Your first padel match, sorted.

A free printable beginner pack: the rules and scoring on one page, where to stand, and eight drill cards to take to the court.

Rules & scoring cheat sheet

Game: points go 15, 30, 40, game. At 40–40 it's deuce: win two points in a row to take the game (advantage, then game). (Rule 1, Option 1)

Golden point: many clubs play "no advantage". At 40–40 one deciding point wins the game; the receiving pair chooses which side receives. Agree before you start. (Rule 1, Option 3)
Set: first to 6 games, 2 clear. At 5–5 play to 7–5; at 6–6 play a tie-break. (Rule 1)
Tie-break: first to 7 points, 2 clear; the set is won 7–6. (Rule 1)
Match: best of three sets. (Rule 1)
Change ends after games 1, 3 and every odd game; in a tie-break, every 6 points. (Rule 5)
Serve: two tries. Stand with one foot behind the service line, bounce the ball first, hit it at or below waist height, diagonally into the opposite service box. (Rules 6, 7)
Serve fault: it lands outside the box (lines are in), or bounces in the box and then touches the metal fence before the second bounce. (Rule 7)
Net serve: touches the net and lands in the box, and doesn't touch the fence: replay that serve. (Rule 9)
The receiver must let the serve bounce. No volleying the return. (Rule 8)
In a rally: after the ball bounces on your side, it can come off your walls or the fence and you can still play it before it bounces a second time. (Rule 12)
You can hit it off your own back or side wall, as long as it then reaches the opponents' ground first. If it hits their wall or fence without bouncing first, you lose the point. (Rules 13g, 14b)
You lose the point if: the ball bounces twice; you touch the net; it hits you or your partner; it hits the fence on your side first. (Rule 13)

Coaching tips: the serve.

Coaching tips, not rules

The serve: server's partner stands at the net on their side. Receiver's partner usually waits back, in their half.
Move as a pair: side by side, about a racket-and-a-half apart, as if tied by a rope. Both up, or both back.
At the net: about two to three metres off the net, ready to volley.
At the back: stand a step or two in front of the back glass and let the ball come off it.
Lob over you? Both retreat together, then work back to the net.
The middle: agree who takes balls through the middle before the match.

1–2 players, 5 min.

Bounce the ball and hit gentle forehands to a target box.

Focus: low, controlled contact.

1 player, 10 min.

10 serves to each box; count how many land in.

Focus: bounce, waist height, diagonal.

2 players, 8 min.

Partner feeds to the back glass; let it rebound, then hit it back over.

Focus: wait for the ball off the glass.

2 players, 8 min.

Both at the net, soft volleys back and forth without letting it drop.

Focus: short swing, racket up.

4 players, 10 min.

Pair at the net gets lobbed; both turn and retreat together.

Focus: moving as a pair.

2 players, 10 min.

Rally diagonally only, half court.

Focus: consistency over power.

2 players, 8 min.

One serves, one returns after the bounce to the server's feet.

Focus: let it bounce, aim low.

4 players, 15 min.

Play points that start at 40–40, receivers pick the side.

Focus: pressure, calm choices.