Padel 101
It’s not tennis, it’s not squash, and it’s definitely not pickleball. Here’s what happened when I finally decided to learn what padel actually is. I had questions, and more than a few surprises!
By Glorious
“Padel’s so fun!” “You’d love it!” “It’s basically tennis, but better.”
If I had a pound for every time someone said one of those things to me over the past year, I could probably build my own court. Which, incidentally, wouldn’t be a terrible idea. I live near a park and last month, almost overnight, a set of padel courts appeared next to the usual five-a-side football pitch. I clocked them one morning dog walk and immediately sent a voice note to my best friends: “They’ve built those courts… shall we play?” She replied: “Omg yes. Soon. Soooo fun.” We haven’t played.
My brother and sister-in-law are obsessed. They’ve roped in my mum as a regular babysitter so they can escape to the padel court once a week. They come home glowing with that smug combination of post-exercise sweat and recreational joy. It’s like they’ve joined a cult. “It’s great for couples,” she said to me recently, eyes wide. “You can play doubles together. You don’t need to be amazing. It’s just such a laugh.” Again, we haven’t played.
I should be the ideal candidate. I’ve played tennis. I’ve played squash. I like racquet sports. I’ve got friends who play. I live near courts. I’ve done a photoshoot on a padel court. I’ve even been to a party on one. I’ve been on a work trip to Saudi Arabia and seen padel courts springing up outside shopping malls.
Even Stormzy’s into it. He’s invested in Padel Social Club, which has opened venues at The O2 and in Wandsworth. He’s said it’s about more than sport, that it brings people together. He even turned up to the BRITs in sunglasses after injuring his eye on court.
And yet, I have never stepped on a padel court to actually play. Part of it, I think, is because I haven’t got a clue what’s going on. Is it like pickleball? Is it like squash? What do you even wear? And where do you start?
So, in an effort to finally break the cycle, I’m going to try padel. And I’m doing it the smart way, by joining one of Empower Padel’s sessions. Empower Padel, founded by Pep Stonor (read Pep’s most recent article here), is all about creating positive, confidence-boosting spaces for women to try the sport. Their sessions welcome those who are curious but clueless (like me), or who’ve maybe tried padel once and want to come back without pressure.
Since I’m oblivious to the game, I started researching, and I thought I’d pull it all together in one place. If it inspires someone to join me on court or round up a few mates and give it a go, even better.
Where Did Padel Come From?
Padel originated in Mexico in 1969. It was invented by Enrique Corcuera, who modified a squash court at his home in Acapulco by adding elements of tennis and called it “Paddle Corcuera.” The game spread to Spain in the 1970s, where it really took off. According to the International Padel Federation, it is now played in more than 100 countries and is the second most popular sport in Spain, after football.
In the UK, padel is booming. The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), which governs the sport here, says there are now over 400 padel courts and more than 150 venues, with plans to keep expanding. In 2023, they reported more than 90,000 monthly players, more than double the figure from 2022. It was officially recognised as a discipline of tennis by the LTA in 2020 and is being backed as one of the fastest growing sports in the country.
Across the Atlantic, the United States is experiencing its own padel surge. According to the United States Padel Association, the number of courts there jumped from fewer than 20 in 2019 to over 450 by the end of 2023. Player participation has grown significantly too, with estimates suggesting around 100,000 people were playing padel in the US by the end of last year.
Hang on, Isn’t It Just Pickleball?
I honestly thought padel and pickleball were the same thing until about five minutes into this research. For a while, I assumed pickleball was just the American name for padel. Or maybe the casual nickname. It is not.
Pickleball has absolutely exploded in the US. According to the Association of Pickleball Professionals, there are now more than 10,000 courts across the country and over 36 million people who’ve played in the past year. It’s a big deal. But it’s a completely different sport. Pickleball is its own thing entirely. It’s played on a small, open court with no walls, using a solid paddle and a plastic, perforated ball. The pace is different. The feel is different. The rallies are shorter, the movement is more contained, and the sound is all light pops. People describe it as a mix between table tennis and badminton, and that sounds about right.
Padel is apparently much more physical. The walls are in play. The rallies are longer. You’re allowed, and often expected, to let the ball bounce past you, hit the glass, and then play your shot. It’s said to be faster, bouncier, and more chaotic. The racquets are stringless but heavier, and the ball feels like a slightly underinflated tennis ball. It’s not about blasting winners. It’s about angles, patience, and working with your partner. Both sports are having a moment, but they’re definitely not the same. And if, like me, you’ve been quietly pretending to know the difference, now you do.
Ok, so is it similar to Tennis or Squash?
One of the biggest misconceptions about padel is that it’s just a hybrid of other racquet sports. While it borrows ideas from both tennis and squash, it really is its own thing.
Unlike squash, you can’t just return shots straight off the glass. The ball has to bounce before it hits the wall. And unlike tennis, brute strength apparently won’t carry you. You win with patience, smart shot selection, and good teamwork.
