A male padel tennis coach demonstrating proper racket technique to a female student on an outdoor court, perfect for a guide on how to play padel.

Padel for Beginners
How It Stands Out from

Tennis, Squash and Pickleball

Padel is one of the world’s fastest-growing racket sports — and it’s catching on quickly here in Montreal.

Fast to Learn, Fun to Master That’s Padel

Easy to Learn and Quick to Start Enjoying
Fun and Social Padel Experiences for All Ages
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Beginner-Friendly and Simple to Start
Courts Nearby and Ready to Easily Book

Padel Tennis Explained: The Basics

Padel is a mix of tennis and squash

Usually played in doubles on an enclosed court about one-third the size of a tennis court.

The court has glass or mesh walls that keep the ball in play, so rebounds are part of the game.

Players use a solid padel racket (with no strings) and a low-compression tennis ball.

The rules are simple:

You serve underhand, The ball must bounce in your opponent’s court, and you can use the walls to keep rallies going.

Points follow the same scoring system as tennis — 15, 30, 40, game.

Four people playing a doubles match on an indoor padel tennis court, illustrating the basics of how the game is played.

How Padel Is Unique Among Racket Sports

Padel vs

Tennis

A dynamic, low-angle shot of a tennis racket and two tennis balls in mid-air, with a smiling female player in the blurred background on an outdoor court.

Padel uses the same scoring system as tennis but feels less technical at first and simpler.

The smaller court and walls make rallies longer and easier to keep alive, especially for beginners.

Padel vs

Squash

Two male squash players with rackets ready for action during a match on an indoor court, representing the fast-paced sport of squash.

Like squash, padel uses walls as part of the game. However, squash is played indoors with no net, a different ball, and rackets with strings.

Padel is played outdoors or indoors with a net and is almost doubles.

Padel vs

Pickleball

A close-up of a hand holding a blue pickleball paddle and a yellow pickleball on a reddish-brown court, representing the key equipment for the sport.

Pickleball and padel both use underhand serves and are easy to pick up quickly. Pickleball is played on an open court without walls, with a paddle and a plastic ball.

Padel has walls, uses a solid racket, and feels closer to tennis in how it’s scored and played.

padel racket orange color

Padel is a social, fun blend of all three sports but with unique rules, gear, and court design that make it stand out.

Why Padel is Growing in Montreal

More Montrealers are picking up padel every year because it’s social, beginner-friendly, and easy to play all year round. Many local tennis clubs are adding indoor padel courts to meet the demand, and new players love how accessible it is compared to other racket sports.

Whether you’re in the West Island, Laval, or Downtown, you’ll likely find a padel court near you.

Explore all courts
A dynamic and happy male padel player running on a court in Montreal, symbolizing the sport's growing popularity and vibrant community.
Essential padel gear for beginners: two padel rackets, two sports drink bottles, and three padel balls neatly arranged on a blue court, illustrating how to get started with the sport.

How to Get Started With Padel

Getting started is simple. You’ll need a basic padel racket, a few balls, and comfortable court shoes. Most clubs have rental equipment for beginners, so you don’t have to buy everything on day one.

If you’re completely new, book an intro lesson with a local coach to learn the basics and improve faster.

Montreal has plenty of certified coaches offering individual and group lessons for all levels.

Book a lesson

Start Playing Padel

Start exploring Montreal’s padel scene now — find a court, pick up your racket, and join the growing community of local players.

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FAQ

What is the big main difference between padel and tennis?
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