Your first padel game: what to bring, how to score, where to stand

You booked a court, or someone added you to an open match. Here is everything you need to walk on without looking lost, in the order you will need it.

Before you go

Wear trainers with a sole that grips artificial turf: running shoes slide, tennis shoes are fine, padel shoes are best. Bring water, a towel in summer, and if the club rents rackets (most do, for two to five euros), rent one for the first three games before buying. If you do buy, the finder takes twelve questions and names three rackets for your body and your game; the short answer for a beginner is round shape, soft core, under 365 grams. Buy padel balls if it is your court booking: three to a tube, and the tube gets opened on court.

The warm-up, and the etiquette

Five minutes of gentle rallies from the back, then a few volleys at the net, then a few serves. Padel is a social sport with a strict unwritten rule: you never hit hard at a player in the warm-up, and you say "sorry" when you hit someone in a game and "good ball" when they beat you. The new pair is welcomed everywhere as long as they know the scoring and move for the ball.

The serve

Stand behind the service line, bounce the ball once, and hit it underarm below waist height into the box diagonally opposite. It has to bounce in the box; after the bounce it may hit the side glass but not the mesh. Two attempts, like tennis. Serve, then move forward to the net: the serving pair starts every point at the net, and the point is about who holds it.

The scoring

15, 30, 40, game. Six games win a set, with two clear; at six all a tie-break to seven. At 40 all most clubs play a golden point: one point decides the game. Sets are usually best of three. Say the score out loud before every serve; it is expected, and it avoids the arguments the rules page exists to settle.

Where to stand

There are two places in padel: at the net, about two metres behind it, or at the back, a metre in front of the glass. Never the middle, which is called no man's land for the reason you will discover. Stand level with your partner, both up or both back, and move together: when a lob goes over you both go back, when the ball is short you both go in. The right-side player covers more court and plays safer; the left-side player, the finisher, hits the overheads. For your first game, take the right.

The three beginner habits that win

One: let the ball bounce when it is going to the glass, and play it off the wall; it is slower and easier than taking it early. Two: when in doubt, lob, high and deep, and walk to the net behind it. Three: hit to the middle of the court when both opponents are at the net; the middle makes them decide. Everything else in the sport is a refinement of those three. Today's puzzle is one of those decisions with the reasoning written out; play it tonight and you will recognise it on court tomorrow.