Have you heard that single padel matches can still offer dynamic and challenging gameplay while being a great format for drills and training?
Let’s be honest, sometimes it can be a little difficult to find three friends or family members to play padel with regularly. This is where the Padel 1 vs 1 game format makes for an excellent alternative for players of all ages and skill levels.
While no global padel competitions feature singles games yet, many clubs are taking it up on a grassroots level because it’s a brilliant coaching format for newcomers to the sport.
Let’s cover the rules, strategies, and differences of single padel vs the traditional doubles format.
New to padel? Our Padel tennis guide for beginners will help you get started on the right foot.
Can You Play Padel 1 vs 1?
The short answer to this prevalent question is yes, you certainly can. In fact, there are dedicated singles padel courts designed to elevate this particular configuration of the game.
While padel was originally designed as a doubles sport, playing padel singles is becoming increasingly popular globally. With the right strategy and mindset, it can be just as enjoyable and challenging as playing doubles games.
Differences in Single Padel
The main difference in the singles format is that you play with only one other person, with only one player on either side of the court, rather than as a doubles team.
A singles padel court is smaller but the measurements of the mesh cage and walls, as well as the equipment needed like the rackets and padel balls, are the same as on a doubles court.
The strategy and tactics used in a singles match differ from those used in the traditional two-player game. Because you will have more ground to cover, you will need to be more agile and aware of your stamina distribution.
Shot selection is also a key factor in singles. Since you don’t have a partner, every serve and return is on you, allowing players to really hone in on their situational awareness and shot techniques on the court.
Rules of Padel Singles
Luckily, the rules to play padel singles are basically the same as those of doubles. This extends to the rules for scoring points, serving, and returning the ball.
For a singles padel game, the idea is to play on a single padel court. If your facility does not cater for this, you can look to adapt the game onto a doubles court, which is known as crossed padel.
Dive deep into every aspect of the game with our detailed Padel tennis rules guide.
Single Padel Courts
So yes, a singles match can be played on a doubles court, but it can be difficult to cover enough ground and get the speed required to return balls on the entire court.
The good news is that there are dedicated singles courts in padel, designed for this format of play.
A doubles court is 20m x 10m which is already about a third of the size of a tennis court. A single padel court is a smaller court, measuring 20m x 6m. The reduced width of the court and playing area helps optimise the gameplay for singles padel.
Single court options may be limited in the UK, but more are popping up each year.
Benefits of Playing Padel in Singles
As we’ve mentioned, the singles format is a great tool for training and practising purposes, especially for beginners.
It allows you to fully focus on your different strokes, techniques, footwork, and net position while helping you get more comfortable on the court overall.
Here are a few other great benefits of playing single padel:
- Helps improve your overall technique, endurance and return shots
- Boosts your stamina and stability on the court
- Requires more controlled and refined shots – leading to improvement with your padel racket
- Helps improve all basic shots like your volleys, lobs, and groundstrokes
Summing Up Our Single Padel Guide
So yes, you can play padel in singles and it is a great way to train and practice your shots and overall technical gameplay with a coach or friend.
Ready to play? Find the nearest courts and clubs with our Padel Near Me guide.
Single padel is always better on a single court, but if you can’t find one, you can make adjustments to make a double court work. Either way, we know you’ll find a single padel game to be exciting and loads of fun!
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