and ask for an assessment if the label is unclear.

When should I buy my first padel racket?

Buy after two or three sessions if possible. Try more than one rental or demo and look for a controllable round or teardrop racket with a comfortable balance and generous sweet spot.

What should I learn first in padel?

Learn a legal serve, a return, scoring, one back-glass ball, a compact volley, a lob and how to move with your partner. Those skills are enough to join a genuine beginner match.

Sources

• 1. International Padel Federation, Rules of Padel, current official rules linked by FIP and accessed 29 August 2026.
• 2. LTA Padel, How to get started playing padel as a beginner, accessed 29 August 2026.
• 3. LTA Padel, Official padel rules explained, accessed 29 August 2026.
• 4. LTA Padel, Six padel tips for beginners, accessed 29 August 2026.
• 5. LTA Padel, How to choose a padel racket, accessed 29 August 2026.
• 6. LTA Padel, Padel clothing and footwear, accessed 29 August 2026.
• 7. LTA Padel, Padel warm-up exercises, accessed 29 August 2026.
• 8. Playtomic Help, How to sign up for an open match, updated 9 June 2026.
• 9. Playtomic, Padel levels explained, edited 8 May 2025.
• 10. LTA Padel, 860,000 players: LTA unveils latest figures on growth of padel in Britain, 25 March 2026.
• 11. Misitrano Consulting and Padel 22, The State of Padel in the US Report 2025 findings, 4 September 2025.
• 12. International Padel Federation, affiliated national federations and USA Padel Where to Play and LTA Padel court finder, accessed 29 August 2026.