padel sport history rules and why its gaining popularity worldwide

You may not have heard of Padel yet but buckle up. While you were enjoying your weekends off, a sport took over the world of racket sports. The racket-based activity that combines elements of tennis and squash has its roots in the same South American nation that exported beach soccer (that's foot volleyball during summer Equator): Brazil. Popular in the last decade in both Europe and Latin America. Buoyed by enthusiastic endorsements of superstars like Arruebarrena and Messi and the opening of studios across the USA, the world looks like it's on the verge of adopting it as a trendy new hobby. This July, the World Padel Tour will hold the first-ever Grand Slam final in Mexico City, doubling the prize money that comes with lifting the trophy. Look down at the rest of the competition. There is still a long way to go, with only 25 percent of the viewership of the biggest tennis tournaments. But it just might be. Whether you are curious about Padel because you are trying to find something to do at the weekends, or you're just curious about racket sports in general, particularly tennis or pickleball, you've come to the right place – and, if you get involved, it just might surprise you with how fun it is.

We'll cover the sport's history, the rules and regulations, what makes a padel court unique, and some of the biggest tournaments in the game. When you're done, you'll be ready to pick up a racket of your own and step.

The History of Padel

From where did this interesting sport originate? Unbelievably, padel's beginnings in Acapulco, Mexico, in 1969 date back Enrique Corcuera is credited with starting the sport when he fenced his smaller playing area out of his home squash court modification. It might have originally seemed like a backyard experiment, but soon the game grabbed on.
From Mexico, it exploded like wildfire over Spain and Argentina, soon national fascination. Padel is now global, with courts springing up all across Europe, the Middle East, even North America. It's hard to comprehend that this sport—which began in someone's backyard—is now included in big events all around.

Padel Rules and Regulations

Okay, how does one play Padel? What's wrong with this picture? thereof) Other racquet sports will tell you that Padel has all the hallmarks of sash or pickleball – with an added twist.

The Basics

• Teams: Padel is usually played bytwo teams of two players. Single versions likewise exist.
• Scoring is like tennis, games go 15, 30, 40, and the game,
• Serve:Like tennis, the serve has to be struck into the opponent's service box, but the serve has to be underhanded, and you need to make sure the ball has one bounce before you hit it.
• The Rally: players may hit the ball off the walls after the serve (like in squash), resulting in longer rallies.
• Bouncing rules: the ball must first hit the back wall and hit the ground only once before it is returned.

Glass-walled slots of tennis's point-play with the wall, add a spatial strategy not found in other racket games.

Padel Court: A Unique Setup

Another feature of Padel is that the court is fabulous, too: much smaller than a tennis court – and it's also partitioned by transparent glass and mesh walls, which are kept closed by the players and ensure that the ball bounces back and forth.

Dimensions

A padel court is 20 metres long and 10 metres wide with a net, over which the court is divided to make two halves.

These are erected of glass or some other substance to a standard height of 3 metres. The rest of the court is enclosed on all sides save the doors.

Surface

Typically (synthetic), but sometimes synthetic turf surfaces offer more traction and are easier on Padel and less taxing on your body than tennis.

The enclosed space plus the bounce of the walls creates longer rallies than tennis, meaning that Padel is a more intense, high-speed game.

Major Tournaments in Padel

And though Padel might appear to be a light game, its professional scene matches the. Let's unpack the most significant tournament saddle scene.

World Padel Tour (WPT)

The World Padel Tour (WPT) is the foremost professional circuit, hosting tournaments throughout Europe and Latin America. The WPT in the world is widely regarded as the pinnacle of Padel, each event, from Madrid to Barcelona to Bueno's meeting places, includes a prize.

International Padel Federation (FIP) Tournaments

It is governed internationally by the International Padel Federation (FIP), which regulates Padel and coordinates international padel playing and tournaments such as the Padel World Championship. The latter occurs every two years, representing nations from all over the globe and aspiring to Padel's number-one position in world champion designation.

Premier Padel

Premier Padel is a newer professional league to lift the sport onto the global stage. Financial backing from the Qatar Sports Investments and the International Padel Federation, along with hosting significant events and signings from big sponsors, has established Premier Padel as a powerhouse in the sport.

As Padel's game continues to rise in the rankings on the professional circuit, it's only a matter of time before this sport earns itself a place on your sporting radar.

Padel vs. Tennis vs. Pickleball

What do you think? How does Padel stack up against other racket sports, such as tennis or even the up-and-coming sport of pickleball? What differences can you spot?

