Your first5 padel games.

Before you leave the house

• Borrow a bat first — every Irish club lends them. Don't buy yet.
• Court shoes (non-marking) or clean trainers. No studs, no flip-flops.
• A water bottle and a spare shirt — padel sweats more than it looks.
• Arrive 10 minutes early. Social sessions pair you up; being late costs everyone.

The 5 games

1. Game 1 — Don't win — survive. Your only goal is to keep the ball in play for 3 shots. No smashes, no winners. Let the wall do the work and watch how regulars move. You are learning the bounce, not the score.
2. Game 2 — Make friends with the wall. The ball is only dead when it hits your ground twice. After one bounce you can let it hit the back wall and play it coming back. This feels wrong for a week, then it feels obvious.
3. Game 3 — Stand like a team, not a tennis player. You play side by side, not one-up-one-back. Move as a pair: when the ball goes to your side, you and your partner shift together. Cover the middle — that's where 80% of points are lost at this level.
4. Game 4 — Learn one shot: the lob. If you only learn one thing, learn a controlled lob over the net player's head. It resets the point, buys time, and wins you games against better players who attack too early.
5. Game 5 — Play your first proper point. By game five, aim to hold a rally of 6+ shots without panicking. You'll know your level honestly now — take the level test and get a band you can actually trust.

Traps that catch tennis players

Half of Irish padel comes from tennis. These are the four habits that will cost you points for the first month — unlearn them early.

• Don't hit it like tennis. Flat, hard, top-spin groundstrokes come straight back. Padel rewards control and placement over power.
• Don't stand at the back the whole game. Net players win — creep forward as soon as you can.
• Don't smash everything. A bad smash flies out through the back wall gap. Pick your moments.
• Don't switch sides mid-point. Pick your side at the start of the game and stick to it.

Etiquette (the unwritten rules)

Padel is a friendly, social game. The Irish scene is small and warm — these four things will get you invited back.

• Call your own ins and outs honestly — there's no umpire. The Irish scene runs on trust.
• If a ball rolls onto your court, stop and return it. Same when yours escapes.
• Apologise (a raised hand) for lucky shots off the wall or frame. It's the done thing.
• Rotate fairly in social sessions. Don't hog the strong players.

Where to play your first game

Book a court on Playtomic(most Irish venues) or turn up to a club social where you don't need a partner. Browse our 71 researched venues and find a social session near you.