What is Padel?
Padel (pronounced pa-dell) is a racquet sport that was invented in Mexico and enjoys huge popularity in Europe and Latin America.
It is estimated that padel is played by over 10 million people around the world, yet most Canadians have never heard of it!
Padel combines all the best elements of tennis, squash and badminton in an enclosed space that is slightly smaller than a regular tennis court. Usually, padel is played in doubles team format and the scoring is the same as tennis.
The balls can bounce off the back and side walls allowing for unexpected bounces and exciting rallies.
Padel is a great sport for players of all ages and skills as it is easy to learn and instantly enjoyable, but still challenging enough to make you want to keep coming back! Most players grasp the game within the first twenty minutes of playing.
Highly social, loads of fun and a great workout, padel is an amazing way to meet new friends and stay in shape!
Courts & Equipment
Padel is played on an enclosed court that is slightly smaller than a tennis court and has a playing surface of 20m x 10m. Like a tennis court it is divided in the middle by a net, but unlike tennis, the court is surrounded by walls which can be utilised by players during the rallies.
The surface of the court can be made from a variety of materials, including concrete, synthetic materials or artificial grass.
The International Padel Federation also stipulates that the playing surface of a Padel court should be terracotta, blue or green.
The racquets used in padel differ substantially from tennis racquets. Padel racquets are made from composite materials with a perforated surface that is ergonomically designed to allow for airflow. The face measures 26cm x 29cm and the overall length of the racquet is 45cm. Because the racquet is much shorter than a tennis racquet, it is much easier to control.