By the MeetAndPlay editorial team · · 5 min read
If you ever wanted to play football with the strategy of a padel court, padbol is exactly that. It is a young sport that mixes elements of football, tennis and volleyball, played in pairs on an enclosed court with a net and walls. This guide explains where it comes from, how it is played, what you need and how to find a court in Mexico. One important note: exact measurements and some rule details can vary by competition or venue, so always confirm the rules of the one you are about to play.
Where it comes from
Padbol was born in La Plata, Argentina, in 2008, and is credited to Gustavo Miguens. The idea was to take the feel of an enclosed court, like a padel court, and replace the racket with the player's body, as in football, but with a net across the middle as in tennis or volleyball.
Since then the sport has spread to other countries and has an international federation, the International Federation of Padbol Associates (FIPA), which publishes the official rulebook. It is still a new, niche sport, so in many places you will find it as a club activity or a hobby group rather than an established discipline.
The court
- It is a rectangular, enclosed court, split into two halves by a central net. In general it looks like a padel court, with glass walls and metal mesh around it.
- Each half has its own playing area, and the rulebook defines the service lines and the limits. Because the official measurements can be checked and updated with the federation, we only describe them in general terms here.
- The walls are part of the game, as in padel. On the serve, for example, the ball may rebound off the glass walls on your own side, but hitting the metal mesh first is a fault.
- It is played on a smooth, even surface, usually artificial turf or another sports surface, although it depends on each venue.
Basic rules
- It is played 2 against 2. There are also training variants, but the competition format is in pairs.
- As in football, you play with your feet: the ball is not played with the arms or hands. The head counts too, and the official ball is designed with heading in mind.
- The point starts with a serve: the ball first bounces in the service zone and you then kick it over the net into the opponent's valid receiving area. It can be direct or rebound off the glass walls on your side.
- Each team has 2 to 3 alternating touches between partners before sending the ball across.
- A volley or aerial ball only counts if you have at least one foot in the attack zone when you hit it or when you land.
- Nobody may contest the ball over the net before the second touch: the team in possession has priority.
How it is scored
According to the official padbol rules, scoring follows padel and tennis: 15, 30, 40, advantage, game, tie-break and set. Matches are commonly played as best of three sets, though formats can vary between tournaments. For a casual game, the normal thing is to agree before starting: for example, play to a set number of points or for a fixed time. If you are going to compete, check the FIPA rulebook.
What you need to play
- A ball: the official padbol ball is polyurethane, 670 mm in circumference and 360 to 390 g (per the official ball page on padbol.com). Ask the venue which model they have, because they usually lend or sell it there.
- Sports shoes with good grip: court trainers or artificial-turf shoes. Avoid hard studs if the venue does not allow them.
- Comfortable clothes and water: there is a lot of running, changes of direction and jumping, so warm up before you start.
- You do not need a racket, and that is one of the most obvious differences from padel.
Padbol, padel and football
- Compared with padel: it is similar in the enclosed court, the walls and the pair play, but there are no rackets. It is played with the feet and body.
- Compared with football: there is a net across the middle, the pairs do not mix in the same half and the ball must go over the net. Ball control is what pays off most.
- Compared with tennis and volleyball: it shares the net, the limited bounce and the serve, but contact with the ball is with the body.
How to start
If you already play football, you have an advantage: ball control. If you come from padel, you already know the space and playing as a pair. Either way, the best way in is relaxed games, learning to anticipate the bounces and to coordinate with your partner: decide who covers the middle and who covers the sides. Take the time to warm up ankles, knees and hips before playing.
How to find a court in Mexico
Padbol is still uncommon, so the practical approach is to search ahead of time. MeetAndPlay has a page for the sport and a court directory by city. It is not a booking service: it is a directory of places compiled from OpenStreetMap and from researched public sources. Before you go, confirm with the venue that it offers padbol, at what times and how to reserve.
Frequently asked questions
- What is padbol?
- It is a sport that combines football, tennis and volleyball. It is played in pairs on a padel-style enclosed court with a central net, and the ball is played with the feet and body, without using the arms or hands.
- Who created padbol?
- It is credited to Gustavo Miguens, who created it in La Plata, Argentina, in 2008.
- Can you use your hands in padbol?
- No. As in football, you play with your feet and body, but not with your arms or hands.
- Do I need a racket?
- No. You only need a ball and sports shoes with good grip. Most venues lend or sell the ball.
- Is padbol the same as padel?
- No. They share the enclosed court and pair play, but padel is played with rackets and padbol with the body, without using arms or hands.