What is Padel?

Padel Nedir?

Padel is a racket sport that combines elements of tennis, squash, and badminton. It is usually played in doubles on a smaller court surrounded by glass and mesh walls, where the use of the walls as part of the game adds a unique dynamic. With its simple rules, padel is easy for beginners to pick up, while its strategic depth provides an engaging challenge for experienced players. Although rackets and balls resemble those used in tennis, padel has its own rules and court design. Thanks to its fun, fast-paced nature and the social aspect of doubles play, padel is rapidly gaining popularity worldwide.

Origins

The origins of padel can be traced back to platform tennis, which emerged in the United States in the 1920s. Played on elevated platforms during the winter, this sport used solid paddles instead of strung rackets and spongy rubber balls. The smaller court dimensions and enclosed layout inspired aspects of padel’s later design.

Padel’s actual beginnings date back to 1969, when Mexican businessman Enrique Corcuera built a 20×10 meter court on his property in Acapulco. Inspired by paddle-tennis, which he had discovered in the U.S., Corcuera surrounded the court with walls to keep vegetation and balls out. This idea laid the foundation for padel’s most distinctive feature: the enclosed court.

Squash also influenced padel’s development. The use of walls in squash to keep the ball in play inspired Corcuera’s design, shaping padel into a sport built around long rallies and strategic shot-making.

Court Features

A padel court combines features of tennis and squash. The game is always played on an enclosed rectangular court with glass and metal mesh walls. A padel court is roughly one third the size of a tennis court.

  • Dimensions: Standard padel courts measure 20 meters long and 10 meters wide.

  • Back Walls: Glass panels up to 3 meters high, topped with metal mesh.

  • Side Walls: Up to 4 meters high, with the lower 2 meters made of glass and the remaining height covered with mesh.

  • Materials: Walls are usually made of tempered glass, but concrete or other solid surfaces can also be used. The rest of the enclosure is made of durable metal mesh.

  • Net: The court is divided in half by a net, 88 cm high in the center and 92 cm high at the sides.

  • Lines: The center line divides the court, and service boxes are marked 3 meters from the back wall.

  • Gameplay: The ball can only bounce once on the turf before being returned. It may rebound off the glass or mesh walls. A point is won when the ball bounces twice in the opponent’s field.

Equipment

  • Racket: Solid, perforated surface without strings. Commonly made of carbon fiber or fiberglass.

  • Ball: Similar to a tennis ball but with different pressure and construction.

  • Accessories: Players often use padel-specific shoes designed for grip and support on synthetic turf.

Rules

Padel is easy to learn but offers depth and strategy as you advance. Here are the main rules:

Number of Players

  • Padel is a team sport, almost always played in doubles. Four players (2 vs 2) are needed to start a match.

Game Dynamics

  • Scoring System: Padel uses the tennis scoring system: 15, 30, 40, and deuce. Matches are typically best of three sets. Since 2020, the “golden point” rule (deciding 40–40 with a single point) has been used in professional circuits.

  • Side Changes: Teams switch sides after every odd-numbered game (1-0, 2-1, 3-2, etc.).

  • Ball in Play: The ball must always bounce on the ground before touching the walls. During rallies, it can rebound off the glass or mesh after the bounce. The only exception is the serve: after bouncing in the correct service box, it may only hit the glass, never the mesh.

  • Shots: Players may hit the ball after one bounce or directly out of the air (volley). Hitting the ball twice in the same stroke is not allowed.

Serve Rules

  • Serves must be underhand and diagonal, directed into the opponent’s service box.

  • The ball is dropped and struck after bouncing, and contact must be made below waist height.

  • The serve must not hit the side fence after bouncing in the service box; if it does, it is a fault.

  • Players have two attempts for each serve.

  • If the serve clips the net and still lands correctly in the service box, it is a “let” and must be replayed. If it clips the net and then hits the side fence, it is a fault.

Other Key Rules

  • Wrist Strap: Players must wear the racket’s safety strap at all times.

  • Smashes: If a ball is smashed and leaves the court after bouncing, the point goes to the hitter. However, the opponent may attempt to chase it outside and return it before the second bounce—an impressive but difficult move.

  • Net Contact: If the racket, clothing, or body touches the net during play, the point is awarded to the opponent.

Global Popularity

  • As of 2023, padel has around 25 million players across more than 90 countries.

  • In Spain, it is the second most popular sport after football, with over 20,000 courts.

  • Padel has been governed internationally by the International Padel Federation (FIP) since its founding in Madrid in 1991.