New to Padel?

What is Padel?

Padel is a doubles racket sport played on an enclosed court with glass walls. It's smaller than a tennis court, the serve is underhand, and the walls are in play — meaning the ball can bounce off them and still be returned. It's immediately fun, genuinely social (always 4 players), and easier to pick up than tennis.

What to Bring

• Court shoes — tennis shoes or any shoe with non-marking soles. No running shoes.
• Water — you'll sweat more than you expect.
• Sports clothing — whatever you'd wear to the gym.

That's it. Don't buy a racket — hire one at the venue until you've played several times.

The Easiest Way to Start

Come to a Thursday night social mixer (6:30 PM, $15). No partner needed. The organiser will match you with similar-level players, and everyone rotates partners. It's low-pressure, social, and the fastest way to learn.

Or attend the monthly beginner workshop (last Saturday, 10:00 AM). A coach walks you through the basics — grip, serve, wall play, scoring — and you play supervised games. Rackets provided.

Basic Rules (60-Second Version)

• Always doubles (4 players)
• Serve underhand, diagonally, after bouncing the ball
• Ball must bounce once before returning it (after that, volleys allowed)
• After bouncing, the ball can hit walls and still be played
• Scoring: 15, 30, 40, game (same as tennis)
• First to 6 games wins the set

Common Questions

Do I need to be fit?

Not particularly. The court is small and most beginners' rallies are short. You'll get fitter as you play more, but you don't need to be fit to start.

I play tennis — will that help?

Yes. Your groundstrokes and court awareness transfer directly. The wall play and underhand serve are new, but most tennis players adapt quickly.

Can I play with just one other person?

Padel is designed for four players. The singles court at Padel House NZ allows 1v1, but the standard game needs four people. Social mixers solve the "finding partners" problem.