What is Padel? The Quick Beginner’s Guide to Your New Favourite Sport
Padel isn’t just another racket sport, it’s an exciting blend of tennis, squash, and sheer addictive fun. If you’re here, chances are you've already heard whispers about how padel is quickly becoming one of the hottest games around. This guide isn't just here to confirm the rumours, it’s your ticket to understanding why padel is exploding in popularity and how you can jump right in.
What Exactly is Padel?
Imagine tennis, but faster, squash, but with fresh air—and all wrapped up into a sport designed specifically for maximum laughs, sweat, and social fun. Padel is typically played in doubles on a court roughly half the size of a tennis court. Here’s the exciting twist, it’s enclosed with glass walls that are part of the game, keeping rallies going and tactics sharp.
Why is Everyone Obsessed with Padel?
Here are four big reasons padel courts are packed out every weekend:
Easy Entry, Deep Mastery: Within minutes, you'll get the basics down. Within hours, you'll start strategising. Within weeks, you'll be totally hooked.
The Social Buzz: It’s always doubles, meaning it’s social by design. Great for families, friends, or even making new connections. It’s been branded the new Golf for networking..
Longer Rallies, Maximum Fun: Walls keep the ball in play, making rallies longer, games more engaging, and every point exhilarating.
Fitness Without Realising: It’s intense enough for a workout, but you're usually having so much fun you won’t even notice how many calories you're burning.
How to Play Padel: Quick, Clear & Easy
Scoring System: Just like tennis (15-30-40-game). Easy!
Serving: Always underhand and diagonally across the court. The ball must bounce before it’s hit.
Rallies: Walls are your friends! After bouncing on your side, the ball can hit any wall before returning it.
Winning Points: Force opponents into mistakes, hit clever winners, or use those walls tactically.
Fun Fact: If you’re feeling adventurous, you can even chase down balls that bounce out of the court, just make sure you hit them back inside the cage!
Padel vs Tennis: A Friendly Rivalry
| Feature | 🎾 Tennis | 🎾 Padel |
|---|---|---|
| Court Size | Large, open | Smaller, enclosed with walls |
| Racket Style | Strung, longer racket | Solid, perforated, shorter racket |
| Serving Style | Overhand, powerful | Underhand, tactical |
| Gameplay | Shorter rallies | Longer, wall-influenced rallies |
| Physical Impact | High intensity bursts | Steady aerobic fun |
Padel offers something fresh for tennis players seeking variety, with a gentle learning curve but a rich layer of strategic depth.
Essential Padel Gear You’ll Need
Starting padel doesn’t require heavy investments. Here’s your starter kit:
Padel Racket: Shorter, solid, and with cool holes—easy on the wrist, great for control.
Padel Balls: They look like tennis balls but have less bounce (less pressure), perfect for padel courts.
Shoes: Special padel shoes or tennis trainers work great—just make sure they offer good grip.
Comfort & Safety: Sweatbands, comfortable sportswear, and eye protection if you get super competitive.
Where to Find Your First Padel Match
Padel courts are now easier than ever to find across the globe, particularly booming in places like Spain (the sport’s spiritual home), the UK, USA, and rapidly across Europe. Local tennis clubs, sports centres, and dedicated padel clubs are rapidly adding courts to meet rising demand.
Check your local sports centre
Search padel-specific clubs online
Join local Facebook or WhatsApp groups to find games
Pro Tips for Your First Few Games
Start gentle: Focus on placement, not power. Let walls guide your shots.
Communicate: Talk to your doubles partner, coordination makes everything smoother.
Position smartly: Stay slightly behind the service line initially; it gives you more reaction time.
Why Jump Into Padel Right Now?
The sport’s momentum is huge, and it’s only getting bigger. It's social, addictive, and accessible for beginners and veterans alike. Padel also offers incredible networking opportunities, and let's be honest, it’s also just ridiculously good fun.
Ready to get involved? Grab a racket, call a mate (or 3), and hit the nearest court. Your only regret might be not starting sooner.
