Padel is rapidly soaring in popularity across the globe, making waves in the world of racquet sports. With its unique combination of tennis and squash elements, it’s no wonder so many across the world are eager to learn about this unique game. Whether you're an aspiring player or just curious about the buzz, this guide will unravel the basics and rules for beginners.
History and Origin
Originating in Mexico during the 1960s, padel quickly found a passionate audience across Europe, especially in Spain. Today, it's a sport that has significant interest internationally, with clubs and padel enthusiasts popping up worldwide. Padel's accessibility and strategic depth have cemented its status as a favorite among both beginners and racquet sport veterans.
The Padel Court: A Little Different To Tennis
One of the first things you'll notice about padel is its distinct court. Measuring 10m x 20m, the court is enclosed with glass and mesh caged walls. Unlike tennis, these walls aren't just boundaries but they play an integral role in the game, allowing for rebounds and adding layers of strategy. For more information about Padel courts and the process of building a court see our Padel Courts page.
Equipment Essentials
Racket: Unlike tennis racquets, padel rackets lack strings and mainly use carbon as it's material for development. Instead, they're solid with a perforated surface. Their unique design caters to swift ball movements and close-quarter volleys taking alot of the impact out of the pace of the ball.
Padel Ball's: Resembling tennis balls, padel balls are slightly less pressurized. This feature ensures that they maintain a softer bounce, adding an interesting dynamic to the game. Many beginner players often start with White bouncier balls to allow for a better game and increase the chances of better rallies throughout the match.
Basic Rules to Get You Started
1. Serving: The serve must be executed underarm, and the ball needs to bounce into the opposite square on the other side of the net. The goal of the serve is not to win the point from the serve, its simply to put the ball into an uncomfortable position for your opponent to give you time to move towards the net (more attacking position)
2. Wall Play: Players can use the walls to play the ball, much like in squash. However, the ball must hit the ground before any wall. You can only use the clear glass walls to return the ball off. If the ball hits the wall on the full the point is lost. The ball can hit the ground then hit any of the sides of the wall, even the mesh net.
3. Scoring: Similar to tennis, padel uses the 15-30-40-game scoring system. A set is won by the team which wins six games with a two-game advantage. Often in Padel many players play the Golden Point rule meaning once a game reaches Deuce a final "Golden Point" is played. But who doesn't love a good Deuce to Advantage game.
4. No Volley on First Return: After the serve, the receiving player must let the ball bounce once before returning.
5. Double Bounce: If the ball bounces twice on one side before being returned, the opposing team wins the point.
Why should you start playing Padel?
There's a special allure to padel that's hard to explain in mere words. But here are some factors contributing to its fast-growing appeal to new padel players across the world:
Social Aspect: Padel is predominantly played in doubles, making it a great social sport. Unlike most racquet sports, it fosters a sense of teamwork and strategy between partners. This setup encourages communication, trust, and synchronization with your partner.
Super Quick to Learn: The learning curve for padel is often less steep compared to other racquet sports, especially tennis. The solid racket and enclosed court mean beginners can start have intense rallies much sooner, keeping motivation high and allowing for quicker skill development. No more watching the ball go past you and having to walk to collect it like tennis.
Full-Body Workout: Beyond the thrill and fun of playing the game, padel offers a comprehensive workout perfect and suitable to all ages! The fast-paced nature of the game ensures cardiovascular fitness, while the movements improve agility, coordination, and reflexes. It's an enjoyable way to stay active without the monotonous feel of regular gym workouts. It's much more fun to get fit playing a sport you love.
Strategic Depth: While it's beginner-friendly, the game's depth becomes evident as one progresses through to intermediate or advanced levels. The use of glass walls around the cort introduces a dimension of strategy absent in traditional tennis. Deciding when to play the ball directly, use the walls, or when to approach the net makes every rally unique. The main focus is to dominate at the net, not to win every point with a killer shot. Players work as a team to put their competitors in uncomfortable positions by applying spin, hitting to corners and also utilizing the lob with the main aim to win the point (at the net) in an attacking position, making sure they also dont get caught out.
Inclusive Nature: Padel is accessible to a wide demographic. Its less aggressive ball bounce and smaller court size make it approachable for children and seniors alike. We have many blog posts dedicated to Padel for Seniors and also the new generation of kids growing up playing the sport.There are no age or gender boundaries when it come's to padel, just fun fun fun for everyone.
Conclusion
So for those on the fence about diving into a new sport, consider this: Padel isn't just about the thrill of the chase or the satisfaction of a well-played shot. It’s about the laughter shared with a partner after a missed rally, the collective groans and cheers of onlookers, and the post-match chatter that extends well beyond the court. As the world of padel continues to grow and evolve, there's no better time to become a part of this vibrant community and discover the multifaceted joys it offers.
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