Nearly everyone who regularly practices any sports discipline realizes that development comes from striving to constantly raise the bar and crossing one’s boundaries. Remaining in the comfort zone, although pleasant in the beginning, will finally lead to frustration with the lack of accomplishments or being bored with a discipline altogether. As non-professionals, we can choose between two options: rethink our training plan which may have been designed incorrectly, leading to the lack of challenges and progress, or enrich our workouts with a new discipline. This may explain the incredible surge in popularity of padel tennis. This is relatively a new game and an excellent alternative to interval training and games such as tennis or squash to which it is closely related but not identical.
Who is padel recommended for?
It is definitely a thing to be tried out by enthusiasts of tennis, squash and similar disciplines, as their experience will be similar but enriched with a breeze of fresh air which – as we all know – busts boredom and supports development. This does not mean that the sport is only designed for them.
The experience from other countries in Europe shows that padel can be enjoyed by almost all active people regardless of sex, age and level of fitness. This game is even recommended to children for a good start, being a simple activity with minimal risk of injury.
Basic information about padel
The padel court is divided by a net (like in tennis) and enclosed by walls which play an important role in this game (like in squash). The space in which you play is smaller than in tennis which makes the game more intensive. You will definitely practice your quick reflexes and hand-eye coordination. The rackets do not have strings and look like table tennis bats, and balls are similar to those in tennis (the size is similar, but they have a lower pressure) which automatically makes the game slightly slower than squash. This discipline is an excellent option for people who want to focus on the technique.
The rules are similar to those in tennis. The score is kept in the same way as in tennis, and the player must serve in the opponent's court diagonally across (in padel, only underhand serves are performed). The devil is in the detail, so even seasoned tennis players should thoroughly read the rules of the game. You will find them on the official website of Polish Padel Federation. By the way, this organization was established only in 2017, which shows how new the sport is in Poland.
Padel is usually played in doubles which makes this discipline very sociable. However, when you are only just starting, you can try playing one-on-one, for example with an instructor. You will soon find out that padel has been created with a larger number of players in mind.
Why is padel worth a try?
Even though padel is often introduced as an alternative to tennis and squash, it is a distinct sports discipline which is increasingly often taken up by people who have never held a racket in their hand. Not surprisingly, padel’s advantages include the possibility to adjust the pace of the game to the level of the players, which is a nice incentive for a start.
This sport aims for general development, quickly improves your fitness and helps you get into shape, even though it does not require so much running as tennis or high intensity like in squash. It requires less technical skills than tennis and less endurance than squash.
If you play regularly, your concentration and motor coordination will improve, and your muscles will get stronger, particularly in legs, buttocks and arms. Padel also has the ability of elevating your mood which you can feel from the first moments of playing it, as claimed by the fans of this discipline.
What do you need to start playing padel?
Above all – a court. Even though this sport is becoming incredibly popular, you can still only play it mostly in large cities. The Polish Padel Federation keeps updating the list of available spots. Regularly check where you can play in your region.
What about gear? Centers which offer a padel court usually also have rackets and balls for rent. However, if you have caught the bug, you will have no trouble buying equipment in specialized sports shops.
At first, you may be surprised at what a padel racket looks like. It does not have traditional strings, but is perforated in a special way to let the air pass through. Because of this, the ball cannot be hit so hard as when using a tennis racket which makes the game more exciting even for players who are only just trying their hand at padel. Initially, it is best to choose a racket with a classic shape (round or tear-shaped). There are also diamond-shaped rackets and a little heavier equipment with a more rigid core. However, refrain from buying them until you acquire a certain level of skills.
You do not need to invest in special type of sportswear and footwear to start. When it comes to clothing, players should choose comfortable wear and shoes that are suitable for the surface, which in the case of padel courts is... artificial turf. You need to make sure you wear stable shoes which are not slippery. If you decide that you want to commit to padel for a longer period of time, you will have no difficulties finding special footwear in professional sports shops.
When using your own balls rather than renting them from a sports club, make sure they are suitable for this discipline. They look similar to tennis balls, but are “slower” which makes the game even easier.
Holding your gear in hand and having paid the fee, you can make your way to the court. Most padel enthusiasts emphasize that padel games are very rewarding, pleasant and immediately addictive. It is best that your see for yourself.