So, What Is Padel Tennis?

What is Padel Tennis?

Padel tennis, which is most often referred to as padel, is currently the fast-growing sport that blends elements of tennis and squash. Played in doubles, the sport is played on an enclosed court roughly half the size of a tennis court, surrounded by walls that are used strategically throughout the game, much like squash. Padel is very easy to pick, making it accessible for players of all ages and skill levels, while still offering a high level of excitement and competitiveness for athletes!

How is Padel Played?

Padel tennis is played with a solid, perforated racket and a low-compression ball which looks similar to a tennis ball. It uses many of the same scoring rules as tennis, but its court design and gameplay style make it unique. The walls around the court are a big part to the game, allowing players to use them to rebound shots, adding a layer of strategy that makes the sport very tactical.

Each point starts with an underarm serve, unlike tennis, where the serve is overhand. This makes the game less about overpowering opponents with serves and more about clever shot placement and court movement. The objective is simple: hit the ball over the net, keeping it within the boundaries of the court, while utilising the walls to create tricky rebounds that can put your opponents out of position.

How did Padel Tennis start?

Padel was invented in Mexico in 1969 by Enrique Corcuera who was a businessman who adapted a smaller tennis court in his home to fit within his property. His innovation was to use the walls in play, transforming the traditional tennis experience into something more contained and faster-paced. This hybrid version of tennis quickly caught the attention of his friends and spread to Spain and Argentina, where it gained significant popularity.

Spain became the sport’s heartland, and today, there are over 20,000 padel courts in the country. Argentina, too, embraced the sport with enthusiasm, and both nations are considered the leaders of padel culture and competition.

The Global Expansion of Padel

In recent years, padel has grown in popularity across Europe and the rest of the world. The sport has spread to countries like the UK, France, Italy, Sweden, and even the Middle East, where new courts are being constructed at a rapid pace. Part of its appeal is how easy it is to learn, combined with the fact that it doesn’t require the same level of physical endurance that some other racket sports demand such as squash. This means that people of all fitness levels find it accessible and enjoyable.

In the UK, padel is still in its early stages but is growing fast. The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) is growing the sport, and new padel courts are being built across the country to meet the increasing demand. The major cities like London, Manchester, and Birmingham are seeing a rise in padel clubs.

The Future of Padel in the Next 10 Years

Looking forward, the growth of padel looks very promising across the UK and the rest of the world. In Europe, padel is expected to put itself as a mainstream sport, with more professional tournaments, greater media coverage, and increasing participation across various age groups. The professional padel circuit, including the World Padel Tour, is also gaining traction, with more sponsorship and television deals being secured each year.

With its social, accessible nature and a growing global community, it’s looking very likely that padel will compete with more established racket sports like tennis and squash in the coming years. Get your Novor racket today to kick start your journey!

Geoff Fourie

Managing Director