Padel borrows its scoring system from tennis (15, 30, 40, game; six games to a set; best of three sets) but plays quite differently. Three rule differences in particular shape the sport.
The serve
The serve is underhand. The server bounces the ball, hits it below waist height, and the ball must land in the diagonally opposite service box. Two service attempts are allowed, the same as tennis. There is no big serve game in padel — winning depends on points, not aces.
The walls are in play
After the ball bounces in your court, you can let it hit the back glass or side walls and play it on the rebound. Returning the ball off the wall is a normal part of every rally, and learning to read the angles is most of what separates a beginner from an intermediate player.
You can return through the gaps
If the ball is high enough, you can step outside the court (through the gaps in the side fence) and return the ball back through the same gap. It's one of the more dramatic shots in the sport.
Why the rules matter to operators
A short "first time playing padel?" briefing — covering serve, walls and scoring — meaningfully improves the experience for new players, and new players who have a good first session are far more likely to come back. Most clubs underinvest in this onboarding moment.