The Sport
Understand Padel in 5 Minutes
What padel is, how it's played and why it's so much fun — all on one page.
What is Padel?
Padel is a racket sport for four players on a 10 × 20 m enclosed court. Glass walls and metal fencing are part of the game — the ball may be played off the walls after bouncing on the ground.
The sport combines the dynamics of tennis with the tactical wall play of squash. Beginners usually manage their first rallies within an hour — the learning curve is shallow, the fun is immediate.
“Padel is the world's fastest-growing racket sport. In Spain, it's played more often than tennis.”
Rules
10 × 20 m · fully enclosed · glass + metal fencing
Basic Rules
- Padel is played as doubles — two against two. You can also practise in pairs for casual play.
- The serve is played underarm. The ball may only bounce once before being hit.
- Balls may be hit directly out of the air (volleys) and can rebound off the glass walls — they remain in play as long as they don't bounce twice on the floor.
Scoring
- Points are counted like tennis: 0 – 15 – 30 – 40 – Game. You need at least a two-point lead to win a game.
- Win 6 games with a 2-game lead to take a set. At 6:6, a tie-break decides (first to 7 points, 2-point lead needed).
- A match is best of 2 or 3 sets, depending on the tournament format.
Faults
The other team wins a point when ...
- Two consecutive serves are faulty.
- The ball hits the wall or fencing before the floor on a return.
- The ball bounces twice in your own court.
- The ball hits the fencing in your own court after your shot (glass walls are allowed).
- A player or racket touches the net.
- You accidentally hit your partner.
The Serve
- The serve must be played below hip height.
- The ball must first bounce once behind the service line.
- Both feet must stay behind the line — serve diagonally into the opposite service box.
- Always start from the right side, then alternate.
- If the serve clips the net but lands correctly in the service box → let (replay).
- A fault on the first serve → second serve.
Padel vs. Tennis
| Feature | Padel | Tennis |
|---|---|---|
| Court | 10 × 20 m, enclosed | 8 × 24 m (singles), open |
| Players | 4 (doubles) | 2 or 4 |
| Walls | Yes — part of play | No |
| Service | Underarm, easy | Overhead, technical |
| Learning curve | First rallies in < 1 h | Takes weeks |
| Racket | Solid (no strings) | Strung |
| Scoring | Like tennis | Standard tennis |
What You Need
3 friends
Or use Playtomic to find other players near you.
Sports shoes
Tennis shoes work fine. Padel shoes (herringbone sole) are optimal.
Sports clothing
Anything you can move in. No dress codes.
Racket & balls
Available to rent or buy at our venues — vending machine on site.
What is Pickleball?
Pickleball is another racket sport we offer at our venues. Smaller court, lighter wiffle ball, a mix of tennis, table tennis and badminton — very easy to learn and hugely fun. More on our pickleball page soon.
Your First Time at Flash Fields
Everything you need to get started — from booking to your first shot.