Padel Tennis

What is padel and where does it come from?

Do you like playing tennis, badminton and squash? Have you ever thought of playing a game that combines all of these three sports? Then padel might just become your new passion. It incorporates elements of these different sports, is great fun and keeps you fit. As for now, with over ten million players it is reckoned as the fastest growing sport worldwide. Widely popular in the Spanish-speaking world - in Spain it is even the second most common sport after football - it is increasingly sweeping over to the rest of the planet.

The origins of padel tennis lie in Mexico, where it was invented in 1969 by Enrique Corcuera. Five years later, the first club opened in Marbella in Spain. Since then, the popularity of the sport has continuously grown.


What are the rules in padel tennis?

Padel is played in doubles. Two pairs play against each other. Hence, four people are needed for a game. The court is divided by the net in the middle, just as you know it from tennis. However, the size is a bit smaller. Every half of the court is again divided into two sections. This is especially important when you hit the ball for the serve. It needs to go to the other diagonal of the court in order to count.
The most unexceptional characteristic of the playing court is probably that its sides and ends are surrounded by glass. For those of us whose balls tend to get lost that's definitely an advantage. You are allowed to play the ball back after it has hit the wall. That is actually one of the most fun parts of the game. However, the fences must not be hit. Volleys are allowed in the game.
The wall as an element is borrowed from squash. The scoring rules on the contrary are the same as in tennis. Therefore, you need six games in order to win a set.

In comparison to tennis however, in padel tennis the serve may only be executed underhand, meaning from below the waist, after the ball has hit the ground one time. Two attempts are allowed. The serve must not be played from above. Other than in tennis, the ball exchanges in padel are a bit longer and based rather on technique than strength. The padel bat is similar to a squash bat, therefore a bit smaller than a tennis racket. It is light, handy and made of plastic. Also, it is perforated with holes and has no strings. Padel tennis balls are similar to tennis balls. In fact, tennis balls are sometimes used to play.