What is Padel?
Padel is often described as a mix between tennis and squash, but it’s really in a league of its own. It’s fast-paced, social, and famously easy to pick up which is why it’s currently the world’s fastest-growing sport.
The Padel Backstory
Padel didn’t start in a sports lab, but in a backyard in Acapulco, Mexico, in 1969. Enrique Corcuera wanted to build a tennis court at his home, but he didn’t quite have the space. To solve the problem, he built a smaller court, surrounded it with walls, and used wooden paddles instead of rackets.
The sport eventually made its way to Spain, where it exploded in popularity, before becoming the global phenomenon it is today.
How to Play: The Basics
If you’ve played tennis, the scoring will feel familiar, but the walls change everything. Here is the “cheat sheet” for your first game:
The Court: Padel is played on an enclosed court about one-third the size of a tennis court. Most games are played as doubles.
The Serve: Unlike tennis, all serves are underhand and must be hit at or below waist level. The ball must bounce once in the opponent’s service box.
The Walls: This is the fun part!
When you hit the ball over the net, it must bounce on the floor first before it touches the glass or the fence.
In: Ball hits floor, then hits glass.
Out: Ball hits the glass (or fence) directly without touching the floor first.
Scoring: We use the tennis scoring system (15, 30, 40, and Game). Matches are usually played as the best of three sets.
The Gear: You use a stringless, perforated “bat” (racket) and a ball that looks like a tennis ball but has slightly less pressure, making the game a bit more controlled.
Pro Tip: In Padel, power isn’t everything. Because the walls keep the ball in play, strategy and positioning are often more important than hitting it hard!
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