Padel Sport

Padel Rules and Court Etiquette Every New Indian Player Should Know

Booked your first padel court? The scoring, the underarm serve, how the glass walls actually work, and the unwritten etiquette that matters just as much.

Instasport

— 4 min read
Puma Nova Padel Pro WMN padel racket for beginners playing on Indian padel courts

Padel rules for beginners: the five things to know before your first game

Padel rules trip up almost every new player in the same places, and none of them are the scoring. If you have played any tennis you already know the scoring. What catches people out is the serve, the walls, and the handful of etiquette conventions that decide whether the regulars invite you back.

With courts opening across Bengaluru, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Delhi NCR and Pune, most Indian players are learning padel socially rather than through coaching. This is the 10-minute briefing you would ideally get before walking on.

1. Scoring is tennis scoring

15, 30, 40, game. Six games with a two-game margin wins a set; at 6–6 you play a seven-point tie-break. Matches are usually best of three sets, though social play in India is more often a fixed time slot with as many games as fit.

One difference worth noting: padel is played almost exclusively as doubles. Singles padel exists but is rare, and virtually no Indian club builds singles courts.

2. The serve is underarm, and it is stricter than it looks

This is the rule new players break most often. The serve must be:

  • Hit underarm, with contact at or below waist height.
  • Preceded by a bounce — you drop the ball, let it bounce, then hit it.
  • Struck from behind the service line, diagonally into the opponent's service box.

You get two serves, as in tennis. And in padel, after landing in the correct box, the ball may hit the side glass and remain in play — but if it hits the metal mesh fencing on the receiver's side, it is a fault.

3. The walls: one rule to memorise

If you remember nothing else, remember this: the ball must bounce on the floor before it touches any glass or fence on your opponent's side. Hit the glass first and you have lost the point.

On your own side, the reverse is liberating. Once the ball has bounced on your floor, it may hit your back glass or side glass, and you can play it off the rebound — provided you return it before it bounces a second time. Learning to let the ball come off the back wall instead of panicking at it is the single biggest step up in a beginner's game.

Can the ball go out over the glass in padel?

Yes. A ball that goes over the walls and out of the enclosure is out. At some courts you may also chase a ball out through the side opening and play it back in, but this depends on the court design and local house rules — ask before assuming.

4. Court etiquette that matters in India

Padel is a social sport and courts are booked in tight one-hour slots, which makes etiquette practical rather than precious.

  • Start and finish on time. The group after you is standing at the gate. Wrap the last point when your slot ends.
  • Call "mine" or "yours" early. The middle ball is where partners collide. Communicate before the ball arrives, not as you swing.
  • Never walk behind an active court. Wait for the point to end before crossing.
  • Return balls properly. Hit or roll loose balls back to the server, not vaguely in their direction.
  • Call your own faults honestly. There is no umpire in social padel. Self-calling is the whole system.
  • Mind the racket. The court is 20m by 10m and shared with a partner. Keep swings controlled in tight spaces.

5. What to bring on day one

Most Indian clubs rent rackets and sell balls, so you can absolutely turn up with nothing. Once you know you will keep playing, a beginner-friendly racket — round head, softer core, control-oriented — is the first purchase that will actually improve your game.

Wear non-marking court shoes — padel involves the same lateral loading as tennis and squash, and running shoes are both unsafe and often not permitted.

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Frequently asked questions

Is padel scoring the same as tennis?

Yes. Padel uses 15, 30, 40 and game, six games with a two-game margin for a set, and a seven-point tie-break at 6–6.

Can you hit the ball off the glass wall in padel?

On your own side, yes — after the ball bounces on your floor you may play it off your back or side glass. But your shot must bounce on the opponent's floor before touching their glass, or you lose the point.

Do I need my own racket to start playing padel in India?

No. Most Indian padel clubs rent rackets and sell balls, so you can play your first few sessions with nothing of your own. Buy a control-oriented beginner racket once you know you will keep playing.

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