Learn padel from the ground up
Clear, accurate answers to the questions new and improving players actually ask — the rules, the scoring, the gear and how padel stacks up against the sports you already know.
Getting started
What is padel?
The enclosed doubles racquet sport, explained in plain English.
Padel vs pickleball
How the two sports differ in court, gear, walls and scoring.
Padel vs tennis
What padel borrows from tennis — and where it goes its own way.
Padel vs paddle tennis
Padel, platform tennis and POP tennis compared: courts, walls vs screens, serves and gear.
Padel drills for beginners
Ten solo, partner and wall drills with a 60-minute practice plan.
Padel racket weight and balance
How heavy a padel racket should be, what balance in mm means, and how overgrips and protectors shift it.
Padel racket protector
Do you need a frame protector, what the FIP rules allow, how much weight it adds and how far it moves the balance, and how to fit one.
How to hold a padel racket
The continental grip, when an eastern forehand helps, grip pressure and the wrist cord rule.
Padel lessons for beginners
Group clinic vs private lesson, what a first lesson covers, and what to wear and bring.
Padel levels explained
The Playtomic 0–7 scale band by band, how your level moves, and how to pick an honest starting point.
Padel eye protection
What eye-injury studies found, why the ball and glass create the risk, ASTM racket-sport eyewear, and what to do after an eye strike.
Padel for kids and juniors
Readiness, junior age bands, gear that fits smaller players, and junior-friendly clubs.
Rules & scoring
Padel rules
The serve, the walls, the let and the basics of a point.
How scoring works
15, 30, 40, games and sets — the tennis-style scoring system.
Can you play padel singles?
Why padel is a doubles game and what singles looks like.
How to serve in padel
The underarm serve, grip and toss technique, and where to actually aim it.
Americano & Mexicano formats
How club social tournaments work: rotating partners, point-per-rally scoring, and standings-based pairing.
Gear
How to choose a padel racket
Match shape, weight and balance to your level and style.
Upgrading from a beginner racket
Signs you have outgrown your first racket and how big a step to take next.
Racket shapes explained
Round vs teardrop vs diamond — control against power.
Racket materials explained
Carbon vs fiberglass, EVA vs foam core — what a spec sheet actually means.
What equipment do you need?
The short list to get on court: racket, balls, shoes and more.
Padel overgrip guide
How often to change your overgrip, the signs of wear, and how to wrap a new one.
How to choose padel shoes
Outsole patterns, lateral support and why running shoes are the one to avoid.
How long does a padel racket last?
Games-played benchmarks and the real signs — sound, vibration, cracks — that it is time to replace yours.
Padel ball guide
FIP bounce and pressure rules explained, match vs training balls, and when a can has gone flat.
Playing
How big is a padel court?
Court dimensions, walls and service boxes, measured.
How much does padel cost?
Court fees, gear and the real cost of getting started.
How many calories does padel burn?
A realistic range by intensity, and why it beats a treadmill for consistency.
Common beginner mistakes
The habits almost every new player has to unlearn, and how to fix them.
Padel injuries and how to avoid them
What research says about padel elbow, knee and shoulder strain — and how to reduce your risk.
Padel foot care (sponsored)
Sweaty feet, blisters and athlete's foot in court shoes: a before-and-after-match routine and the products that reduce sweat or treat it.
Why athlete's foot keeps coming back
Why repeat infections are common for padel players, and a realistic 4-week plan to break the cycle.
How to stop padel shoes smelling
A post-match drying routine, insoles, washing do's and don'ts, and when the smell is athlete's foot.
Padel fitness and conditioning
What sports-science data says about the physical demands of a match, and how to train for them.
Padel doubles strategy
Positioning, net control and the communication habits that stop easy points slipping away.
Padel shots explained
Bandeja, víbora and chiquita — what each one is, when to use it, and the common mistakes.
Padel etiquette
Booking, warm-up, honest calls and lob/smash restraint — the unwritten rules of club play.
Cost to build a padel court
What a single court costs structure-only versus fully installed, and why the glass enclosure dominates the budget.
Court surfaces and walls explained
Glass vs mesh, panoramic layouts, and how turf and sand infill change the bounce.
Background
Padel glossary
Every term from bandeja to golden point, defined and cross-linked. Bookmark it as you learn.
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