The story behind padel tennis
The roots of padel tennis go back to the 1960s, when this action-packed sport was invented in Mexico. A passionate Spanish prince brought padel tennis to Spain after a stay in Mexico in the 1970s. Today, it is the country’s second most played sport after football. The racket sport is now especially popular throughout Central and South America. In Europe, after Spain, more and more padel courts have been built in Portugal, then Italy, France and Sweden. Today, padel tennis is the fastest-growing sport in the world. There are official European and World Championships for all age groups as well as other international tournaments. In Germany, too, the sport is enjoying growing popularity – there is a national team and an official padel tennis Bundesliga.
Padel tennis rackets: Which racket do I need?
Compared to classic tennis rackets, padel rackets have a smaller hitting surface, a shorter grip for significantly more control and no strings. Instead, the hitting surface is made from a continuous, elastic material. The characteristic holes in the centre reduce both the weight of the racket and air resistance. There are also 3 basic racket shapes: round rackets, which are particularly suitable for beginners and allow controlled shots; diamond-shaped padel rackets, which deliver maximum power and are ideal for advanced players; and teardrop-shaped rackets, considered the all-rounders, offering a great balance of precision and power. As a rule of thumb: the lighter the racket, the more control you have – at the expense of shot power.
Padel tennis balls and nets: What to look out for
Padel tennis balls are the same size as standard tennis balls but have a lower internal pressure. This makes them slower and significantly extends rallies, giving beginners quick success and more fun from the start. When dropped from a height of 2.54 m onto a hard surface, padel balls must bounce to a height of 135–145 cm. The padel tennis net is 10 m long and, when hung, must be 92 cm high at the sides and 88 cm in the middle. This makes it slightly lower than a classic tennis net.
What is padel tennis and what are the rules?
The official rules of padel tennis are similar to those of classic doubles tennis: 2 teams of 2 players face each other, and the scoring system is identical to that of tennis. For recreational play, you can of course also play one-on-one. However, the serve is always played underarm. The biggest difference in padel is the 10×20 m court, which is enclosed by glass or concrete walls and mesh panels. Players can use these walls during play, similar to squash. The ball may still only bounce once on your own side of the court.
What makes padel tennis special? Similarities and differences to classic tennis
Despite the similar rules and court dimensions, padel tennis offers quicker success for beginners than classic tennis thanks to the shorter racket grips, slower balls and simple basic technique. Strength plays a smaller role in padel – tactics, skill and, due to the longer rallies, concentration are far more important. This makes padel tennis suitable for people of all ages and fitness levels. Many tennis clubs have already recognised the potential of this young sport, are expanding their programmes to include padel tennis and are positioning themselves for the future. Order the right padel tennis equipment for your facility quickly and easily from the Sport-Thieme online shop.