Good news first: padel is one of the few racket sports where you can play a real game the very first time. The racket is short and has no strings, the serve is underarm, and the walls keep the ball in play even when a shot goes wrong.
What is padel?
Padel is a racket sport that is almost always played two against two. The court is 20 metres long and 10 metres wide, enclosed by glass walls and wire mesh, with a net across the middle as in tennis.
Scoring is the same as in tennis (15, 30, 40, game). The real difference is the walls: after the ball has bounced once on your side, you can let it come back off the wall and only then hit it. That’s a big help for a beginner, because being late on a shot doesn’t end the point straight away.
The game was born in Mexico in 1969, spread from there to Spain and Argentina, and started catching on fast in Estonia in the 2020s. Our comparison of centres shows where you can play right now.
Is padel hard to learn?
Not at first. The smaller court, shorter racket and underarm serve make padel far friendlier than tennis, and you’ll be having rallies on your very first visit.
It gets harder later, when you want to play balls coming off the back wall, work out when to go to the net and move together with your partner. You’ll learn this faster with a coach than by trial and error on your own.
How do you book your first game?
- Choose a centre on the courts page or go straight to a city: Tallinn, Tartu, Pärnu. Each centre’s page shows the number of courts, the prices we know of and a booking link.
- Book a time. Many centres use the Playtomic app, some use their own website. An hour is enough for your first game.
- Find three other players. If you don’t have anyone to play with, join an open match on Playtomic that fits your level, or go to a beginner class.
- Check the cancellation terms. They vary from centre to centre, and you can often cancel for free only up to a set time before the game.
The price is for the whole court, so when four of you play, you usually split it four ways.
What do you need for your first game?
Think about your shoes more than anything else. The court is sand-filled artificial grass and the game is constant braking and side-stepping, so you want padel or tennis shoes with a herringbone pattern on the sole. Running shoes give little support when you move sideways, and the smooth soles of indoor sports shoes slip on the sand. Indoor centres require clean shoes that you change into when you arrive. We go into more detail in our guide to padel shoes.
You don’t have to buy a racket for your first game. Many centres rent them out (see centres with racket rental), or you can ask when you book.
The balls look like tennis balls, but they have lower internal pressure and bounce less. They usually come three to a tube, and centres often sell them on site.
Everything else is the usual: sports clothes and a water bottle. For an outdoor court in spring and autumn, bring a warm layer too, because the evenings there are cool.
How much does padel cost?
Most of the money goes on court rental. The price depends on the centre, the day and the time: weekday evenings and weekends are usually more expensive than daytime slots. Booking through Playtomic may add a service fee. Price lists we’ve checked are on the courts page and on each centre’s page.
| Cost | How often | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Court rental | every game | usually split between four players |
| Racket rental | until you buy your own racket | not every centre offers rental |
| Balls | every couple of games | worn balls bounce less |
| Classes | if you want to improve faster | cheaper in a group than in a private lesson |
| Shoes | once | the most useful purchase |
Should you choose a beginner course, a group class or a private lesson?
If you’re completely new, we recommend a beginner course. It teaches the rules, the grip and the basic shots, and everyone else is at the same stage as you.
| Beginner course | Group class | Private lesson | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who it’s for | new players | once you have the basic shots | fast progress or fixing a specific mistake |
| Players | usually up to 4 per court | usually 4 per court | 1–2 |
| Duration | a series of sessions | ongoing, once or twice a week | a single hour or a package |
| Advantage | the right habits from the start | playing with partners at your level | the coach focuses only on you |
Centres that offer beginner classes are listed on the beginner classes page, and our training guide compares the different types of training. Not sure where to start? Write to us and we’ll suggest a course in your area at a time that suits you.
What level am I?
If you’re brand new, you start at the bottom of Playtomic’s 0–7 level scale. Your level then changes with the results of the matches you play. When you look for an open match, pick one whose level range fits yours, so the game is interesting for all four players.
Your level will often jump up and down in the first few months, and that’s completely normal.
What are the basic rules for your first game?
- The serve is hit underarm. The ball bounces behind the service line first, and at the moment of contact it is at waist height or below.
- The serve must land in the opponent’s service box, diagonally opposite.
- Your shot must bounce on your opponents’ side before the ball touches a wall or the wire mesh.
- On your side, you can let the ball come back off the wall after it bounces, and then hit it.
- The ball may only bounce once on your side.
- Points go 15, 30, 40 and game. A set is won by the pair that wins six games with a lead of at least two games. At 6-6, a tie-break is played.
All the rules are in our rules guide, and there are separate pages on the serve and scoring.
What’s the etiquette on court?
- Arrive ten minutes early so you have time to change your shoes and warm up. Go onto the court once the previous slot is over.
- If your ball rolls onto the next court, wait until their point is finished, then ask for it back.
- Don’t walk behind other courts while a point is being played.
- Finish on time. The next players have paid for their slot.
- When you play with beginners, don’t hit the ball at full power straight at an opponent. In padel you play close together, and a hard-hit ball hurts.
What are the most common beginner mistakes?
- Hitting too hard. In padel, whoever makes fewer mistakes often wins, and a ball hit hard bounces off the opponent’s back glass straight onto their racket.
- Standing mid-court, around the service line. That’s where the ball comes at your feet, so be either close to the net or in front of the back wall.
- Hitting before the wall. Beginners want to hit the ball straight away, even though letting it come back off the back wall would often be easier.
- Forgetting the lob. A high ball over opponents standing at the net is one of the most important shots in padel, and our technique guide shows how to hit it.
- Staying quiet. Call “mine” or “yours” to your partner, especially when the ball comes down the middle.
How do you avoid injuries in your first few sessions?
Warm up for 10–15 minutes before you play and start rallying gently. In the first few weeks, don’t play several long games back to back, because your muscles and tendons need time to get used to the new load. You’ll find exercises in our warm-up guide.
Put the racket strap around your wrist, and near the net hold the racket in front of your face so you have time to protect yourself from a fast ball. If pain doesn’t go away or gets worse, read our sports injuries guide and see a doctor.
Frequently asked questions
How many people do you need to play padel?
Four, because padel is a doubles game. Some centres also have a narrower singles court for two players.
Is padel suitable for children?
Yes. Centres that offer kids’ classes are listed on the kids’ classes page.
Do I need to learn the rules before my first class?
No, the beginner course covers the rules too. If you’d like to read up in advance, see the rules.
Can you play padel all year round?
On an indoor court, yes, and most courts in Estonia are in indoor halls. Outdoors, the season depends on the weather.
Do I need to buy my own racket?
Not at first. Play a few times with a rental racket and buy your own once you know you’ll keep playing. Our guide to choosing a racket will help.