The first thing I noticed was the sound. A soft thock as the ball came off the back glass, a pause while someone scrambled, then laughter from all four of us. I had no idea where to stand. Twice I let the ball fly past me, sure it was gone. Twice it bounced off the wall and came back, as if the court were giving me a second chance.
The third time, I stepped in and hit it. We had a proper rally, maybe eight shots long, and I was hooked.
Padel is a racket sport, almost always played as doubles, on an enclosed court that needs about a third of the total space of a tennis court, including run-off. Glass and mesh walls surround the court, and those walls are part of play. You use a solid, stringless racket, serve underarm and keep score the same way as in tennis.
I play every week on the Garden Route. I wrote this guide for anyone who keeps hearing about the game:
- complete beginners who have never held a racket
- tennis and squash players wondering whether to switch
- the simply curious who have watched glass courts appear at their local club
You'll find the rules, the court, the kit, a little padel history, what it costs to play in South Africa and how to book your first session, all in plain language.
Padel in a nutshell: the quick facts
| Padel at a glance | |
|---|---|
| Players | Four, as two pairs (doubles) |
| Court | 20 m x 10 m, fully enclosed |
| Walls | Glass at the back, glass and mesh on the sides, all in play |
| Racket | Solid, perforated, no strings |
| Ball | Looks like a tennis ball, with slightly lower pressure |
| Serve | Underarm, after a bounce |
| Scoring | Tennis scoring: 15, 30, 40, game |
If you want the feel of it in one line: part tennis, part squash, and more sociable than either.
The most important fact for a beginner isn't in the table. Most people can rally in their very first session. The walls keep the ball alive, the court is small and the serve is gentle. So you spend your first hour playing rather than fetching balls.
That early fun is the main reason padel spreads so fast. People enjoy their first game, then bring a friend to the next one.
Where padel came from: a short history
Padel began with a wall that was in the way.
In 1969, Enrique Corcuera wanted a court at his home in Acapulco, Mexico. The space was too tight for tennis and hemmed in by walls. Rather than fight them, he put up a net and kept the walls in play.
In 1974, his friend Alfonso de Hohenlohe took the idea to Marbella in Spain. From there the game slipped into Spanish social life. It also travelled to Argentina, where it caught on in a big way.
Structure followed:
- 1991: the International Padel Federation (FIP) was formed.
- 2013 to 2023: the World Padel Tour was the main professional circuit.
- From 2022: Premier Padel launched, and it is now the main professional tour.
Spain remains the game's heartland. There are courts in what feels like every town, and padel is simply part of ordinary evenings with friends.
Padel's rise in South Africa
Here, the boom began around 2020–2021. It felt less like a trend than a wave. Courts went up at tennis and country clubs, schools, wine farms and shopping centres, sometimes seemingly overnight.
Johannesburg and greater Gauteng moved first. Cape Town followed close behind, and Durban built a strong scene of its own. More recently, George and the towns along the Garden Route have grown lively communities. There's now a busy calendar of local tournaments, club leagues and social events.
What I love most is the culture I'm part of on the Garden Route. People play before work and after the school run, and the club staff know their regulars by name. If a visitor turns up alone, someone usually folds them into a game within minutes. Nobody is precious about it.
The padel court explained
The playing area is 20 m long and 10 m wide. A net splits it in half. The net is 88 cm high at the centre and 92 cm at the posts.
The back walls are glass, about 3 m high, with mesh above that up to about 4 m. The side walls are part glass, part mesh. The difference matters. Glass gives a true rebound you learn to read, while mesh is less predictable, which is why some rules depend on which one the ball touches.
On each side, a service line runs 6.95 m from the net. A centre line divides the area in front of it into two service boxes. That leaves roughly 3 m between the service line and the back glass, which is where you'll spend a lot of time learning to play rebounds.
Here's a simple top-down view:
BACK GLASS NET BACK GLASS
|<---------------------------- 20 m ---------------------------->|
| : | : | ^
| : Service | Service : | |
| : box | box : | |
| :--------------------|--------------------: | 10 m
| : Service | Service : | |
| : box | box : | |
| : | : | v
3.05 m <----- 6.95 m -----> <----- 6.95 m -----> 3.05 m
service line service line
Side walls: glass near each back corner, mesh along the middle.
