What Is Padel and How Do You Play? A Guide to Padel in Antalya
A friend has invited you to play padel and you’re not quite sure what it is. Don’t worry: padel is one of those rare sports whose rules you learn in ten minutes and that’s fun even in your first match.
Padel in brief
Padel is played on a court roughly a third smaller than a tennis court, enclosed by glass and mesh, usually with four players (two pairs). The racket is shorter than a tennis racket, perforated, and has a solid surface instead of strings. The ball looks like a tennis ball but has slightly less pressure.
What makes the game different is the walls: after bouncing once, the ball can hit the glass, come back and stay in play. That makes rallies long and gives you far more margin for error than in tennis.
Basic rules
- The serve is underhand. The ball is hit below waist height and must land in the diagonal service box.
- Scoring is the same as tennis: 15, 30, 40, game. Sets are won at 6 games.
- The ball may bounce once on your side. You can hit a ball that has bounced and then hit the glass; but before you return it, it must not touch the ground on your side a second time.
- The ball must land on the opponents’ floor first. You can use the glass on your own side to send the ball over; but if your shot hits the glass or fence on the other side before touching their floor, you lose the point.
Why is it so popular?
Tennis takes years of practice; in padel you can keep a rally going by the end of your first hour. With four players there’s less running and a stronger social side. People of different ages and levels can enjoy playing on the same court, which makes padel ideal for groups of friends and families. And Antalya’s climate lets you play outdoors almost all year round.
What do you need for your first match?
- Sports shoes. On sand-filled artificial turf, a shoe with a non-slip sole that supports lateral movement is best; running shoes can strain your ankle on sideways moves.
- Comfortable clothes, water and a towel.
- Racket and balls: if you don’t have your own racket, ask when you book the court.
If you’ve never played a racket sport, learning a few basic shots (forehand, backhand, volley) with a coach will make your first matches much more fun.
Where can you play in Antalya?
Two 4x4 Sport Center locations have padel courts, both in Konyaaltı: open-air courts at Uncalı, played against the sunset, and rooftop courts at Sarısu Privé Club. For details and court bookings, see our padel in Antalya page.
