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Padel Glossary
Learn the language of Padel — answer-first definitions with real examples, beginner to pro.
153 terms
- Half-VolleyIntermediateA Half-Volley in padel is struck immediately after the ball bounces — essentially scooping it off the ground — usually used as an emergency shot when the ball lands at the feet in the net zone.
- Handling Nerves in Padel MatchesIntermediateNerves before and during a padel match are normal. A simple routine helps you manage them. Before the match, warm up the same way each time. Between points, take a slow breath, say a short cue word and agree the next point's plan with your partner. Focus on your next shot, not the score.
- High Defensive LobBeginnerA High Defensive Lob is an extreme-height version of the defensive lob — launched as high as the enclosure allows — primarily to buy maximum recovery time when defending under severe pressure.
- How Long It Takes to Get Good at PadelBeginnerThere is no fixed timeline for getting good at padel. Most beginners can rally and enjoy games quickly, because the court is small and the serve is simple. Reading the walls, lobbing well and playing the bandeja take much longer. A few lessons early on help you build sound habits faster.
- How Many Players You Need for PadelBeginnerA normal padel game needs four people: two pairs, one on each side of the net. You can still play with two or three, using singles, drills or a rotating game. To find players, try your club's social sessions, Americanos and matchmaking apps. Most clubs book courts by time slot, and the group usually shares the cost.
- Indoor vs Outdoor PadelBeginnerIndoor and outdoor padel use the same rules and court size, but the conditions differ. Indoors there is no wind, sun or rain, so the ball behaves more predictably and lobs are easier to judge. Outdoors you adjust your lob pace, position and shot choice to the weather on the day. Indoors, watch the roof: a ball that hits the ceiling or lights before it bounces in the opponents' court loses the point.
- Kick ServeAdvancedA Kick Serve in padel is an underarm serve struck with topspin so that after bouncing in the service box it accelerates and kicks up or to the side. This makes the return more awkward than a flat serve.
- Letting the Ball GoBeginnerLetting the Ball Go means intentionally allowing a fast or deep ball to pass you and rebound off the back glass rather than volleying or striking it in the air. This turns a potential winner into a manageable rebound shot.
- LobBeginnerA lob is a high, deep shot over the opponents at the net that pushes them back. It is padel's most important defensive weapon for winning back a losing rally.
- Lob to the GlassIntermediateA lob to the glass is a defensive or neutralizing lob aimed to die close to the back glass, not just land deep. The wall cramps the bounce and denies the net pair an easy overhead.
- Low Volley at the FeetIntermediateTo volley a ball at your feet, bend your knees to get low, open the racket face and block the ball softly. Lift it over the net toward the middle or deep, not short. Do not try to attack a ball below net height. Save the punch volley for balls above the net, and use a block volley against hard hits.
- Mixed Doubles Padel StrategyIntermediateIn mixed padel, play to real strengths rather than assumptions about who is stronger. Choose sides by each player's overhead and backhand skills, and agree who takes the middle and the lobs. Under FIP rules, on a Golden Point or Star Point, the receiving player must be the same sex as the server.
- Moving Back for a Lob in PadelIntermediateTo move back for a lob in padel, turn sideways first. Then move back with side shuffles or crossover steps while your free arm points at the ball. Get slightly behind the ball and stop before you hit. Many coaches warn against backpedaling while facing the net. It is slower and makes a fall more likely.
- Net ControlBeginnerNet control means a pair holding the front of the court, padel's dominant attacking position. They volley down and smash, while the back pair can only defend and lob.
- Net Dominance StrategyIntermediateNet Dominance Strategy is the core tactical framework of padel. Both players in a pair occupy the net zone, control the point with aggressive volleys and smashes, and use positioning to force opponents into defensive lobs that can be punished.
- Net Position Communication (Doubles)IntermediateNet position communication is how a padel pair coordinates spacing at the net, often without words. Partners mirror each other so the middle and sides stay covered.
- Net ZoneBeginnerThe Net Zone, closest to the net, is padel's dominant attacking position. Players there can volley, smash, and pressure opponents without the glass being a factor.
- Net-to-Back TransitionIntermediateThe Net-to-Back Transition is the movement a pair makes from the attacking net zone to the defensive back position when lobbed. This requires synchronized retreat, correct positioning, and immediate readiness to play off the back glass.
