Padel knowledge: practical guides for your game
Understand rules, tactics, positioning, equipment and training step by step. Every article is editorially reviewed, source-backed and connects the explanation with practice on court.
All padel guides
What is padel? The racket sport where the walls stay in play.A ball looks lost, comes back off the glass, and the rally is alive again. That is part of the joy of padel: four players sharing the court, solving problems together and finding new ways to keep a point going.Read guideThe history of padel: how the sport spread from Mexico around the world.How did an enclosed court in Acapulco become a sport played around the world? Follow padel from its beginnings in Mexico in 1969 through Spain and Argentina to the international game.Read guidePadel in Austria: how a small Vienna scene became a nationwide boom.From trying your first rally to finding a regular group, there are many ways into padel in Austria. Explore how the local scene developed and what the published growth figures really tell us.Read guideLearn padel: your first real game is closer than you think.You do not need a powerful smash to enjoy padel. Start with steady rallies, get comfortable with the glass and discover how working with your partner makes the next shot easier.Read guidePadel rules: serve, walls and scoring in two minutes.Can you volley the ball? When is the glass in play, and when do you repeat a serve? These essentials will help you start a match and settle the questions that come up on court.Read guidePadel coaches in Austria: from the first ball to competition.Want to feel calmer off the glass, return more reliably or work better as a pair? Find training options in Austria and the questions that help you choose a useful session.Read guidePadel tournaments in Austria: APN, categories and Premier Padel.A first tournament brings new opponents, shared nerves and plenty to learn. Find out how to choose an event that fits, and how APN, ranking points and the professional tour differ.Read guidePadel statistics: how fast is the sport really growing?More courts, more playing partners, more tournaments: padel’s growth shows up in the numbers too. Here we put published figures in context, keeping their dates and definitions clear.Read guidePadel shots explained: from groundstrokes to chiquita, bandeja and bajada.Sometimes a patient lob does more for your game than a hard smash. Get to know padel’s main shots and when to use them to buy time, reach the net or take a genuine attacking chance.Read guideBeginner padel equipment: start simply and spend wisely.Your first padel session does not need a professional kit bag. Start with a manageable racket, suitable balls and shoes that let you move confidently on the court.Read guideChoosing a padel racket: shape, balance, weight and feel.A suitable padel racket feels manageable even when the rally gets awkward. Learn what shape, weight, balance and materials change, and what to look for when you try one on court.Read guidePadel positioning: take the net together and defend as a pairYou hit a good shot, yet the next ball slips through a huge gap in the middle. Sound familiar? Moving with your partner makes the court easier to cover and gives you time to build a point you actually enjoy playing.Read guidePlaying the glass in padel: read the rebound and stay in the rallyThe ball flies past you, but the point is still alive. That second chance is one of the joys of padel. Learn to read the glass and a desperate chase can turn into a calm, controlled reply.Read guideLeft or right? Find your rhythm as a padel pairYou both chase the middle ball, then both leave it. Almost every new partnership has been there. A sensible choice of sides and a few clear calls make doubles feel calmer – and make those well-built points even more satisfying.Read guidePadel balls: how to check them and when to change a setOne ball bounces nicely and the next barely comes up. It is hard to find a rhythm like that. A consistent set makes even the warm-up more enjoyable, without needing a fresh can for every casual match.Read guideYour first padel match: get started and enjoy the ralliesFour 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.Read guideLearn padel: a practical plan for your first few weeksThat first long rally makes you want another. A small plan helps turn the excitement into progress: practise one idea, try it in a game and build on it next time. You do not need to learn every shot at once.Read guideIndoor or outdoor padel: get to know the court and conditionsOutside, the wind catches your lob. Indoors, the ball comes off the glass faster than expected. Discovering a new court is part of the fun; paying attention during the warm-up helps you find your rhythm sooner.Read guidePadel with children: play, laugh and learn togetherA ball comes back off the glass and someone reaches it just in time. Small moments like that make padel exciting for a family. You do not need a full match to begin: suitable equipment, simple games and time to explore are plenty.Read guidePadel volleys: better control, smarter choicesYou reach the net, get a high ball and send it straight into the glass. Sound familiar? The answer is often a better choice, not a harder swing. A compact volley into the right space can make the next ball much easier for your pair.Read guidePadel defence: stay composed and work your way forwardThe other pair owns the net and you are chasing from corner to corner. The point is not over yet. Reading the glass and choosing a well-timed lob or chiquita can change the whole rally. Those little turnarounds are part of what makes padel so rewarding.Read guideBandeja, víbora or smash: choose your padel overheadThe lob goes up and your first thought is to smash it. Sometimes, though, the most satisfying reply is a controlled ball that keeps your pair at the net. Reading high balls well gives you more chances to attack without forcing the finish.Read guidePadel transition and split-step: arrive ready to playYour lob sends the opponents back and suddenly the net is there for the taking. The trick is to use that space while staying ready for the reply. A well-timed move and a small split-step can help more than an all-out sprint.Read guide12 padel tactics drills for your next sessionA good practice session should still feel like playing. Give each round one clear task and you start noticing which ball earns space and when patience pays off. These twelve games turn “we should work on tactics” into a plan you can take on court.Read guidePadel practice for two: four drills to take into your next matchOnly two of you, but both keen to play? That is a great chance to hit plenty of balls and give one part of your game some attention. These four drills turn a casual hit into a session with clear goals and a little friendly competition.Read guidePadel practice for three: keep everyone involvedMissing a fourth player? You can still have a rewarding session. Smaller target areas and regular swaps give everyone plenty of touches. A short spell watching can also reveal the detail you miss when you are busy playing.Read guideServe and first volley: build a better start to the pointYour serve goes in, you move forward and the return lands at your feet. Sound familiar? Practise the serve, approach and first volley as one sequence. You will learn when the ball invites pressure and when it calls for control.Read guideThe padel return: start the rally, even off the glassA tricky serve into the side glass can make a point feel over before it begins. Early preparation and a little focused practice give you more ways to return with control—and give your pair a chance to build the rally.Read guidePadel forehand and backhand: find your feel for direction and depthThere is something satisfying about several clean shots in a row. You do not need extra power or spectacular spin to find that feeling. Give your forehand and backhand time to prepare, room to swing and a clear target.Read guideLob or chiquita: choose your moment to take the netYour opponents have the net and you cannot seem to escape the back of the court. This is where padel gets interesting: a well-placed lob or a delicate chiquita can give you room again. Practise spotting the opening and reading what happens next.Read guide