What is padel? Rules, gear and how to start
What is padel and how do you play it? Learn the basic padel rules, scoring, court setup, equipment and beginner tips in this complete guide.
Padel in Bulgaria
Find a club, an open court, a tournament, or a coach in your city.
How padel is growing in Bulgaria
A short snapshot of activity over the last 30 days.
Top players in Bulgaria
- 1
Kalin Donchev
- 2
Arina Kuzina - 3
Olena Dokova - 4
Степан Влах - 5
Максим Ратков
Analytics for Bulgaria
Clubs31
Courts94
Peak occupancy56%
Weekend occupancy34%
Average occupancy35%
Pado community
Padel players13
Padel courts in Bulgaria on the map
Find a club nearby and book a court in a few clicks.
Where to play padel today
The nearest free hours at clubs in Sofia. Pick a slot or open the full search.
Wed, 14 October
Padel in Bulgaria: what you need to know
Padel in Bulgaria is picking up speed: on PADO you will find 32 padel clubs in 13 cities and resorts — from Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna and Burgas to Ruse, Pleven, Stara Zagora, Blagoevgrad, Pernik, Petrich, Kazanlak, Veliko Tarnovo and Bansko. Together they offer around 100 courts, with the widest choice in Sofia — 12 clubs — and on the Black Sea coast at Lozenets, Kiten and Tsarevo.
Padel is played in doubles on a 20 × 10 metre court enclosed by glass and metal walls. After the ball has bounced on the ground, it may hit the wall and stays in play. The racket is shorter than a tennis racket, has no strings and is perforated, and the ball is a little softer. That makes it easy to get started, and the first long rallies come after just a few minutes. You may also hear it called padel tennis or searched as "padel court" or "padel club" — it is the same sport.
You can play on indoor and outdoor courts. There are indoor padel halls in Sofia, Varna, Plovdiv, Ruse, Pleven and Burgas, so you can play in winter too, and outdoors from spring to autumn, including in Bansko and along the Southern Black Sea coast. Prices depend on the club, the time and the day of the week: in Bulgaria an hour of court time costs from around €20 to €40, more expensive in the evening and at weekends and cheaper on weekdays during the day. A court is for up to four players, who share the cost.
On PADO you compare clubs, prices and available slots across the country, see all locations on the map and find tournaments and coaches near you.
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How Padel Banda in Warsaw turned the chaos of a large padel community into a system
At some point it became clear that the problem was no longer how to run another tournament. They needed a system that would let them manage a large padel community in Warsaw properly.
Padel tournaments with groups and playoffs: how to run one
Why tournaments with groups and playoffs are worth running in a padel community, how to work out participants, courts, matches and the schedule, and how PADO simplifies large tournaments.
Frequently asked questions about padel
What is padel?
Padel is a racket sport for four players played on a small court enclosed by glass and metal walls. After the ball has bounced on the ground, it may hit the wall and stays in play, which makes rallies longer and the start easier than in tennis.
How do you play padel? What are the rules?
You serve underhand, after the ball has bounced on the ground, diagonally into the opponent's box. Scoring works like in tennis: 15, 30, 40, game. After bouncing on the ground the ball may hit the walls, but it must then go back over the net. Hitting the wall directly out of the air is not allowed. Padel is always played in doubles.
How big is a padel court?
A padel court is 20 metres long and 10 metres wide, enclosed by glass and metal walls 3 to 4 metres high. That makes it much smaller than a tennis court.
How much does padel cost in Bulgaria?
An hour of court time costs from around €20 to €40, depending on the club, the time and the day of the week. Mornings and weekdays are cheaper than evenings and weekends. The price is per court for up to four players, so per person it comes out much lower. Current prices for each club are on the club's page on PADO.
In which cities in Bulgaria can I play padel?
On PADO there are padel clubs in Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna, Burgas, Ruse, Pleven, Stara Zagora, Blagoevgrad, Pernik, Petrich, Kazanlak, Veliko Tarnovo and Bansko, as well as on the Southern Black Sea coast — in Lozenets, Kiten and Tsarevo.
Do I need my own racket?
No. Many clubs let you rent equipment on site, and at the DECATHLON padel courts in Sofia you can buy a racket and balls. For your first game, sports shoes and comfortable sportswear are enough.
Can I play padel in Bulgaria in winter?
Yes. There are indoor courts in Sofia, Varna, Plovdiv, Ruse, Pleven and Burgas where you can play in any weather. You can see the prices and available slots of indoor clubs on each club's page on PADO.
Is padel the same as tennis?
No. Compared with tennis, the court is smaller, the walls are part of the game and the racket is a solid paddle without strings. Padel is always played in doubles and the ball is slightly softer, so it is easier for beginners.