Padel for beginners
New to padel? Start here. What the game is, how it compares with tennis, squash and pickleball, and everything you need for your first session on court.
Do you need a partner to play padel?
How to play padel without a fixed partner, including socials, Americanos, apps, lessons and practising alone.
Does playing padel ruin your tennis?
Which padel habits can affect your tennis, which skills transfer well, and how to enjoy both sports.
Is padel a team sport?
Why padel is played as a pair, how partners work together and how team competitions work.
Is padel a good date idea?
Why padel works as a date, how to plan one and how to keep it fun for both of you.
Can you play padel with 3 people? Formats that work for odd numbers
The best ways to play padel with three, five or six players, with fair rotations and scoring.
Do you have to be fit to play padel?
Why padel suits every fitness level, and how to start safely if you are not very fit.
Do padel clubs provide rackets and balls?
What UK padel venues usually provide, what you will need to bring and when to buy your own kit.
What is padel tennis?
A clear introduction to padel: the court, the walls, the rackets and why it is Europe's fastest-growing sport.
What is padel tennis?
James answers the question he hears most often, with a quick tour of how padel is played.
How to get started playing padel tennis
Everything you need to go from curious to on court: finding a club, booking, kit and your first game.
How do you play padel for the first time?
What to expect from your first session, from the basic rules to the shots that will help you enjoy it.
Padel tennis for beginners: Tips and tricks to get you started
Practical tips and tricks for new players who want to improve quickly and avoid common mistakes.
Starting out in padel? Here's everything you'll need to get started!
A checklist of the kit and know-how you need before your first visit to a padel club.
The ultimate guide to padel tennis: Rules, equipment, and techniques
The complete overview: rules, equipment and the core techniques, all in one guide.
Is padel tennis easier than traditional tennis?
How the learning curve of padel compares with tennis, and why beginners often rally sooner.
When it comes to playing padel tennis, what are the advantages?
The fitness, social and practical advantages that make padel worth trying.
Why padel tennis is the hottest new racquet sport you should try?
Why so many people are switching to padel, and why you might want to join them.
10 cool facts about padel tennis
Ten surprising facts about the history, growth and quirks of padel.
What is the difference between padel tennis and tennis?
Court, scoring, rackets and serve: the key differences between padel and tennis.
Difference between padel tennis and squash
How padel compares with squash, and what squash players will find familiar.
What is the difference between padel tennis and pickleball?
Padel and pickleball side by side: courts, equipment, rules and who each suits.
Can padel tennis be played on a traditional tennis court?
Whether you can play padel on a tennis court, and what a proper padel court needs.