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Padel tennis or ‘padel’, is a captivating blend of tennis and squash of Mexican origin. This sport is rapidly gaining global popularity since its inception in the late 1960s. Played on an enclosed court with walls, padel offers a unique mix of strategy, excitement and athleticism. Whether you're a seasoned tennis player or a complete beginner, padel's easy-to-learn yet challenging-to-master nature makes it an enticing option for all who wish to play a fun game of tennis-but-not-exactly-tennis!
Padel, an elemental fusion of racquet sports has found its place among court played sports and it is here to stay! What padel is, is a fast-paced dynamic game played in 4s, as teams of doubles or even individually, one-on-one.
All these exchanges and rallies make for an action packed, fun-filled game that arouse the crowds once you understand the rules that surround padel. Those familiar with match scoring for tennis and squash catch on faster on how points are calculated for padel. The agility, quick and precise shots volleyed back and forth, and the teamwork required by the players makes this an engaging game to witness, as a player or a spectator.
Played on roughly a third of the size of a regular tennis court measuring 20 meters long by 10 meters wide, a padel court features a specific type of carpet: synthetic grass or an artificial turf, providing consistent ball bounce as well as an underfoot that provides a comfortable yet grippy playing surface.
Padel is a very versatile sport since it can be played in various weather conditions, in an indoor or outdoor enclosed court with metallic mesh wired walls and glass– to help balls to bounce off, very strategical! A net divides the court in half just similar yet slightly lower than one found in a tennis court.
Padel racquets, rather, are solid-faced and lack the strings of a tennis racquet, resembling a larger version of a table tennis paddle racket with holes on them to make them lighter in weight. Composite materials such as carbon, fibreglass and kevlar are usually used for the frame, while EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate) or foam is used for the core. This design allows for easier control of the ball.
Padel balls must have an exact diameter between 6.35cm and 6.77cm making it smaller than a regular tennis ball. This slightly lower compression, adapts best to the wall play enforced in the game.
Unlike tennis where the game is played with powerful serves and hits with force, an underarm service requiring the ball to bounce once is key for padel. This game is all about executing precise shots with measured control and power.
Understanding the dimensions and angles of the court is essential for mastering the intricacies of padel tennis and developing effective playing strategies. Learning how the ball plays off these walls is another vital aspect of padel as players must anticipate and utilize the walls to their advantage which incorporates a single back wall and side walls extending a portion of the court's length.
The padel court layout features specific key zones:
Strategic use of these zones is crucial for effective play.
A unique twist on scoring and gameplay that padel follows is strategy over power.
Regardless, it retains a few similarities to the official tennis scoring:
Points are scored when opponents fail to return a valid shot or commits a fault (e.g., hitting the ball out of bounds).
The power behind the underarm serve as well as playing the game smartly is heavily focused on when learning, and playing padel!
These are key points to focus on when playing a game:
Whether you're a seasoned athlete or new to racquet sports, what a padel game is, a thriller and accessible outlet for physical activity and social engagement. So grab a padel racket, hit the courts available at We Are Padel, and embrace the excitement of padel tennis today!
