Learn Padel

Padel racket

A solid, stringless racket perforated with holes, used to play padel. The lack of strings gives padel its distinctive shorter, flatter shots.

The padel net

The net that divides a padel court — its two different heights, the maximum post height, the white strip that tops it, and why the posts sit at the lateral limits.

The padel ball

The padel ball's own specification — diameter, weight, bounce and internal pressure — and the separate altitude ball the rules provide for above 1,000 metres.

The padel racket

What the FIP rules fix about a padel racket — the maximum length, width and thickness, the mandatory cord, and the perforation limits that define the hitting surface.

Facility

Padel court

An enclosed court, much smaller than a tennis court, walled with glass and mesh so the ball can be played off the walls.

Facility

Padel court dimensions

The exact size and markings of a padel court under FIP rules — the 10 by 20 metre rectangle, the service lines, the line width, and the free height the rules require above it.

Quick check: What you’ll need

1. In sport, what does “Artificial Turf” mean?
The internal air pressure of an inflatable or pressurised ball, which governs how firm it feels and how high it bounces.A synthetic playing surface of manufactured grass-like fibres, used as an all-weather alternative to natural grass for football, hockey and other field sports.The scientific study of the mechanical principles, such as forces, motion and structure, that govern how living bodies move.The race decisions cyclists make when a rider or small group tries to escape and stay ahead of the main pack.
2. In sport, what does “Lob” mean?
A mogul is a firm bump on a ski slope, formed where skiers repeatedly turn in the same places.A nursery slope is a gentle, short beginner area at a ski resort, usually served by a slow, easy lift.A shot hit high over an opponent, sending the ball or shuttlecock deep toward the back of the court.An attacking racket stroke played by swinging above head height to strike a descending ball steeply downward into the opponent's court.

Answer all 2 to check.

Practice checklist

Identify the essential equipment
Borrow or buy entry-level gear
Check any venue equipment rules

Common mistakes

Overspending on advanced gear before you know you’ll continue
Ignoring fit and safety in favour of looks

Practice goals

Turn up with everything you need to play
Know what each essential item is for

3

Learn the core skills

The fundamental skills the sport is built on. These are what to practise first — everything else builds on them.

Milestone: You can name the core skills and know which ones to practise first.

Lessons

Skill

Rallying

The skill of exchanging shots back and forth to build and win a point.

Skill

Net play

The skill of controlling points close to the net with volleys and touch shots.

Quick check: Learn the core skills

1. In sport, what does “Artificial Turf” mean?
The internal air pressure of an inflatable or pressurised ball, which governs how firm it feels and how high it bounces.The scientific study of the mechanical principles, such as forces, motion and structure, that govern how living bodies move.A synthetic playing surface of manufactured grass-like fibres, used as an all-weather alternative to natural grass for football, hockey and other field sports.The race decisions cyclists make when a rider or small group tries to escape and stay ahead of the main pack.
2. In sport, what does “Love” mean?
A basketball system built on continuous player movement, passing and screening rather than fixed, pre-set plays.A shafted lever with a blade at one end used to propel a rowing boat, pivoting against the boat at a rowlock rather than being held free like a paddle.An attacking run where a player sprints outside and beyond a teammate on the ball to offer a passing option down the flank.The term used in tennis for a score of zero — a game starting fifteen–love means the server leads with the receiver yet to score.

Answer all 2 to check.

Practice checklist

Name the core skills
Practise the two or three that matter most first
Get feedback on one skill

Common mistakes

Chasing flashy skills before the fundamentals are solid
Practising without any feedback loop

Practice goals

Perform the core skills at a basic, repeatable level
Know which skill to work on next

4

Build your technique

How specific movements and shots are performed. Learn these once the basics feel comfortable, one at a time.

Milestone: You understand how the key techniques are performed and when they are used.

Lessons

Topspin Forehand

A forehand groundstroke hit with a low-to-high swing that puts forward spin on the ball so it dips and kicks up on landing.

Volley

A shot played near the net by blocking the ball out of the air before it bounces, using a short, firm punch rather than a full swing.

Padel Bandeja

A controlled overhead shot in padel, hit with slice and moderate pace to keep the player at the net without over-committing.

Playing the walls in padel

The skill that separates padel from every other racket sport — reading a rebound off glass, positioning behind the bounce rather than at it, and using your own back wall to attack.

The bandeja and the víbora

Padel's two signature overheads — the controlled bandeja that holds the net, and the sliced víbora that attacks from it — and why a full smash is usually the wrong choice.

Quick check: Build your technique

1. In sport, what does “Artificial Turf” mean?
The internal air pressure of an inflatable or pressurised ball, which governs how firm it feels and how high it bounces.The scientific study of the mechanical principles, such as forces, motion and structure, that govern how living bodies move.The race decisions cyclists make when a rider or small group tries to escape and stay ahead of the main pack.A synthetic playing surface of manufactured grass-like fibres, used as an all-weather alternative to natural grass for football, hockey and other field sports.
2. In sport, what does “Love” mean?
The term used in tennis for a score of zero — a game starting fifteen–love means the server leads with the receiver yet to score.A basketball system built on continuous player movement, passing and screening rather than fixed, pre-set plays.A shafted lever with a blade at one end used to propel a rowing boat, pivoting against the boat at a rowlock rather than being held free like a paddle.An attacking run where a player sprints outside and beyond a teammate on the ball to offer a passing option down the flank.

Answer all 2 to check.

Practice checklist

Break a key technique into its steps
Practise it slowly before adding speed
Film or check your form

Common mistakes

Adding power or speed before the movement is grooved
Copying a pro’s style without the underlying basics

Practice goals

Perform a key technique with sound, safe form
Self-correct one common fault

5

Understand tactics & strategy

How the game is actually played and thought about — the tactics and bigger-picture strategy that turn skills into a game.

Milestone: You can follow how the game is played tactically, not just physically.

Lessons

Serve and volley

An attacking tennis tactic where the server follows their serve to the net to finish the point with a volley.

Baseline play

A patient tennis style built around rallying from the back of the court and constructing points with groundstrokes.

Doubles formation

How a pair positions itself on court — one up, one back, or both at the net — to control space in doubles.

Net play

Controlling the point from close to the net with volleys, smashes and touch shots to cut down an opponent’s time.