Rules, strategy, coaching tips, and everything you need to know about the fastest-growing sport in NZ.
Complete padel rules explained clearly. Serving, scoring, walls, and everything in between.
How padel scoring works. Points, games, sets, tiebreaks, and golden point.
Your first session. What to bring, what to expect, and basic techniques to learn first.
Positioning, wall play, lobbing, and the tactical elements that make padel unique.
Where to find coaching, what to expect from lessons, and becoming a coach yourself.
Rackets, shoes, balls — what you need and what you don't. NZ-focused recommendations.
Padel is a racket sport played in doubles on an enclosed court about one-third the size of a tennis court. The court has glass walls and metallic mesh fencing, and the ball can be played off these walls similar to squash.
The sport originated in Mexico in 1969, spread through Spain and Argentina, and is now the fastest-growing sport in the world with over 30 million players globally. In New Zealand, padel has grown from zero courts to over 20 courts across 9 clubs since 2022.
There are 9 padel clubs across New Zealand, mostly in Auckland, with courts also in Wellington, Hamilton, Papamoa, and Nelson.
Most clubs have rackets available to hire for $5-10. Don't buy your own until you've played a few times and know what weight and shape you prefer.
Court shoes or tennis shoes with non-marking herringbone soles. Running shoes don't provide the lateral support padel demands.
Underhand serve, let the ball bounce before hitting, use the walls to return difficult shots. That's enough to start having fun.
Join club WhatsApp groups or attend social mixers. Padel needs four players, and the community is the best part of the sport.
| Region | Clubs | Courts |
|---|---|---|
| Auckland | Pacific Padel, Glendowie, Remuera Rackets, Riverside Sports, Indoor Padel NZ | ~15 |
| Wellington | Padel House NZ | 4 |
| Bay of Plenty | The Padel Club NZ (Papamoa) | 4 |
| Waikato | Padel Park Hamilton | 3 |
| Nelson/Tasman | Padel Centre Tasman | 2 |