What Is Padel? A Complete Beginner’s Guide for South Africa

Padel is a fast-growing racket sport that combines accessible gameplay, clever tactics and a highly social atmosphere. It is normally played as doubles on an enclosed court where the glass walls form part of the game.

The sport shares certain features with tennis and squash, but padel is a sport in its own right. It has its own racket, court, ball, techniques and rules.

One of padel’s biggest attractions is how quickly new players can participate. You do not need years of technical training before enjoying a rally. Most beginners can understand the basic serve, scoring and wall rules during their first session, while the tactical depth keeps experienced players challenged for years.

Why Is Padel So Popular?

Padel is approachable, competitive and social. Because the court is smaller than a tennis court and four players share the playing area, conversation and teamwork naturally become part of the experience.

Players enjoy padel because:

The basic rules are relatively easy to learn
It is normally played as doubles, making it naturally social
The underarm serve is more accessible than a tennis serve
The enclosed court helps keep the ball in play for longer rallies
Positioning and anticipation can be as important as speed and strength
Men and women of different ages can enjoy recreational games together
It can be played socially or developed into a highly competitive sport

Padel is not effortless, however. Advanced play demands quick reactions, sound technique, controlled movement, communication and intelligent shot selection. Power can be valuable, but it is most effective when combined with patience and good positioning.

Is Padel the Same as Tennis or Squash?

No. Padel borrows recognisable elements from both sports but remains distinct.

Like tennis, padel has a net, service boxes and familiar scoring. Like squash, the ball can remain in play after rebounding from parts of the enclosure. Unlike tennis, padel uses a solid perforated racket without strings and the serve is played underarm after bouncing the ball.

Unlike squash, the ball must generally cross a net and land in the opponents’ court before it may rebound from their wall. You cannot simply hit the ball directly into an opponent’s wall and treat it as a legal return.

The Padel Court

An official doubles padel court is a rectangle measuring 20 metres long by 10 metres wide. A net divides it into two equal halves.

The court is enclosed by a combination of solid walls—usually tempered glass—and metal mesh. The enclosure is fundamental to the sport because legal rebounds can be played after the ball has bounced on the court.

Padel court with glass walls net and service lines — A regulation doubles padel court measures 20 metres by 10 metres.

Court dimensions at a glance

Length: 20 metres
Width: 10 metres
Net height: 88 centimetres at the centre and up to 92 centimetres at the ends
Service line: 3 metres from the back wall
Back enclosure: 4 metres high in total, typically consisting of a 3-metre solid wall with an additional metre of mesh
Minimum unobstructed height: 6 metres under the rules, although greater clearance is recommended for new facilities

The exact permitted construction and enclosure specifications are governed by the International Padel Federation’s official rules.

Some venues also offer singles courts, but regulation competition padel is based on doubles play on the standard 20-by-10-metre court.

How Do the Glass Walls Work?

The wall rule is one of the features that makes padel unique.

When your opponents hit the ball into your side of the court, it may bounce once on the turf and then rebound from the glass or permitted enclosure. You can return it before it bounces a second time.

You may also use your own glass wall when returning the ball, provided the shot travels legally over the net into the opponents’ court.

A few simple principles help beginners:

The ball may bounce only once on your side
You may return it before or after it rebounds from your wall
Your return must cross the net and land legally in the opposing court
A ball sent directly into the opponents’ wall before bouncing in their court is out
A ball that bounces twice before being returned loses the point

Learning when to let the ball reach the glass—rather than rushing to hit it—is an important early padel skill.

Padel player returning a ball from the back glass — The ball can remain in play after bouncing on the turf and rebounding from the glass.

How Is Padel Served?

Every point starts with an underarm serve.

The server stands behind the service line, bounces the ball on the ground and strikes it at or below waist height. The serve must travel diagonally into the opponent’s service box.

As in tennis, the server normally has two attempts. The first point of a game is served from the right-hand side, with the service side alternating after each point.

The serve is a fault if, among other infringements:

It does not land in the correct diagonal service box
The server strikes the ball above the permitted height
The server steps on or crosses the service line before contact
The served ball bounces correctly and then touches the metal mesh before the receiver hits it

If a legal serve touches the net and still lands correctly, it is normally replayed as a let.

Player performing an underarm padel serve — A padel serve is struck underarm at or below waist height.

How Does Padel Scoring Work?

Traditional padel scoring follows the familiar tennis sequence:

15
30
40
Game

A standard set is normally won by the first team to reach six games with a two-game advantage. At 6–6, a tie-break is commonly played.

Some competitions or venues may use alternative scoring formats, such as a deciding point at deuce, to shorten matches. Always confirm the format before a league or tournament match.

For a casual first game, the easiest approach is to use standard tennis scoring.

How Do You Win a Point?

Your team wins the point when the opponents cannot make a legal return. Common examples include:

The ball bounces twice on their side
They hit the ball into the net
Their return lands outside the playable court
Their shot directly hits your wall or mesh before bouncing in your court
A player or something worn or carried by that player touches the net while the ball is in play
The ball legally leaves the court and cannot be returned, where outside play is permitted

The enclosure often extends rallies, but it does not make every rebound legal. Court bounce, wall contact and the order in which they occur all matter.

What Equipment Do You Need?

You need relatively little equipment to start playing.

Padel racket

A padel racket is solid and perforated, with no strings. Rackets come in different shapes, weights, balances and materials.

