Padel has been described as the world’s “fastest growing sport”. And it’s booming in Germany too. As of late 2024, there were over 450 courts across the country, with many more under construction. 

If you haven’t played padel before, this guide will help you understand the game, its origins, the benefits of playing, and the kind of gear you need. 

Padel is a racket sport that is often described as a mix of tennis and squash, since it contains elements of both. 

The game is played in an enclosed 10m X 20m court, surrounded by walls of glass and wire mesh. There’s a net running across the centre of the court. 

You normally play padel in doubles (two players on each team). The aim of the game is to win points by getting the ball to bounce twice on your opponents’ side of the court, or through errors (like hitting the net). 

• Find a court and partners

  If you’re playing in Germany, the national padel association has a list on its website of all courts which you can use to find one close to you. 

  Padel is usually played in doubles. You might have friends who are interested, or you can join a local club where other members can show you how to play padel tennis.

• Padel equipment

  Padel is played with a padel racket. There are a few different designs, but they’re all flat faced, they’re about the size of a medium frying pan, and they’re typically made of plastic with a foam core. 

  A padel ball looks almost identical to a tennis ball, but has a slightly lower internal pressure, which means they don’t bounce as high.

• Aim of the game and scoring

  As mentioned above, the aim of the padel is to score points. You do this by getting the ball to bounce twice in your opponents’ side of the court before they can return it, or through errors. 

  The scoring system in padel is the same as tennis. To win a match, you typically have to win the best of three sets. To win a set, you have to win six games by a margin of two. You must score more points than your opponents to win a game:

  As in tennis, scoring is 15, 30, 40, then game point. If the game is tied at 40-40, this is deuce. If you get to deuce, one team has to score two points in a row. 

• Serving

  You serve underhand in padel, standing on one side of the service box and hitting diagonally across so it lands in your opponent’s service box. The server must stand behind the service line and let the ball bounce once (also behind the service line) before hitting it at, or below, waist level. The other team can return the serve after it’s hit the ground once.

  If the ball bounces and hits the back wall, it’s considered ‘in’ and must be played. But if it hits the net or bounces and hits the wire mesh on the side of the court, it’s out, and the serve must be played again. 

• Rules and play

  The service lines are only considered during service - after that they’re ignored, and the ball can bounce anywhere.

  Similar to squash, you’re allowed to do ‘boasts’, hitting the ball off the walls on your side of the court. But if the ball hits the wire fencing, walls or posts before bouncing on your opponent’s side of the court, then it’s ‘out’. 

  Volleys are allowed in padel (except for the first return after a service). 
  
  
  
   

Why is padel so popular? There are several reasons the sport is growing so fast. 

• A fun, dynamic sport

Padel is a fast-paced, tactical sport that’s exciting to play. To win at padel, you need to hit a variety of shots (volleys, drop shots, boasts), move your feet fast, and communicate with your partner. 

• Physical fitness

Whatever your fitness goals, padel is a good option. It’s a great cardio workout and will make you sweat. Padel will particularly work your lower body muscles as you lunge and run. It also works your core and upper body when swinging the racket. 

• A social sport

Padel is a super social sport since you usually play in doubles. It’s a great way to spend time with friends and family, or to meet new people.

• Coordination

Playing padel can really improve your hand-eye coordination, balance and spatial awareness. 

• Low barriers to entry

Padel is easy to pick up, and many people find they can play rallies by the end of their first game. Unlike tennis, you don’t necessarily need pinpoint accuracy when hitting the ball. Padel also doesn’t require loads of power or strength. 

Many people find the ‘vibe’ around the sport friendly, accessible and welcoming too. 

Padel performancewear should allow you to move freely and comfortably, from the first serve to the last. Padel apparel is typically:

• Lightweight: So you can move fast.

• Loose fitting: So it’s breathable, and lets you swing comfortably.

• Sweat wicking: So sweat gets to the outside of the fabric and evaporates, meaning you stay dry and avoid chafing. 

Depending on the season and location, you’ll want more or fewer layers (if you’re playing on an indoor court, the weather obviously isn’t such a big factor). Here’s essential padel clothing to wear for your next padel game: 

Shorts and 2-in-1’s are the most popular options. They should be breathable, wick sweat and let you lunge, change direction with ease and support your muscles with compression. 

They’ve got to let you swing, twist and run with total comfort. Expect sweat-wicking, fast drying and lightweight tops for padel. The best padel tops are built with advanced technical fabrics. 

You’re going to be running, lunging and swinging the racket, so you need a mid to high impact sports bra. Choose one that wicks sweat and offers tons of support.  

In an intense game, you’re going to sweat. The sun’s also going to get in your eyes if you play outdoors. Headwear is essential.   

Play better with essential padel accessories you can rely on.   

Padel is booming in popularity. And once you’ve started playing this dynamic sport, there’s a good chance you’ll be hooked. 

To get the most out of your game, it’s vital to wear suitable performancewear. At Under Armour, we’ve built a complete range of high-performance, super durable and supportive padel gear, using many of our most advanced fabrics and designs. 

Explore our padel gear, and get the performancewear and accessories you need to play your sport better.