- Out-of-Court PlayIntermediateOut-of-court play lets you run out through a side opening to return a ball that has left the court, where the court has the clear space the FIP rules require. You must play the ball before it bounces a second time or touches anything outside. A ball that bounces in your court and leaves over the back wall still wins the point for the hitter. Where out-of-court play isn't allowed, any ball that leaves after a legal bounce wins the point.
- Padel Ball — Official SpecificationBeginnerA padel ball is a pressurised rubber ball that looks like a tennis ball. Under FIP rules it measures 6.35 to 6.77 cm across and weighs 56.0 to 59.4 g. A new one dropped from 2.54 m must bounce 135 to 145 cm. Official events use models approved by FIP.
- Padel Ball Pressure and BounceBeginnerUse padel balls, not tennis balls. They look alike, but a padel ball is pressurised lower and is slightly smaller, so it bounces lower and plays slower. FIP rules set its internal pressure at 4.6 to 5.2 kg per square inch, about 10 to 11.5 psi. A new tennis ball is about 14 psi. FIP rules also allow a lower-bounce ball for play more than 1,000 m above sea level.
- Padel Changeovers and Rest TimesBeginnerUnder FIP rules you get up to 20 seconds between points and up to 90 seconds when you change ends. There is no rest after the first game of a set. The break at the end of a set is up to 120 seconds. The 2026 rules also say you may not eat or drink between points, so save your water for the changeovers.
- Padel Court DimensionsBeginnerA padel court is 20 m long and 10 m wide inside the walls, with the net across the middle. The net is 0.88 m high in the centre and 0.92 m at the ends. The service lines sit 6.95 m from the net. At each end, a 3 m wall, usually glass, is topped with 1 m of metal mesh, making 4 m in total.
- Padel ElbowBeginnerPadel elbow is the name players use for pain on the outside of the elbow, the overuse problem doctors call tennis elbow. In padel it is often linked to a heavy or firm-cored racket, wristy overheads like the víbora and blocking hard volleys with a tight grip. Stop if it hurts, and see a qualified medical professional if the pain persists.
- Padel EtiquetteBeginnerPadel etiquette is the courtesy that keeps games friendly. Arrive on time, share the warm-up with steady rallies and wait for a break before walking behind a court. Call clearly and fairly. Raise a hand to say sorry after a lucky net cord or frame shot, and if you hit an opponent with the ball, check they are fine. FIP rules also ban throwing balls or rackets in anger.
- Padel Fitness and ConditioningIntermediateThe best exercises for padel build mobility, leg and core strength, balance, agility and conditioning. Examples include squats, lunges, side shuffles, calf raises, rotational core work and band exercises for the shoulder. Start at your level and progress slowly. If you have pain or an injury, see a physio or doctor first.
- Padel Forehand and Backhand (Derecha and Revés)BeginnerPadel groundstrokes are compact. Turn early, keep the backswing short, and meet the ball in front of your body at about waist height or lower. Many coaches teach a slight slice to keep the ball low. Aim deep or at the opponents' feet rather than going for winners.
- Padel Levels: What Level Am I?BeginnerPadel levels describe what you can do on court. Beginners are still learning the rules, the walls and basic control. Intermediate players sustain longer rallies, volley well and use simple tactics. Advanced players use the walls to attack and defend and control the lob, bandeja and chiquita.
- Padel Net Ready PositionBeginnerAt the padel net, many coaches teach holding the racket up in front of you at about chest height, with the head above your hand. Use a relaxed continental grip, bend your knees and keep your weight forward on the balls of your feet. Split-step as the opponent hits. You can then volley either side or reach up for a lob without a big backswing.
- Padel Overgrips and Grip SizeBeginnerPadel overgrips do not come in sizes. Most padel rackets have one standard handle, so you change its thickness with wraps instead. Add a layer to thicken the handle and improve grip. To slim it, take off the base grip and use one thin wrap.
- Padel Partner DynamicsBeginnerIn padel you win and lose as a pair. Stay positive with your partner by reacting to errors with a quick reset, not blame. Agree on roles and calls before the match, and share short, specific cues between points. Talk about what to try next, not about what went wrong.