Round rackets usually prioritise control and a forgiving sweet spot
Teardrop rackets offer a versatile balance of control and power
Diamond rackets usually favour attacking power and more experienced players

Beginners should generally prioritise comfort, manoeuvrability and control instead of buying the hardest or most powerful professional model.

Padel balls

Padel balls look similar to tennis balls, but they are manufactured to padel-specific specifications. Their pressure and rebound characteristics help produce the pace and bounce expected on a padel court.

Padel shoes

Proper court shoes provide lateral stability and suitable grip for artificial turf. Running shoes are designed primarily for forward movement and may not offer the same support during sharp changes of direction.

Clothing and accessories

Wear comfortable sports clothing that allows free movement. Useful additions include overgrips, a water bottle, sun protection for outdoor courts and a racket protector or suitable padel bag.

Many venues rent rackets, making it possible to try the sport before purchasing your own equipment.

Padel racket balls and court shoes from Spin Blade — A padel racket, padel balls and supportive court shoes are the essentials.

Basic Padel Tactics for Beginners

Padel rewards teamwork and court positioning.

Communicate with your partner

Call for the ball, warn your partner when opponents move forward and decide who will cover shots through the middle.

Move together

Partners should generally advance and retreat as a unit. Large gaps give opponents easy targets.

Value the net position

Teams at the net can volley downward and apply pressure. A common tactical objective is to gain the net without forcing a low-percentage shot.

Use the lob

A controlled lob can push opponents away from the net and give your team time to move forward.

Let the glass help you

Not every ball needs to be struck immediately. Allowing a deep ball to rebound from the back glass can create more time and a better contact point.

Choose control before power

Keeping the ball low, targeting open space and making one more ball than your opponents will usually help beginners more than attempting a winner from every position.

A Brief History of Padel

Padel was created in Acapulco, Mexico, in 1969 by Enrique Corcuera. Without sufficient space for a full tennis court at his home, Corcuera developed a smaller 20-by-10-metre playing area enclosed by walls. This became the foundation of the modern padel court.

The sport later spread to Spain and Argentina, where it developed a strong competitive and recreational following. From those early centres, padel expanded throughout Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and the Americas.

The International Padel Federation, commonly known as the FIP, is the international governing body responsible for developing the sport and maintaining its official rules and competitions.

According to the FIP World Padel Report 2025, more than 35 million people play padel globally. The report also recorded substantial annual growth in clubs, courts and players registered with national federations.

The Growth of Padel in South Africa

South Africa has become one of Africa’s most active padel markets. Early commercial courts appeared around 2020 and 2021, followed by rapid expansion in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town, Durban and other regions.

Padel venues can now be found across all nine provinces, including courts at dedicated padel clubs, golf and country clubs, gyms, shopping centres, hotels, schools, estates and multi-sport facilities.

The local game includes:

Beginner coaching and social matches
Club leagues and internal tournaments
Junior development
Corporate and charity events
Provincial and national competition
International FIP tournaments hosted in South Africa
FIP Promises competition for developing junior players

Published estimates of South Africa’s exact player and court numbers vary because facilities are opening quickly and different directories use different counting methods. It is therefore safer to describe the market as rapidly expanding than to treat any single national total as permanent.

Looking for somewhere to play? Use our updated guide to padel courts across South Africa.

Padel tournament in South Africa — South Africa now hosts social, national and international padel competition.

Is Padel an Olympic Sport?

Padel is not currently part of the Olympic Games programme.

The FIP has made Olympic inclusion one of its strategic objectives. The sport has already appeared at major multi-sport events, including the 2023 European Games, and has continued expanding its international federation and competition footprint.

Brisbane 2032 is often discussed as a possible future opportunity, but padel’s inclusion has not been confirmed. It is therefore inaccurate to state that the sport will definitely make its Olympic debut in 2032.

Is Padel Suitable for Beginners?

Yes. Padel is particularly welcoming to beginners because the serve is underarm, the racket is compact and the enclosed court can help extend rallies.

New players should still begin sensibly:

Warm up before playing
Learn safe movement and basic court positioning
Use a comfortable racket suited to your experience
Wear supportive court shoes
Avoid swinging at full power without control
Take a beginner lesson if possible

Players with an existing injury or medical concern should obtain suitable professional advice before starting a new sport.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is padel easier than tennis?

Many beginners find it easier to start rallying in padel because of the underarm serve, smaller court and compact racket. Reaching an advanced level remains technically and tactically demanding.

Can two people play padel?

Standard padel is played by four people in two teams. Special singles courts exist, but they are less common and are not the standard format used for most competitions.

Can the ball hit the glass?

Yes. After the ball bounces in your court, it may rebound from the glass and remain in play. You can return it before it bounces a second time.

Can I use a tennis racket?

No. Padel uses a purpose-built solid racket with holes and no strings.

Do I need to be a club member?

Not necessarily. Many South African venues allow public court bookings, although club members may receive preferred rates or booking benefits.

How long does a padel match last?

Match length varies with the scoring format and level of play. Many social court bookings are scheduled for approximately 60 to 90 minutes.

Ready to Try Padel?

Padel combines exercise, teamwork, competition and social interaction in a format that new players can enjoy from their first session.

Book a court, invite three friends and experience the sport for yourself. When you are ready for your own equipment, Spin Blade Padel can help you choose gear suited to your experience, playing style and budget.