Is padel good for women?

Yes — padel is ideal for women. The smaller court and doubles format means intelligence and tactics matter more than physical size or power. It's also highly social and easy to start at any age.

What racket should a woman beginner buy?

A round racket in the £80–£150 range is ideal for beginners. The Bullpadel Flow is a top pick — light, forgiving, and used by club players across the UK.

How long does it take to learn padel?

Most beginners can rally and play proper points within 2–3 sessions. The sport is designed to be accessible — the walls stop the ball going out, so rallies last longer and you improve faster than in tennis.

Do I need special shoes for padel?

Yes. Padel involves a lot of lateral movement. You need court shoes with a herringbone or clay court sole for grip and ankle support. Clay court tennis shoes work as a budget option.

← Learn Padel

Complete Guide

Learn Padel
For Women

Your complete guide to padel — from first session to competitive club player. On your terms, at your pace. The women's game is the fastest-growing sector in padel: this is the moment to start.

Inspiration

What is Padel Rules & Scoring Technique Equipment Find a Court Women's Game FAQ

What Is Padel?

Padel is a doubles racket sport played on an enclosed court with glass and mesh walls. It takes elements from tennis, squash, and racketball — but creates something entirely unique.

The walls are in play. After the ball bounces once on the floor, you can hit it off the back or side walls to construct extraordinary points. This wall play is what makes padel addictive — the rallies never truly die until someone runs out of court.

The sport is extremely accessible for women. The smaller court means less ground to cover than tennis. The solid racket is easier to handle. And most importantly — the game rewards intelligence and tactics as much as physical power. This is why padel is popular across all age groups.

The International Padel Federation (FIP) estimates that women now make up over 40% of global padel players — a number growing every year.

Why Padel Works for Women

No physical size advantage

Intelligence beats power in padel more than any other racket sport.

Social by design

Always played doubles — immediately social, perfect for group bookings.

Easy to start

Smaller court, forgiving racket, beginner sessions at most clubs.

Great fitness

400–600 calories per hour — without the stress of singles tennis.

Rules & Scoring

Scoring (Same as Tennis)

15 – 30 – 40 – Game. At deuce (40-40), win two consecutive points. Win six games to win a set (need two-game lead). Best of three sets for most matches.

The Key Rules

Serve underarm

Below waist, bounce then hit diagonally across court.

Walls in play

Ball can hit any wall after bouncing on the floor.

One floor bounce

Ball can only bounce once on the floor before you must hit it.

Via Premier Padel YouTube

Essential Technique

Essential

The Serve

Underarm, bounce-hit below the waist. Aim for consistency — placement beats power.

Essential

The Volley

Short punch at the net, no backswing. This is where points are won in padel.

Essential

The Lob

Send opponents back and take the net. A well-placed lob is devastating.

Intermediate

The Bandeja

Defensive overhead. Stay at the net while neutralising the lob.

Practice

Wall Defence

Read the ball off the back wall and counter-attack. The signature padel move.

Intermediate

The Drive

Flat, fast shot through the court. Gets opponents off the net.

Tutorial via Premier Padel Academy

Equipment Guide

Choose a round racket for your first year. Maximum sweetspot, maximum forgiveness. Budget £80–£150. Most major brands (Bullpadel, Head, Nox, Adidas) make excellent women-specific models — same technology as the men's range, often with a lighter weight option.

Court shoes matter. Padel involves a lot of lateral movement — running shoes do not provide the ankle support you need. Clay court tennis shoes are a good starting point.

What the world's best use:

🇪🇸

Gemma Triay

Uses: Babolat Technical Vertuo

Uses: Bullpadel Vertex W 03

Top Beginner Pick

Premier Padel

The Professional Game

The women's game on the Premier Padel tour is genuinely thrilling — faster, more tactical, and more technically diverse than the men's tour in many ways. Gemma Triay, Delfina Brea, Bea González, Paula Josemaría, and the teenage breakout pair of Claudia Fernández and Martina Calvo have built a women's circuit that sells out arenas worldwide.