- Padel Racket Face: Carbon vs FiberglassIntermediateThe face of a padel racket is usually fiberglass, carbon fiber or a mix. Fiberglass faces tend to feel softer and more comfortable, and carbon faces feel firmer and last longer. The K in 3K, 12K or 18K carbon counts the filaments in each thread, in thousands. Guides disagree on how much it changes the feel, and the foam core matters at least as much.
- Padel Racket Shapes (Round, Teardrop, Diamond)BeginnerPadel rackets come in three main shapes. Round rackets have a larger, lower sweet spot and a low balance for control. Diamond rackets have a smaller, higher sweet spot and a head-heavy balance for power, and teardrop rackets sit in between.
- Padel Racket vs Tennis RacketBeginnerNo, a tennis racket is not a padel racket. FIP rules call for a solid, stringless racket with a perforated face. It can be no longer than 45.5 cm and must have a wrist cord. A strung tennis racket breaks those rules. It is also long and powerful for a small court with walls and a partner close by.
- Padel Racket WeightBeginnerMost adult padel rackets weigh about 350 to 380 grams, and junior rackets are lighter. A lighter racket is quicker to move at the net and easier to swing late in a match. A heavier one feels more stable on hard hits and adds pace, but takes more effort to swing. FIP rules set size limits but no weight limit.
- Padel RankingsIntermediatePadel rankings are built from points you earn in sanctioned tournaments. The FIP world ranking for 2026 uses each player's best 22 results in Premier Padel and CUPRA FIP Tour events. Points are defended over a rolling 52 weeks. National federations run their own rankings, and app levels are ratings, not rankings.
- Padel Rules for BeginnersBeginnerPadel is played in pairs on an enclosed court, and scoring follows tennis. Serve underarm after one bounce behind the service line, diagonally into the opposite box. In a rally, your shot must land in the opponents' court before it touches their walls. After that bounce it may come off the walls and still be played.
- Padel Scoring SystemBeginnerPadel uses the same point, game, and set structure as tennis. That means 15, 30, 40, game, best of three sets, with a tiebreak at 6 games all. The common difference is how deuce is played. The FIP rules allow advantage scoring, Star Point (two chances at advantage, then a deciding point) or the Golden Point (one deciding point at 40–40).
- Padel Serve Faults and Net ServesBeginnerA padel serve is a fault if it lands outside the diagonal service box, if the server misses the ball or breaks the serve rules, or if it hits the server or their partner. A serve that bounces in the box and then touches the metal fence, the mesh, before its second bounce is also a fault. It may come off the glass. A serve that clips the net and lands in is replayed unless it then touches the fence.
- Padel Serving and Receiving OrderBeginnerIn padel, players take turns serving whole games. A coin toss decides which pair serves first, and at the start of every set each pair chooses which of its players serves first. Each game starts from the right side, and the server switches sides after every point. On the receiving pair, each player keeps the same side for the whole set.
- Padel ShoesBeginnerPadel shoes are court footwear with soles made for artificial grass, often with a herringbone (zig-zag) tread that grips sand-filled turf. Clay-court tennis models can work on sandy courts, but hard-court tennis pairs and running trainers give less grip and less side-to-side support. Match the sole to the court you play on most.
- Padel Shoulder Pain from OverheadsIntermediateRepeated bandejas, víboras and smashes load the shoulder, and a late, arm-only swing adds to that load. Common contributing factors include smashing every lob, poor footwork under the ball, a sudden jump in court time and skipping the warm-up. Stop if it hurts, and see a qualified medical professional for pain that persists.
- Padel TiebreakBeginnerA padel tiebreak is played at 6-6 in a set. Scoring runs 1, 2, 3, and the first pair to reach 7 with a 2-point lead wins the set 7-6. The first server serves once, then each player serves twice in turn, and players change ends every 6 points. Some events replace the third set with a match tiebreak to 7 or a super tiebreak to 10.
- Padel vs PickleballBeginnerNeither is simply easier; both are quick to start. Pickleball is played on an open court with a 7-foot no-volley zone, a solid paddle and a plastic ball with holes. Padel is played on a walled court with a perforated racket and a pressurised rubber ball. The walls give you second chances but take time to read.
- Padel Warm-UpBeginnerA good padel warm-up starts before you step on court. Begin with light movement to raise your heart rate, then dynamic moves for the shoulders, hips, calves and ankles. On court, rally from the net and the back, then hit a few volleys, lobs, overheads and serves at easy pace. Stop if something hurts.
