When I first started playing padel in 2023, I had minimum racket experience. I think I was around 10 when I had one of those “mandatory” tennis lessons — you know, the kind your parents sign you up for while they cross their fingers you’ll become the next Federer. Spoiler: I didn’t. I never touched a racket again and couldn’t have told you the difference between a volley and a vitamin.
Sure, I knew how tennis scoring worked (because who hasn’t heard “deuce” shouted at least once in their life?), but all the fancy terminology? Nope. Didn’t care either.
I just wanted to jump in with padel, hit that ball, win some points, and fist-pump like a pro, with an awesome looking racket.
That was my vibe.
Fast forward two years of enthusiastic padel-ing later… and now I’ve realized that maybe — just maybe — it’s time I start learning what all these words actually mean. You know, to avoid blank stares when someone yells “bajada” at me like it’s a life-or-death situation. Or 40-love. What? You called me “love”? I was so confused.😵💫
So for all you fellow newbies (and confused intermediates), I’ve put together this handy list of padel terms. No need to thank me. Just win a few points and pretend you always knew what a bandeja was.
I also thought it was fun to learn some Spanish words, so I’ve added these to in the picture above.
You’re welcome. Or not. Let’s play.
Greetings
Manou
🎾 Scoring Terms
• Love – Zero points
• 15 / 30 / 40 – Standard point progression
• Deuce – 40-40
• Advantage (Ad In / Ad Out) – Point after deuce (server’s / receiver’s advantage)
• Game – A unit of scoring won by winning at least four points with a two-point margin
• Set – Six games (must win by two)
• Tiebreak – Deciding game at 6-6 in a set
Tiebreak further explained:
The player who first reaches 7 points, with at least a 2-point lead, wins the tiebreak and the set.
Example: 7–5 or 8–6 is a win. But 7–6 is not a win — you must lead by 2.
Change of Serve
The first server serves one point. Then players alternate every two points (each player serves two points in a row). This continues until the tiebreak ends.
Switching Ends
Players change ends of the court every 6 points (e.g., at 3–3, 6–6, etc.).
• Match – Usually best of 3 sets
Golden Point (aka “No-Ad” Scoring — aka Panic Time)
When a game reaches 40-40 (deuce), you don’t go into an endless loop of “advantage – back to deuce – advantage – oops back again” like in traditional tennis.
Nope. At deuce, we go straight to a Golden Point: One final point decides the game. Winner takes all. No second chances.
And here’s the twist:
The receiving team chooses which side (left or right) will return the serve. That’s it. No pressure.
So if you’re the server, good luck. If you’re the receiver, choose wisely — and try not to argue with your partner about who’s the better returner under pressure. 😬
So, before the match ask your opponent’s if they want to play the golden point or advantages rules!
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🏓 General Play Terms
• Serve – The act of starting the point
• Return – The shot after the serve
• Volley – Hitting the ball before it bounces
• Smash – A powerful overhead shot
• Lob – A high, arching shot over opponents
• Drop shot – A soft, short shot just over the net
• Groundstroke – Hitting the ball after it bounces
• Rally – Sequence of shots between players until point ends
• Point – A single unit of play
• Let – Replay of the point (e.g., net serve)
• Fault – Incorrect serve
• Double fault – Two consecutive faults, point lost
Breakpoint: in padel is a situation where the receiving team has a chance to win the game by breaking the opponent’s serve.
Love-game: Team A wins the game 40–0 → That’s a love game.
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🧱 Padel-Specific Terms
• Glass / Wall – The glass panels (that hopefully not break, because of your Hulk powers) surrounding the court
• Back glass – Rear wall
• Side wall – Side glass walls
• Mesh / Fence / Grille – Metallic fence on the sides
• Rebound – When the ball bounces off the wall
• Kick smash – A topspin smash that causes the ball to bounce back toward your own side
• Víbora – A sliced overhead with sidespin
• Bandeja – A controlled overhead shot, often with slice, to maintain net position
• Chiquita – A soft, low ball played just past the net
• Passing shot – A shot that goes past the opponent at the net
• Screens – The glass walls used tactically in play
• Out – When the ball lands outside the legal court area
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🧍 Player & Positioning Terms
• Server – The player serving the ball
• Returner – The player receiving the serve
• Forehand side player – Usually the player on the right side (for right-handed players)
• Backhand side player – Usually the player on the left side (for right-handed players)
• Partner – Your teammate
• Switch sides – Changing court sides after odd-numbered games
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