How to Start Playing Padel in 2026 : Rules, Gear, Costs & Best Beginner Guide

How to Start Playing Padel in 2025: Rules, Gear, Costs & Best Beginner Guide

Padel is now one of the fastest-growing racquet sports in the world, with millions of new players joining every year. It’s simple, social, easy to learn, and incredibly fun — making it the perfect sport for beginners, families, and fitness lovers.

If you want to start playing padel in 2025, this complete guide will take you through everything you need:

✔ What padel is

✔ Basic rules & scoring

✔ Essential gear

✔ Cost breakdown

✔ How to find courts

✔ Beginner mistakes to avoid

✔ Tips to improve fast

Let’s dive in.

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What Is Padel? (Beginner-Friendly Explanation)

Padel is a mix of tennis and squash, played on a smaller court with glass walls. The ball can bounce off the walls, making rallies longer and easier to control.

Why padel is becoming so popular:

• Easy to learn even if you’ve never played racquet sports
• Less physical strain than tennis
• Always played as doubles → more social
• Courts are opening fast worldwide
• Great for fitness and coordination
• Very fun from day one

In 2025, padel is expected to grow 35–40% globally, making it a trending topic for sports, travel, and lifestyle blogs.

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Padel Rules for Absolute Beginners

Here’s the simplest version of the rules — great for your first day on the court.

1. Team Format

• Always doubles
• Two players vs two players

2. Serving Rules

• Underarm serve
• Serve must bounce once before hitting
• Serve ball diagonally into opponent’s service box
• Two attempts allowed (like tennis)

3. Ball in Play

• Ball can bounce off the glass walls
• Cannot bounce off metal fence before landing
• Only one bounce on the ground allowed
• Ball can go outside the court and still be played (advanced players)

4. Scoring System

Same as tennis:

• 0 → 15 → 30 → 40 → game
• 6 games = 1 set
• Best of 3 sets usually

5. What Makes Padel Easier?

• Smaller court → less running
• Walls help keep rallies alive
• Shorter strokes → more control

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Padel Gear Guide (What You Really Need in 2025)

You don’t need expensive equipment to start. Here’s the essential list with 2025 pricing.

1. Padel Racket

Padel rackets are solid (no strings) with holes.

Price Range:

• Beginner: $40–$80
• Intermediate: $80–$180
• Premium: $200+

Tip: For beginners → choose round shape racket for more control.

2. Padel Balls

Padel balls look like tennis balls but are slightly lower pressure.

• Pack of 3: $5–$12

3. Court Shoes (Very Important!)

Choose shoes with good grip for lateral movement.

• You can use:
  ✔ Tennis shoes
  ✔ Padel shoes
• Avoid running shoes (no side grip)

Price: $50–$120

4. Optional Gear

• Wristbands
• Vibration dampener
• Padel bag
• Extra grip tape

Not necessary for beginners, but useful as you play more.

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How Much Does It Cost to Play Padel? (2025 Breakdown)

Padel is relatively affordable compared to tennis or badminton.

Court Rental (Per Hour)

• Southeast Asia / India: $8–$20/hour
• Europe: $20–$40/hour
• Middle East: $25–$50/hour

Split between 4 players → very cheap.

Beginner Gear Cost

• Racket: $50
• Shoes: $60
• Balls: $10
• Total initial cost: $120

Coaching (Optional)

• Group class: $10–$30
• Private: $40–$100
• First 3–5 sessions recommended

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How to Find a Padel Court Near You

In 2025, padel courts are expanding globally. You can search:

✔ Google Maps

Search “padel court near me”

✔ Padel Apps

• Playtomic
• Padel Mates
• Padel United

✔ Popular Locations With Fast Growth

• Spain
• UAE
• Qatar
• Singapore
• India
• Thailand
• US (pickleball + padel combo courts)