- Parallel ShotBeginnerA Parallel Shot runs straight down the line, parallel with the side glass. It is a harder pass than the crosscourt but can catch opponents leaning toward the middle.
- Passing Shot (Pasante)IntermediateGo down the line when the net player on that side has moved toward the middle or rushed forward. A passing shot, or pasante, beats a net player by going past them instead of over them. Crosscourt is the safer default, because the net is lower in the middle and the court is longer on the diagonal.
- Playing Against a Left-Hander in PadelIntermediateFind out early which player is left-handed and where their forehand is. A lefty on the right side has their forehand in the middle, so avoid feeding them central balls. Serve and lob to their backhand, and expect their slice and overheads to come off the side glass the opposite way to a right-hander's.
- Playing Padel in Cold WeatherBeginnerCold weather makes the padel ball bounce lower and play slower. Smashes are less likely to leave the court, and balls die sooner after they hit the back glass. Stand a little closer to the glass, bend your knees for low balls, and use more volleys, bandejas and víboras than big smashes.
- Playing Padel in Hot WeatherBeginnerIn the heat, the padel ball bounces higher and plays faster. Choose control over power, keep your lobs deep and give balls off the back glass extra room. Drink at regular intervals, wear sun protection and play early or late in the day when you can. If you feel dizzy, unwell or unusually tired, stop and rest in the shade, and get medical help if you don't feel better soon.
- Playing Padel in Rain and HumidityBeginnerIn light rain, the artificial grass changes less than the glass does. Wet glass can make the ball skid and slide down the wall instead of bouncing off, and a wet ball plays heavier, lower and slower. Get behind and under the ball, wipe the glass with a towel when you can, and stop if the court becomes slippery or play feels unsafe.
- Playing Padel in Wind and SunIntermediateIn wind, adjust your lob first: hit it softer with the wind behind you and harder into it. Expect lobs and overheads to drift once they rise above the glass, and take extra steps to get under them. In sun, lob more when your opponents are looking into it, and be patient before going for a winning overhead.
- Playing the Ball Off Two WallsAdvancedPlaying the ball off two walls means adjusting footwork and swing for a ball off the side and back glass. You set up later and more compactly, since its path is clear only after the second rebound.
- Playing to the Weaker Player in PadelIntermediateSending most of the play to the weaker or less confident opponent is a common padel tactic. It works best when you aim at that opponent's weakest shot, such as the backhand volley or a rebound off the back glass. Keep some of the play going to the stronger partner. Otherwise they start covering the middle and stealing shots meant for the other.
- Playtomic LevelsBeginnerPlaytomic levels rate padel players on a scale from 0 to 7, with 7 the highest. Your starting level comes from a questionnaire, and it then moves after competitive matches with a confirmed result. Wins push it up and losses push it down, by amounts based on the players' levels, your reliability and the result.
- Por TresAdvancedA "por tres" is an overhead that bounces, rebounds high and exits over the side wall. Unless the event allows play outside the court, it wins the point, which is why attacking overheads aim at the glass.
- Professional Padel Tours: Premier Padel and World Padel TourBeginnerWorld Padel Tour no longer runs. In 2023, QSI, the group behind Premier Padel, agreed to buy it to create a single global pro tour. 2024 was the first season of that unified Premier Padel tour, run with the International Padel Federation. Below it sits the CUPRA FIP Tour.
- Racket PreparationBeginnerRacket Preparation is the early rotation of the shoulders and positioning of the racket head before the ball arrives — the first technical movement of any padel groundstroke and a prerequisite for consistent, balanced shot-making.
- Racket Safety Cord (Wrist Strap)BeginnerThe safety cord on a padel racket is compulsory under FIP rules. It is a non-elastic cord, no longer than 35 cm, fixed to the handle and worn around your wrist to protect against accidents. In matches under FIP rules, if you drop your racket or break the cord during a point, your pair loses the point at once.
- Reaching Over the Net in PadelIntermediateOnly in one case. If your opponents' ball bounces on your side and then spins or blows back over the net, you may reach over and play it. You must not touch the net, the posts or their court. Reaching over to hit a ball that has not yet crossed to your side loses the point.
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