Do you regularly play padel and wonder if you can also play it one-on-one? Although padel is traditionally played with four people, it's certainly possible to play it with two. Perhaps you only have one friend who plays padel, or a duo cancels at the last minute when you were really keen to play. Don't despair! We'll explain how you can enjoy playing padel with just two people.
Padel singles: how does it work?
If you want to play with two people, you simply use half of the court. You can choose to play straight ahead or diagonally. Playing diagonally, also known as ‘cross playing’, is most similar to traditional doubles. We recommend this variant, as it allows you to maintain the intense, fast-paced game.
But what exactly are the rules for 1-on-1 padel? Fortunately, most of the rules of play remain the same as in doubles, with a few minor adjustments that make the game just a little bit different:
- When playing 1 versus 1 padel, you play on half a court. This means you need to pay attention to where the ball bounces; if it bounces on the other half of the court, it's out.
- To keep the game lively, we recommend regularly changing positions, for example after each point scored or at an odd score. This prevents you from getting stuck in one spot and challenges you to become more versatile on the court.
- In a 1-on-1 game, you have to be constantly on the move. As you have to defend the entire court by yourself, speed and footwork are even more important. Every shot must be played thoughtfully; after all, you don't have a partner to fall back on.
Read also: The rules of padel
Improve your technique with Padel singles
1v1 padel is a great way to significantly improve your technique. Because you have to cover the whole court yourself, you'll automatically be forced to play smarter and faster. Here are a few tips to help you:
- Hit the ball back a bit softer. This will slow down the rally and give you more time to improve your position. A slow ball is harder for your opponent to hit back powerfully. Let the ball just drop over the net, forcing your opponent to often play a lob. That's when you can strike with a hard smash.
- Just discussed briefly: Don't stand still after a shot. Change position after every ball to avoid getting stuck in one spot. By staying constantly on the move, you'll learn to master all corners of the court. This will make you unpredictable and harder to play. See also: How to determine your padel level.
- Because you have to do everything on your own, you naturally become faster and fitter. Do you need to retrieve a ball from the corner? Quickly go for it, return the ball, and immediately get back to the centre. This improves both your fitness and your reaction speed. Think carefully with every shot, because you have to figure it all out yourself.
- 1-on-1 is also ideal for experimenting with different strokes. Try alternating hard smashes with soft balls or a slice. This will make your game more versatile and harder to predict.
Do you really want to improve your technique? At Padel Mate Club, we offer lessen for every playing level, whether you're a beginner or an advanced player. Discover here what you can expect from these padel lessons.
Are there also 1-on-1 padel courts?
Yes, they certainly exist! There are even padel courts with an adjusted size, specifically for singles play. However, there are very few of these types of courts in the Netherlands. This is also not really necessary, as you can perfectly well play 1 versus 1 on a normal padel court. These specially designed courts are slightly narrower, measuring 20 by 6 metres, while a normal padel court is 20 by 10 metres.
However, at Padel Mate Club, we do have a single court available! This means that you can not only play doubles with us, but also experience real padel singles. So if you really want to take on that 1-on-1 challenge, you've come to the right place.
Read also: Padel Mate Club: the ideal place for padel for children
Why is there officially no padel singles?
Fun fact: there is no official 1 against 1 padel competition. On the World Padel Tour, both men and women always play doubles. But why is that? Padel is a super-fast sport, especially because the court is smaller than, for example, a tennis court. Additionally, the padel ball bounces less high than a tennis ball, meaning you have to react even faster. This increases the chance of errors and makes the game a lot more exciting. Because padel is so fast, it's actually perfect for four people. With four players, you get that intense, fast-paced game that makes padel so enjoyable.
Read also: Is it allowed to hit the fence during padel?
Play singles padel at Padel Mate Club
Would you like to experience for yourself how fun one-on-one padel can be? Then come down to Padel Mate Club. On our specially designed single court, you'll have the opportunity to truly sharpen your technique. So, if you really want to improve your padel skills and prepare for Tournaments? Book a job today and experience for yourself how singles Padel helps you become a better player.