Everything we wish we had known on day one
The rules, the kit, your first session and how to find a club near you - all current to the 2026 FIP rulebook. Built for new players who want the short version, fact-checked against the FIP, LTA Padel and Premier Padel.
Where do you want to start?
Pick the route that matches what you need this week.
Every page in the hub
The full Padeli beginner curriculum - rules, kit, glossary and where to play.
The padel glossary
183 entries across shots, scoring, court, equipment and the Spanish vocabulary you will hear at every club. 109 dedicated term pages live, more shipping weekly.
The rules of padel (2026 FIP edition)
Every rule from the FIP 2026 rulebook with the new Star Point and revised serve clause flagged. Court, net, ball, serve, scoring, walls, hindrances and conduct.
What is padel?
The 2026 beginner’s guide - history, court, format and why padel is the fastest-growing racket sport in the world.
Padel scoring explained
15-30-40-game, deuce, the three FIP-recognised deuce options for 2026 and how Americano scoring differs.
Padel court dimensions and layout
20 m x 10 m, service boxes, walls, mesh, surfaces - the full FIP-spec breakdown with a labelled diagram.
The padel serve
The legal serve, the let rule, and the 2026 service-line clause - mechanics, faults and second serves.
What is your padel level?
The first cross-platform map of Playtomic, MATCHi, LTA Padel and FIP rating systems with a self-diagnostic quiz.
Best beginner padel rackets 2026
Five rackets we recommend after testing across UK and Bali clubs, plus the buying rules that beat any single pick.
Padel positioning and the diamond
Where to stand at the net and the back, how pairs move as one, and the diamond formation that wins points before any shot is hit.
Your first padel session
A 60-minute walk-through with a downloadable A4 PDF checklist. What to bring, what to expect, etiquette basics, and day-one scoring and rules.
Ready to book your first court?
373 beginner-friendly clubs across our markets. Filter by level, surface and price.
Browse all 373 clubs →Beginner padel questions, answered
Is padel easy to learn?
Padel is the easiest racket sport to pick up. Most players hit a rally in their first session because the underarm serve, smaller court and walls slow the game down compared to tennis. You will not win points right away but you will be playing real points within the first hour. The skill ceiling is high - the depth comes later.
How much does it cost to start playing padel?
A first session in the UK costs around £15 to £20 per person for an hour of court hire, with racket and ball hire usually free. In Bali, expect IDR 80,000 to IDR 200,000 per player. In Dubai, AED 70 to AED 120. You do not need your own kit on day one. A decent first racket is £80 to £120 when you decide to commit.
Do I need my own racket to play padel?
Not for your first few sessions. Every padel club we have listed - 373 of them - offers free or low-cost racket hire. Use it. Once you have played five or six times and know you will keep going, buying a beginner-friendly racket in the £80 to £120 bracket is the better move. See our 2026 beginner racket guide for the five we recommend.
What level am I when I start playing padel?
Brand-new players sit at Playtomic 0.5 to 1.5, MATCHi 1.0 to 2.0 and LTA Padel 1.0. The Playtomic algorithm settles quickly after about ten rated matches. Use our cross-platform levels guide to see how the four major rating systems (Playtomic, MATCHi, LTA Padel, FIP) line up and where you sit on each.
How long is a typical padel session?
Most padel clubs book courts in 60 or 90 minute slots. 60 minutes is the standard for casual mix-ins and pay-and-play; 90 minutes is the norm for matched-level league play and lessons. Expect to play three or four short sets in a 60-minute session, or a full best-of-three match in 90 minutes.