First session
Your first 90 minutes
Nobody is watching, nobody expects you to be good, and you will hold a rally sooner than you think. Here is how to make the first session the one that hooks you.
Booking it right
Three decisions, made before you arrive, determine most of how the session goes.
- Book four people. Padel is doubles and the court costs the same regardless. Three people means a worse game at a higher price each.
- Book 90 minutes, indoors, off-peak if you can. Sixty minutes disappears in warm-up and confusion. Indoors removes weather from the equation entirely.
- Ask for rackets and balls when you book. Rental rackets cost RM15–30 and are the right choice for a first session. Confirm whether balls are included.
If the venue offers a beginner clinic or an introductory hour with a coach, take it. One hour of structure across four people is the difference between leaving intrigued and leaving frustrated.
What to wear
Standard sports kit. The only decision that genuinely matters is footwear.
| Item | What works | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Shoes | Court shoes — padel, badminton or squash | Running shoes; the lateral movement rolls ankles |
| Top | Moisture-wicking, plus a spare | Cotton, which becomes a wet towel |
| Bottoms | Shorts or a skirt with pockets for a spare ball | Anything restrictive at the knee |
| Extras | Towel, 1.5L water, a fresh overgrip | Turning up with nothing to dry your hands |
Even on an air-conditioned indoor court you will sweat considerably more than you expect. Bring more water than feels sensible.
The first ten minutes
Walk in, find the gate in the side wall, and step onto what feels like a very small tennis court with walls. Hit gently to each other for five minutes without keeping score. Let a few balls bounce and run into the back glass on purpose, just to see the rebound. That rebound is the whole sport, and getting comfortable with it early is the fastest thing you can do for your game.
Then serve. Bounce the ball, strike it below your waist, aim diagonally. You will hit the net repeatedly for a few minutes and then it will click.
Four things to get right
- Move up with your partner. Both of you at the net, or both of you back. The gap between a player at the net and a player at the baseline is the easiest target on the court.
- Let the ball come off the glass. Your instinct will be to attack a deep ball early. Wait. Let it bounce, let it hit the back wall, then hit it as it comes out. You will have far more time than you expect.
- Lob when you are in trouble. A high slow lob over the net players is the most useful shot in beginner padel. It resets the point and forces the other pair backwards.
- Aim down the middle. Between two opponents is a genuinely effective target, not a cop-out. It causes hesitation and it keeps the ball away from the walls.
Stop trying to hit winners. Padel points are won when the other pair makes a mistake under sustained pressure. The player who simply returns one more ball than everyone else will beat much flashier opponents for the first year.
Mistakes everyone makes
- Hitting too hard. Pace comes straight back off the glass, faster, and usually at you.
- Standing too close to the back wall. Leave yourself two to three metres so the rebound has room to come to you.
- Serving overhead by instinct. Tennis players do this for the first ten minutes without noticing.
- Standing right against the net. Three metres back is the volley position; on the net itself you get lobbed all evening.
- Buying a racket beforehand. Rent. Decide later.
After the first session
Book the second one before you leave — the drop-off between first and second session is where most new players disappear. Join a regional WhatsApp group so you are not dependent on assembling the same four people every time. And if you enjoyed it, take one coaching session before your habits set, because positioning is far easier to learn correctly than to unlearn.
How coaching and levels work here →
Common questions
Can a complete beginner play padel?
Yes, and it is the sport's main selling point. The underarm serve and the enclosing walls remove the hardest parts of tennis, so most people can hold a rally within their first 30 minutes on court.
What should I wear to play padel in Malaysia?
Moisture-wicking sportswear and court shoes with lateral support — padel, badminton or squash shoes all work. Bring a towel, at least 1.5 litres of water and a spare shirt, because humidity makes padel sweatier than it looks.
How many people do I need to play padel?
Four. Padel is played as doubles and courts are hired per court rather than per player, so a group of four gives both the best game and the lowest cost per person.
Do I need lessons to start padel?
No, but one introductory session is unusually good value because padel positioning is counter-intuitive. Most beginners lose points to standing in the wrong place, not to poor technique.
Is padel hard on your body?
It involves frequent short sprints, lunges and sharp lateral changes of direction. It is easier on the shoulder than tennis because there is no overhead serve, but harder on ankles and knees, which is why court shoes matter.