Where players stand: the server stands behind their service line and serves diagonally. The receiver waits near the back glass on the opposite side. Their partners take the other half of the court, and the server's partner often starts at the net.
Indoor or outdoor? In South Africa, most courts are outdoors, though indoor clubs are growing in the cities. You'll also see panoramic courts, which use frameless glass without corner posts so spectators get a clear view. The usual surface is artificial grass with sand infill.
For the full detail on dimensions, walls, surfaces and building a court, see The Padel Court Explained.
How to play padel: the rules for beginners
If you want to know how to play padel, here's the basic flow of a point:
- The server bounces the ball and serves underarm, diagonally into the opponents' service box.
- The receiver lets it bounce, then returns it over the net.
- From then on, every shot must clear the net and bounce on the other side's floor before touching any wall.
- Once the ball has bounced on your side, you can hit it before or after it comes off your walls. You must hit it before it bounces a second time.
- The rally continues until someone misses.
The one rule beginners forget: let it hit the glass. If the ball is heading for your back wall, it usually isn't gone. Step aside, wait for the rebound, and play it as it comes off.
The serve
- Stand behind the service line and bounce the ball first.
- Strike it at or below waist height, with an underarm swing.
- Aim diagonally into the opposite service box.
- You get two attempts, as in tennis.
- After it bounces in the box, the serve may hit the glass and stay in play. If it hits the mesh, it's a fault.
- If the serve clips the net and lands in the box, it's a let, and you replay it. If it clips the net, lands in the box and then hits the mesh, it's a fault instead.
Using the walls
The walls are the heart of padel, but there's an order to it:
- The ball must bounce on your opponents' side before touching any wall.
- Once it has bounced on your side, you can play it off your own walls.
- You can even hit the ball into your own glass to get it back over the net. It's a scrappy, last-resort shot, and there's no need to try it on day one.
You lose the point when:
- the ball bounces twice on your side
- your shot hits your opponents' wall or fence directly, without bouncing first
- the ball hits you or your partner
- your shot lands in the net or outside the court
Volleys are allowed and are a big part of the game. The one exception is the return of serve, which must bounce first.
Scoring
Scoring is exactly like tennis. Points go 15, 30, 40, game. Six games win a set, as long as you're two clear. At 6–6, a tiebreak decides it, and matches are usually best of three sets.
Many social and professional matches use the golden point (punto de oro). At deuce, instead of playing advantage, the next point decides the game. The receiving pair chooses which of them receives it. The pro tours have experimented with variations, but the idea is the same: no endless deuces, and a little jolt of tension.
A quick worked example:
| Point | Result | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Your pair wins it | 15–0 |
| 2 | They win it | 15–15 |
| 3 and 4 | You win both | 40–15 |
| 5 and 6 | They win both | 40–40 (deuce) |
| 7 | Golden point: they choose who receives, and you win it | Your game |
At a social club booking, you'll often just play games until your time is up.
Padel equipment: what you need to start
The good news is that you need very little of your own.
Rackets. A padel racket is solid, with a foam or EVA core inside a hard face. The face is perforated with holes, and there are no strings. It's shorter than a tennis racket and has a wrist strap. Beginners should start with a round racket, which has the biggest sweet spot. For more on shapes, weight and what to spend, see How to Choose a Padel Racket.
Balls. They look like tennis balls but have slightly lower pressure. That makes them a touch slower and easier to control on a small court.
Shoes. This matters more than people expect. Wear padel or clay-court tennis shoes with a herringbone sole, which grips sandy artificial grass and supports side-to-side movement. Avoid running shoes. They aren't built for lateral movement and can slip.
Clothing and small extras. Comfortable sportswear is all you need, and a cap helps on outdoor courts in summer. Always wear the wrist strap. Once you have your own racket, overgrip tape keeps the handle tacky.
Hire or buy? Most South African clubs hire out rackets, so borrow one for your first few sessions. When you do buy, an entry-level round racket costs a fraction of a top-end model and is all a beginner needs. Prices vary between shops and change often, so compare current prices locally or ask your club's coach for a recommendation.
