Your first padel game: what to expect and what to bring

Padel is famously easy to start. Most people are rallying within ten minutes, and laughing within five. Here is what to expect from your first game, and how to get the most out of it.

What to bring

• Comfortable sports clothes. Anything you would wear to the gym is fine.
• Proper shoes. Running shoes are not made for quick side steps. Tennis or padel shoes are much safer. More on that in our shoe guide.
• A racket. If you do not have one, many clubs rent them. In Padli you can add a racket or a tube of balls to your booking when the club offers it.
• Water. An hour of padel is more work than it looks.

Who to play with

Padel is always doubles, so you need three others. The best first game is with friends at your level: nobody is waiting for anyone, and everybody learns together. If you cannot find three people, look at the open matches in Padli and join one marked for beginners.

The first ten minutes

Start by simply hitting the ball to each other across the net, without keeping score. Let the ball bounce, then hit it gently. Do not try to smash. Get used to how the ball comes off the back glass: it often comes back further than you expect.

Then play

Once you can keep a short rally going, start a game. Keep the rules simple: serve underhand, the ball must bounce before it hits the walls, and the score works like tennis. You will learn the rest as you go, or read the rules for beginners first.

Three tips for beginners

1. Stay calm with the glass. Let the ball come off the wall and hit it after. It feels strange at first and natural soon after.
2. Talk to your partner. "Mine" and "yours" save a lot of points, and a few friendships.
3. Do not hit hard. In padel, the patient player wins. Hard shots bounce off the glass and come straight back.

After the game

If you booked through Padli, you can add the score and see your first match in your history. Then book the next one. Almost everyone does.