Padel, the fastest-growing sport in the world, is exploding in the UK. Currently, there are around 114 Padel courts in the UK, and the LTA – the governing body of tennis in Britain – are aiming to have 400 in place by the end of 2023.
The game originated in Mexico back in the 1960s and is hugely popular across parts of South America and Spain. Some sources claim that Spain boasts more than 200,000 courts and it’s rumoured to be a favourite pastime of Argentina football legend Lionel Messi.
Padelmania is now sweeping its away across Great Britain, breathing new life into tennis clubs and without doubt, looks to be the future of racquet sports. So what is it about the sport that makes it so special? Let’s take a look!
A sport for all
Padel is a sport for everyone. The court is smaller than a tennis court, approximately two-thirds of the size, and the net in the middle is smaller than a tennis net. What makes the game unique is the court is surrounded by a mixture of panels and mesh netting. Players can hit the ball off the panels and use them to their advantage. With less ground to cover than a full-size tennis court, it’s a great sport for both the old and young to keep fit and active.
A social sport
Padel is a game that is played in doubles pairs with four needed for a game. Padel is incredibly social and is a fantastic way to meet new people. Social games are often accompanied by substantial amounts of conversation!
Action-packed
A recent study has shown that an hour game of Padel will see the ball in play for 50 minutes on average, but a tennis match played over the same length will only see the ball in play for 15 minutes.
The serve
In Padel, a serve is made underarm, making it easier than the overarm tennis serve which creates a barrier to many players. It also means the ball is in play a lot more.
It’s good for you
With players able to use their court surroundings, the rallies in Padel can be long and incredibly fun. Players can burn hundreds of calories in just an hour.
The development of new skills
Modern-day tennis is quickly becoming all about power. Padel couldn’t be any more different! Points are arguably harder to win in Padel so players need to be able to incorporate different spins, angles, touch and feel into their game. All of these skills can be transitioned into full-court tennis which can help develop a player’s all-around game.
Affordability
One of the problems modern-day tennis faces is its cost. To some, the costs of equipment, clothes and in particular membership fees is just too expensive. Padel is so affordable. Most clubs will let you hire a court for around £10 with people being able to hire racquets and balls for as little as £5.
The racquets though, can be expensive, so you may need to save up! Check out Padel Point or Padel Shack for the best deals.
