Padel 2 people, how to play on a single court

Read now:

• What is a single court?
• The basic rules of padel 1 vs 1
• How do you improve your game?
• Common mistakes
• Why doesn't official 1 vs 1 padel exist?

Padel is a sport that's becoming increasingly popular worldwide. Usually padel is played with 4 players, with teams of 2 against each other. But nowadays you can also play 1 vs 1 padel on a single court. It's a more challenging way that requires more technique and speed. In this blog you'll read everything about how to play this form of padel, what the benefits are and how you can improve your game.

What is a single court?

A single court is a smaller version of the traditional padel court. The biggest difference is in the width, which is halved. This makes the game much more intensive. The glass walls and fencing all remain the same, which ensures that the core of the game stays the same.

Due to the limited space you get less time to react, making precision and positioning play an important role. Single courts are perfect for players who want to challenge themselves or if you simply want to play with just the two of you.

The basic rules of padel 1 vs 1

The game rules when you play padel with 2 people remain largely the same as in doubles play. You serve the ball diagonally and the ball must land in your opponent's service box. The scoring system also remains the same, you keep track of scores according to tennis scoring (15,30,40). Because the court is narrower, shots along the lines become extra effective and important.

Using the walls also remains an important part of padel 1 vs 1. With these walls you can ensure that you can hit the ball back from an unexpected angle. This makes the game technically more challenging and offers opportunities to surprise your opponent. Although the rules essentially match up, this variant of padel is more difficult because precision and speed play a bigger role than in traditional padel.

You can say that padel 1 vs 1 brings a different dynamic with it. Because you have to cover the court alone, you not only get more ball contact, but you also have to be continuously ready for when the ball comes back. This makes the activity much more intensive and your endurance is also put to the test.

How do you improve your game?

To improve yourself on a single court, there are a few aspects that are very important. Starting with positioning. Try to stay as much as possible in the middle of the court yourself, so you can easily catch shots from both sides. This provides a tactical advantage during your rally.

Another important aspect is making optimal use of the walls. This requires some practice, but once you master this, it changes your game enormously. By hitting the ball via the walls, you can create unexpected angles that your opponent can barely return. It's also important to pay attention to your service. Try a low, diagonal service to immediately gain an advantage at the start of your rally. If you can get your opponent into the corner with the first ball, this gives you the chance to win a point by playing him into the other corner.

And finally, movement. Even though the court is smaller, it's important that you never stand still. By constantly being in motion, you ensure that you're ready to return every ball properly. Try to observe your opponent while moving. Look for weak points, such as difficulty with high or deep balls, and play into these immediately.

Common mistakes

When you play padel with 2 people, there are a number of mistakes that are often made. A common mistake is overestimating power. However satisfying it may sometimes feel to hit very hard, padel is mainly about precision. Try to control your shots instead of smashing as hard as possible.

Another mistake that occurs frequently is ignoring the walls. Many beginners barely use these, while using these walls can actually offer a strategic advantage. And finally, you also often see players standing still too much. Even if the ball is on the other side of the court, you must keep moving to be properly positioned for the next shot.

Why doesn't official 1 vs 1 padel exist?

Did you know that there is no official 1 vs 1 padel competition? On the World Padel Tour, both for men and women, only doubles is played. But why actually? Padel is a fast sport, this is mainly because the court is smaller than a normal tennis court. A padel ball also bounces lower than a tennis ball, which means you have to be able to react very quickly. This causes mistakes to be made faster and makes the game extra challenging. And precisely because padel is so dynamic, this sport comes fully into its own with 4 players.

Ready for your first match on a single court?

Now that you know everything about how padel works on a single court, you're ready to get started! Want to know more about, for example, the best rackets for beginners or the costs of padel? Then read our other articles about padel!