Padel vs tennis, squash, paddle tennis and pickleball
Here's where the confusion comes from. People often call padel "padel tennis", especially in the UK. Padel is still its own sport, with its own rules and federation. Search for "paddle" or "paddle tennis" and you'll land on a different American game altogether. Even the Wikipedia page for paddle tennis notes that the sport rebranded as POP Tennis partly to distinguish itself from padel and platform tennis.
| Padel | Tennis | Squash | Paddle tennis (POP) | Pickleball | Platform tennis | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Court | 20 m x 10 m, enclosed | 23.77 m x 10.97 m (doubles), open | 9.75 m x 6.4 m, four walls | 15.24 m x 6.09 m (50 ft x 20 ft), open | 13.41 m x 6.10 m (44 ft x 20 ft), open | Small court on a raised, screened deck |
| Walls in play | Yes, after the bounce | No | Yes, central | No | No | Yes, screens after the bounce |
| Racket | Solid, perforated | Strung | Strung | Solid, perforated paddle | Smaller solid paddle | Solid, perforated paddle |
| Ball | Low-pressure tennis-style | Tennis ball | Small rubber ball | Low-pressure tennis-style | Light plastic, with holes | Spongy rubber |
| Serve | Underarm, two attempts | Overarm, two attempts | Onto the front wall | Underarm, one attempt | Underarm | One serve, overarm allowed |
| Players | Doubles | Singles or doubles | Mostly singles | Mostly doubles | Singles or doubles | Doubles |
| Learning curve | Rallying in session one | Slower start | Fast and tiring | Quick | Quick | Some adjusting |
Padel vs tennis. Padel has a smaller court, walls and an underarm serve. The start is much easier, and the game relies far less on power. Tennis players adapt quickly, but they have to shorten their swing.
Padel vs squash. Both use walls, but squash is usually singles, with the ball struck at the front wall. In padel, you play across a net and must bounce the ball before it reaches the opponents' walls.
Padel vs paddle tennis (POP Tennis). Paddle tennis dates from 1898 in Albion, Michigan, in the United States. It's played on an open 50 ft x 20 ft court, and walls aren't part of play. That's the key difference.
Platform tennis and pickleball. Platform tennis is a cold-weather American game played on a raised deck inside tight wire screens. Pickleball uses a plastic ball with holes and has a no-volley zone near the net called the "kitchen". Neither is padel.
Is padel a good sport? Why so many people love it
It's quick to learn. Padel for beginners is genuinely fun from the first hour. As you improve, tactics, positioning and patience count for more than raw power. It's easy to start and hard to master.
It's social by design. There are always four of you, close together. You chat between points, rotate partners and often have a drink afterwards. It's very hard to play padel in silence.
It's a real workout. You're constantly moving, changing direction and reacting, which works your cardio, agility and reflexes. The court is small, so the sprints are short, without the steady pounding of running. You'll still feel it the next day.
It suits many ages and levels. Because placement beats power, a thoughtful older player can more than hold their own. It works beautifully for mixed doubles and families. You don't need tennis experience either. Complete beginners often catch up quickly because they have no big tennis swing to unlearn.
Some honest caveats. The common niggles come from rushing in. Tennis elbow and wrist strain often come from a tight grip or poor technique, and calf strains from sudden changes of direction. Warm up properly. Take a lesson early, because good habits protect you later. If you have a health condition or haven't exercised in a while, check with your doctor first.
What padel gives me
For ninety minutes, I'm completely present. My phone sits in my bag and I forget it exists. The ball is coming, my partner is calling, and nothing matters except the next shot. I walk off with more energy than I walked on with, usually having laughed more than I have all week.
For me, that's what active self-care looks like. It's time for myself that doesn't need justifying.
Your first padel session: what to expect
Booking. Most South African clubs take bookings through an app or their own website. Playtomic is widely used here, and it also lists open games you can join and beginner clinics.
Costs. Clubs usually charge for the court, not per person. Bookings typically run for an hour or 90 minutes. Split the court fee four ways and that's your share, which makes padel one of the more affordable ways to try a racket sport. Many clubs charge less for off-peak slots than for evenings and weekends.
Group beginner clinics are a sociable, good-value way in. Private lessons cost more but move you on fastest. Rates vary a lot between Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and smaller towns like George, so check live prices on the booking app or call the club.
Positioning. Move as a team, as if you and your partner were joined by a rope. Either both of you are up at the net or both are back near the glass. Avoid one up and one back, which leaves a gap down the middle.
Etiquette. These small habits will make you instantly welcome:
- Spin a racket to decide who serves first.