The layout of the court changes the feel of the game entirely. Since the walls are in play, there’s a whole extra layer of tactics. You can let the ball pass you, bounce off the back wall, and then return it. You can use angles. You can trap opponents at the net with a well-placed lob. It’s described as fast, dynamic, and social. Because it’s always doubles, you’re constantly working with a partner.
So, What Actually Is Padel?
Padel is a doubles-only racquet sport played on an enclosed court about a third the size of a tennis court. The court is surrounded by glass and mesh walls, and the ball can be played off them in a way that looks a little like squash. The rules are broadly similar to tennis. The scoring is the same, the ball must bounce once before being returned, but the serve is underarm, and the racquets are different.
Padel racquets don’t have strings. They are solid, shorter, and covered in small holes. The ball is almost identical to a tennis ball, but slightly less pressurised, which gives longer rallies and a slightly slower pace. You can’t just power your way to a win. The game apparently rewards control and clever positioning.
Matches are played as best of three sets, with six games per set.
hooked
What Do You Wear to Padel?
This was my first question. Before I thought about the rules or the racquet, I panicked about the clothes. Is there a uniform? Can I wear leggings? Do I need to buy something expensive before I’ve even touched a ball?
Luckily, padel has a relaxed dress code. There are no rules about whites like in tennis, and you do not need any special gear to get started. Most people wear what they’d usually wear to a gym class or a casual run. Think breathable fabrics. Lightweight T-shirts, vests, or long-sleeve tops if you’re outside and it’s chilly. Avoid anything too baggy since there’s lots of movement and close-quarter partnering.
Shorts, skorts, leggings – anything goes. I’ll probably be wearing the same leggings (thank you Sweaty Betty) I’ve used for every fitness class since 2019. They stay put, they don’t ride up, and they already live in my drawer.
Shoes are the only bit of kit worth paying real attention to. You’ll be stopping, sprinting sideways, and lunging, so you need support. Tennis or padel shoes are ideal. Indoor court shoes will work too. Running shoes, tempting as they are, aren’t designed for side-to-side movement and won’t protect your ankles properly. If you’re planning to play more than once, proper shoes are a good first investment.
Accessories-wise, you don’t need much. A cap or visor helps outdoors. Some players wear wristbands or bring a towel. A water bottle is essential. And maybe a banana. Padel sessions tend to be a mix of movement and hanging about waiting to rotate in. You’ll want the energy.
You also don’t need to bring your own racquet or balls. Most beginner-friendly clubs and sessions will have both available to borrow. But if you’re curious, padel racquets are shorter than tennis racquets, made from foam and fibreglass or carbon, and come in different shapes depending on your skill level. Look for something marked ‘control’ or ‘easy’ if you’re just starting out.
How Do You Actually Play (and Win) at Padel?
If you’re slightly allergic to being bad at new things, it helps to have a few basics in mind. According to the LTA and coaching platforms, beginners should focus on five key points: keep the ball in play, communicate with your partner, don’t try to win every point immediately, use the walls, and move together as a pair.
It’s also worth watching a few clips of the pros. The World Padel Tour is where the top players compete, and seeing the game played at that level gives you a sense of what’s possible. Even if I’ll never get there, it’s inspiring and genuinely impressive to watch.
Each point starts with a serve, hit underarm and bounced into the service box diagonally opposite. You get two chances, just like tennis. After that, it’s rally time.
You can return the ball after one bounce or immediately out of the air. The ball can hit your own wall after bouncing, but not your opponent’s. Clever players use the walls to create angles or buy time. You and your partner work together, usually with one person near the net and one covering the back. You win points when your opponents fail to return the ball legally.
Letting the Ball Go
This is apparently one of the biggest learning curves – and one of the most fun. In padel, you don’t always go straight for the return. You can let the ball bounce past you, hit the back wall, and then return it. The ball can also hit the side wall after bouncing and still be playable. What this means is that you have time to reset, and you can use the walls to your advantage. It takes a few rallies to adjust to this logic, but once you get it, it’s supposed to be one of the best parts of the game.
Smashing and Going Over the Fence
Yes, it’s legal to smash the ball out of the court – and it still counts as a winner. On some courts, if the ball goes over the fence and bounces outside the lines, the point is yours. Pro players even run out of the cage and bring the ball back in from outside, which is as ridiculous and thrilling as it sounds. I definitely won’t be doing that in my first few sessions, but it gives you a sense of how big and free the game can become.
Why Now?
Because everyone is talking about it. Because it looks fun. Because I want to try something new that doesn’t involve signing up to a 10K or learning how to clip into pedals. Padel seems like the antidote to overtraining, overplanning, and overthinking. You turn up, grab a racquet, and get stuck in.
It’s social, fast, and designed for beginners. You don’t need to be a certain level of fit, or invest in loads of kit, or spend months learning the ropes before you’re allowed to enjoy it. You just play.
So if, like me, you’ve been padel-curious, this might be the sign you’ve been waiting for. I’ll be the one at the back wall, chasing a lob and laughig at my own missed shot. But finally, finally giving it a go.
Are you keen to try padel? Already converted? Tell us about it on socials: @glorioussport
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