Can You Play Padel Singles?
2 February 2026 · Padel Court Finder
Yes — you can play padel singles, but it’s less common than doubles. Padel was designed for four players, yet singles is still popular for training and casual play, especially if you only have two people (see playing padel with two people).
If you want to find singles courts in the UK, here’s a quick directory:
Find padel singles courts
Why padel is normally played as doubles
Padel was originally designed for doubles, and the standard court size reflects this.
A standard padel court is:
- 20 metres long
- 10 metres wide
This size works perfectly for four players but can feel very large for just two.
Doubles padel offers:
- Longer rallies
- More tactical play
- Less physical strain per player
- A more social experience
That is why most clubs, leagues, and tournaments focus on doubles.
Can you play singles on a normal padel court?
Yes, you can play singles on a standard doubles court — and many people do recreationally.
However, it is more physically demanding because you need to cover the entire court yourself. You will notice:
- More running
- Faster fatigue
- Shorter rallies
- More emphasis on fitness and speed
It is excellent exercise and a great way to improve your game. Many players use singles as a training tool.
Proper padel singles courts are smaller
There are specially designed singles padel courts, which are narrower.
A singles court is typically:
- 20 metres long
- 6 metres wide
This smaller width makes singles play:
- More balanced
- More enjoyable
- Less exhausting
The tactics also become closer to doubles.
You can find UK venues with singles courts here:
Padel singles courts directory
How singles scoring works in padel
Padel singles uses the same scoring system as doubles and tennis:
- 15
- 30
- 40
- Game
Matches are usually played as:
- Best of 3 sets
- Or shorter formats for casual play
The serve rules are identical:
- Underarm serve
- Must bounce first
- Served diagonally
Walls are still fully in play.
Is padel singles more difficult than doubles?
Yes, singles padel is generally harder physically. You need:
- Greater endurance
- Faster movement
- Better court coverage
- Strong defensive skills
Doubles allows players to share responsibility. Singles requires you to cover everything. However, many players enjoy the challenge.
Benefits of playing padel singles
Singles padel offers several advantages:
- Great fitness workout
You run much more than in doubles. - Improves your doubles game
You develop better positioning, faster reactions, and stronger defence. - Easier to organise
You only need one other player. - More ball touches
You are involved in every shot.
This helps improve your overall skill faster.
Are singles padel courts common in the UK?
Singles courts are still relatively rare in the UK, but they are becoming more popular.
Most venues still focus on doubles courts because:
- Doubles is more popular
- Doubles generates more revenue per court
- More players can use each court
However, some newer clubs are installing singles courts to offer more flexibility.
You can find UK venues with singles courts here:
Padel singles courts directory
Can beginners play padel singles?
Yes — beginners can absolutely play singles. However, doubles is usually easier when starting out.
Doubles allows you to:
- Learn positioning
- Improve gradually
- Rest between points
Singles is more physically demanding. Many beginners start with doubles and try singles later.
Is padel singles played professionally?
Professional padel is almost exclusively doubles. Major tours like:
- Premier Padel
- World Padel Tour
Focus on doubles competitions.
Singles exists mainly for recreational play, training, and casual matches. Doubles remains the main format worldwide.
When should you play singles vs doubles?
Play singles if:
- Only two players are available
- You want a harder workout
- You want to improve faster
Play doubles if:
- You want longer rallies
- You prefer a social experience
- You are playing casually
Both formats are enjoyable.
Where to play padel singles in the UK
Not all clubs offer singles courts, but some do. You can find singles padel courts across the UK here:
Find padel singles courts
This makes it easy to locate venues near you.
Final verdict: can you play padel singles?
Yes, you can play padel singles — either on a standard doubles court or a dedicated singles court.
While doubles is more common, singles is:
- Great exercise
- Excellent for improving your skills
- Growing in popularity in the UK
If you want to try it yourself, use the UK singles court finder here:
Find padel singles courts