- Call your own lines honestly, and give the benefit of the doubt.
- Apologise with a little wave when you win a point off a net cord.
- Greet your opponents at the net before and after you play.
Three tips for your first game:
- Let the glass do the work. Be patient. More balls come back than you think.
- Keep the ball low. Soft shots to your opponents' feet are harder to attack than big, high ones.
- Talk to your partner. Call "mine" or "yours", and say "glass" when a ball is heading for the wall.
Common beginner mistakes (and easy fixes)
- Hitting too hard. Power often bounces off the back glass and hands your opponents an easy ball. Place it instead.
- Standing in no-man's-land. The middle of the court is the hardest place to defend. Be near the net or near the back.
- Swinging too early. Wait for the ball to come off the back glass, then step in.
- Playing it like tennis. Big, wristy strokes cause errors and sore elbows. Keep your swing short and compact.
- Skipping a lesson. Even one or two coaching sessions will speed up your progress dramatically.
Where to play padel
In South Africa, search a booking app such as Playtomic by area. Johannesburg and Pretoria have the densest choice, Cape Town and Durban have plenty of clubs, and George and the Garden Route now have courts within easy reach. Your local tennis or country club may well have added courts too, so it's worth asking. Many clubs run beginner evenings or social mix-ins.
Abroad, padel is easy to find in Spain, the UK and Dubai, and it’s growing fast in the United States.
The Garden Route is a lovely place to learn. The courts are quieter and less crowded than in the big cities. Mountains on one side and sea on the other make even a beginner session feel like a small holiday. The local culture is relaxed, so nobody minds if your first few lobs land somewhere unexpected.
Learning padel the unhurried way
When I picked up padel, I learnt mostly in snatched evening sessions, always rushing from somewhere. What I wanted was time: to be coached properly, play every day and rest in between.
That's why I started Padelist and the Cape Coast Padel Retreat, a small-group week on the Garden Route. The format is simple:
- daily coaching and play with local coaches
- a group of just six to eight people, so everyone gets more court time
- a private room for every guest, with local transfers included
- shared meals and real free time
- optional adventures, such as a safari
I'm there as your host all week. It's structured but never forced, so you can opt out of anything, any time, and no padel experience is needed.
You'll find the next dates, full details, inclusions and pricing on the retreat page.
If it sounds like the kind of week you've been quietly needing, the door's open. If not, I hope this guide gets you onto a court near home.
Your first step
Don't overthink it. Open a booking app, find a beginner clinic or open game near you, and hire a racket on the day. Wear herringbone-soled shoes, keep your swing short and let the ball come off the glass.
Give it an hour. If you're anything like me, you'll walk off already planning the next game.
Frequently asked questions
Is padel a good sport?
Yes. It's quick to learn, sociable and a genuine full-body workout. It also suits a wide range of ages and fitness levels, because placement and teamwork matter more than power.
How many square feet do you need for a padel court?
The playing area is 20 m x 10 m, about 200 m² or roughly 2 150 sq ft. With run-off and access around the structure, plan for about 230–250 m², or roughly 2 500–2 700 sq ft. Indoor courts also need generous ceiling height for lobs.
Is padel hard to learn?
No. Most beginners rally in their first session. It takes a few weeks of regular play to get comfortable with the walls, and much longer to master the tactics, which is part of the fun.
What's the difference between padel and paddle tennis?
In padel, the glass and mesh walls are in play. Paddle tennis (now POP Tennis) is an American sport from 1898, played on an open 50 ft x 20 ft court, and walls aren't part of play.
Where can I play padel in South Africa?
Search a booking app such as Playtomic by area. Johannesburg and Pretoria have the densest choice, Cape Town and Durban have plenty of clubs, and George and the Garden Route now have courts within easy reach.
Can you play padel with two players?
Yes, but it’s uncommon. Padel is designed for doubles, and a standard court is a lot to cover alone. Some clubs have narrower singles courts, but almost everyone plays doubles.
Can older adults play padel?
Yes. The small court, underarm serve and emphasis on placement make padel very accessible. Warm up properly, start gently and check with your doctor if you have a health condition or haven’t exercised in a while.
What is the golden point in padel?
At deuce (40–40), the next point wins the game instead of playing advantage. The receiving pair chooses which player receives.