Your first padel match: get started and enjoy the rallies
Four people, a court and a little anticipation: you are nearly ready. A few quick agreements before starting help you spend less time discussing rules and more time enjoying the game together.
Take this onto court
Agree your court time, scoring and receiving sides. Warm up, rally cooperatively and start with a controlled serve from the right. Let the serve bounce before returning it; volleys are allowed during the rally that follows.
- 0–15–30–40
- points in a traditional game
- Start on the right
- at the beginning of every service game
- 3 minutes
- the official FIP courtesy rally
Agree the format first
How long do you have, who serves first and what happens at deuce? Traditional scoring runs through love, 15, 30 and 40 to game. With advantage scoring, you need two consecutive points from deuce.
The 2026 FIP rules also include Star Point and Golden Point options. Use your agreed format; in organised competition, check the event rules. A normal set is first to six games with a two-game lead, usually with a tie-break at 6–6, played to seven points with a two-point lead.
Serve and return: the essentials
Start on the right behind the service line. Bounce the ball within your service area and hit at waist height or below into the diagonally opposite service box. Keep at least one foot on the ground at contact and do not touch the service line or imaginary centre line. Alternate sides for each point.
You have two serves. A serve that clips the net and lands correctly is repeated only if it does not then hit the fence before its second bounce. A serve that bounces correctly then hits the fence is a fault; glass is allowed.
Start the first two points correctly
Start each service game on the right, then alternate serving sides. These panels show consecutive points, not simultaneous ball paths.
- A–D: players
- Ball path
- Player movement
- Target area
First point: serve from the right
A serves from their own right, on the right of the image. C receives this serve.
- Call the score before serving and check that everyone is ready.
- A stands behind the line, bounces the ball and serves diagonally at waist height or below.
- C returns after the bounce. B and D are in example positions and must not obstruct anyone.
Next point: use the other side
A now serves from their own left, on the left of the image. D receives.
- Change serving sides after each completed point, not after a first-service fault.
- C and D keep their chosen receiving sides for the set.
- This serve must also bounce in the diagonal box. Choose control before extra pace.
Top view: arrows show direction, not ball height or speed. Positions and target areas are examples; adapt them to the ball and your level.
Keep playing, with or without the glass
Return the serve after its bounce. In the rally that follows, you may volley. If you let an opponent’s ball reach your wall, it must bounce in your court first and you must return it before the second floor bounce.
Feed one another comfortable balls during the hit-up: groundstrokes, glass, volleys and controlled high balls. The official three-minute courtesy rally is not a substitute for a physical warm-up. Begin with gentle movement beforehand and build up gradually.
Make it a good first experience
Wear the wrist cord and clear loose balls from running paths. Say the score before serving. Change ends after the first, third and each later odd game; in a tie-break, change after every six points.
For a disputed casual point, all four players can agree to replay it. Competition follows the rules and officials’ decisions. Enjoy your first long rally together rather than keeping a mental list of every missed shot.
Try it on court
Ready for your next rally? Find a club in Austria and take one idea from this guide onto the court.
About these tips and sources
This guide draws on the sources linked below. The relevant federation’s rulebook is the authority for official rules.
The date below records the latest editorial review. Figures and offers retain the dates stated alongside them.
View the sources usedOfficial rules and first-match guidance
These rule notes were checked against the FIP edition effective 1 January 2026. The Austrian federation provides an introduction; organised events specify their own permitted scoring format.
Editorially reviewed on 14 October 2026