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Padel rules & smart tips

Do you play padel regularly or are you a beginner? Here you can learn padel rules and get smart tips to improve your game on the court.

We also discuss padel rackets and inspire you with looks and our stylish padel clothing for men and women.

Padel rules

Here are some of the most important basic rules for padel:

The serve is made diagonally across the net from one side of the court to the opposite side and must land in the diagonally opposite service box. The ball must also bounce on the ground before you hit the serve.
You have two attempts to make a correct serve. You serve underhand, and it must always be performed at waist height.
You can win points, for example, by the ball bouncing twice on the opponent's side, them hitting the ball into the net or hitting it out, or you hitting the ball directly onto the fence or glass wall.

The glass walls are part of the game, but there are specific rules for how they can be used:

- When receiving a ball, it's okay to let it bounce off the glass wall after it has bounced on the ground.

- Your own glass wall can be used to hit the ball back.

- The ball is in play if it first bounces on the ground and then onto the mesh (this doesn't apply to serves).

- If a ball goes directly into the opponent's mesh or glass without bouncing on the ground first, the ball is out.

To win a padel match, you must win the most number of sets. In paddle, you usually play to 6 points per set.
A match is typically played as the best of three sets. To win a set, you must have a lead of at least two points.
If the score is 6-6, a tiebreak is played to determine the winner of the set. In a tiebreak, it's usually the first team to reach 7 points with a lead of at least two points that wins the set.
So, to win a padel match, you must either win two sets in a row or win two out of the three sets played.

Choosing the right padel racket

There are several types of padel rackets to choose from, including different materials, weights, and shapes.

The most common materials in padel rackets are carbon fiber, fiberglass, and aluminum for the frame. The core is often made of foam rubber, cork, or so-called EVA foam. The surface is usually made of carbon fiber, fiberglass, or sandpaper.

There are lightweight, medium-weight, and heavy rackets:

Lightweight rackets - provide more control and maneuverability

Medium-weight rackets - good balance between control and power

Heavy rackets - more power but may be a bit more difficult to handle

A good tip is to consider your skill level and style when choosing a racket.

Beginner - Choose a lightweight racket with a round shape and a large sweetspot. A racket with a fiberglass frame and foam rubber core provides both comfort and flexibility.

Intermediate - Choose a teardrop or diamond-shaped racket with more power. A racket with a carbon fiber frame and EVA foam core gives you a good balance between power and control.

Advanced - If you are a more experienced and advanced padel player, you can choose a diamond-shaped racket with a carbon fiber frame and a hard EVA foam core for maximum power.

Don't forget to also check out our guide and tips when choosing a tennis racket.

Head Speed Elite 2023 Padel Racquet

Training Equipment

229.95 USD

What is the difference between a tennis court and a padel court?

Padel and tennis are both fun and social racket sports, but there are, of course, significant differences between them, some of which are related to the court and its construction.

A tennis court is larger than a padel court.
The net on a padel court is slightly lower than on a tennis court.
A padel court has glass walls on the sides and metal fence behind the baselines, whereas a tennis court is open without walls.

Both padel and tennis can be played as singles and doubles, although singles are played on a smaller, specially adapted padel court, while tennis is played on the same court regardless.

The ball and racket also differ between the sports.

In tennis, you have a harder ball with higher air pressure, while in padel, you have a softer ball with lower air pressure.
A tennis racket is longer and has strings, whereas padel rackets are shorter and without strings.

Padel tips to improve your game

There are several techniques in your playing style that are important to consider when playing padel, along with plenty of smart tips and strategic tactics to defeat your opponents.

Here are some smart tips on how to become a better padel player:

Footwork - Quick movements are essential, so focus heavily on footwork to move efficiently on the court. Practice short steps and rapid changes in direction.
Basic Shots - Practice the technique of basic shots and ensure you have a really good forehand, backhand, volley, and smash.
Lobbing - A lob in padel is a shot where the ball is hit high and placed over the opponent's head to create confusion and put them under pressure. Lobbing in padel can be an effective strategy in certain situations.

Here are some situations where it may be appropriate to use a lob:

- When you and your partner are pressured in the back of the court and need to create some space to regain your position.

- When your opponent is close to the net and you want to try to make them back up and create an open field to attack.

- When you want to force your opponents to move across the court to create confusion and break their rhythm.

- When you see that your opponent is out of position and you have the opportunity to place a well-placed lob to score points.

Use the Walls - Utilizing the walls is an important part of padel play, and you can smartly create angles to surprise the opposing team.
Communication - Coordinate movements with the partner you're playing with and communicate to synchronize your game.
Vary Your Game and Understand Your Opponents - Don't use the same shots all the time, but vary your shots and strategies to be more unpredictable. It's also a good idea to simultaneously read your opponents' positions and playing styles.

As with many things in life, practice makes perfect, so make sure you play and train regularly if you want to become really good.

And don't forget the most important thing of all: have fun!

Stylish padel clothes for both women & men

Here at Björn Borg, you'll find a wide range of sleek clothing for both padel and tennis. Choose from everything from airy shorts and polo shirts to sporty dresses, padel skirts, and smart tops with convenient pockets for balls.

Explore our padel clothing for women and padel collection for men and find the look for your next match on the court.