Padel vs. Tennis

• Courts' size: The tennis court is considerably bigger than the padel court. In tennis, you have to run a lot more. That makes it much more physical. Padel more emphasis on your reaction and the work of the
• The walls: In Padel, if the ball bounces off the walls, that's fair game, unlike tennis, where once the ball goes out of bounds, it's gone. These are the rules, but here's what you need to know: Even if used occasionally, these technical variations are more tactical than anything else, and all of them make Padel more action-packed than tennis. While an uncontrolled tennis ball bouncing off the walls into the court doesn't count if the ball rebounds off the walls and bounces back within the lines, it'
• Serve: In tennis, the serve is a crucial weapon. In Padel, the underhanded serve is secondary to the game and is less of a gun; the rallier who returns the serve has more opportunities to neutralise and get into a rally.
• Easy pick-up: Many players do not need much experience with the game or exceptional physical abilities to play and enjoy Padel compared to tennis due to the smaller court and slower ball. Padel is a more social and accessible sport.

Padel vs. Pickleball

• Court size and configuration: A pickleball court is about the size of a badminton court. Much smaller than a padel or tennis court. Like Padel, pickleball courts have low-profile concrete solid walls; unlike in Padel, players do not use the walls as part of the game.
• Paddles and Balls: Pickleball uses a plastic ball with holes and paddles that resemble table tennis paddles. Padel uses balls like those in tennis and solid, stringless paddles; rallies are short and predominantly more about split-second reactions; Padel has longer rallies and more points that rely on strategy.
• Style Both are very social and simple to pick up, but pickleball tends to be more relaxed, while the extent of the walls and mind games in Padel often make it feel more intense.

If you are into strategy and like long and enduring rallies, go with Padel. If you are into a more casual game with quick points, pickleball.

Why Padel is Gaining Popularity

Thus, why is Padel becoming so popular with the potential to explode for a

1. It's Social

As a sport, there is a team ethic that naturally follows. That might explain why the game attracts people who are. Another reason for this is that When a significant portion of your community consists of expats, it can be challenging to find people to Padel, which provides them with the chance to be good for their bodies and their minds at the same time.

2. It's Easy to Learn

If deemed truly fe evoke stirring emotions of joy and nostalgia, but nothing more than that Aside from the lower barrier of entry (“Tennis exists in a state of grace. You can play it for 30 years and not reach its inner mysteries” – Gussow), you can get the rules of Padel down within an hour or two, and begin to play as soon as you are set up. People can learn to play Padel at five years old and be reasonably proficient by their teens. Unlike tennis – which is genuinely tricky (Sharapova describes the game as ‘agony') and, therefore, ‘a marathon race for eternity' – Padel is an everyday ‘mini-marathon'. However challenging the game gets, it is available to seniors and youth alike. As a result of Padel's slow speed (compared with tennis' poky pace), it can be played by the acutely feeble and the acutely feeble-minded.

3. It's Less Physically Demanding

So, let's face it: tennis can put a lot of strain on knees, shoulders and other joints. It's why playing Padel feels like ‘ me every time I'm after a while away from it. The court is more minor, bound only on three sides, the playing surface is softer, there is less shuttlecock coming at you, and, most importantly, fewer points to win; so far, there are fewer hits to get in. Just like I do between hitting the ball every time my opponent is ready, you can also take advantage of those lulls in pace to grab yourself a well-earned cold beer and a rest. For those who want to hit ab exercises but don't want to prick themselves with large needles constantly, tennis is a much full-on proposition.

4. Professional Scene

The development of professional leagues, such as the World Padel Tour, has also increased the sport's profile and motivated more people to tune in to broadcasted tournaments, wanting to play the sport for themselves.

Getting Started: What You Need to Play Padel

Ready to jump into the world of Padel? Here's what you'll need.

Padel Racket

What makes a racket able to hit the ball without strings was unclear. The paddle is a solid piece of material with holes drilled to give the player feel and control of the ball when returning a shot off the wall. Padeles look like racket-wrestlers!

Padel Balls

Padel balls are slightly smaller and less pressurised than tennis balls, allowing them to bounce marginally less. This is more conducive to the much-reduced court size and the game's reduced pace.

Proper Footwear

You will want to wear court sports shoes since you will be playing on artificial grass or turf. Good shoes for Padel, either tennis shoes or dedicated Padel shoes, will give you the traction and support needed for the lateral movements from left to right.

Final Thoughts: Why You Should Try Padel

Maybe it is just the cross between all the sports I love, tennis and squash, with more oversized rackets that also remind me a little of pickleball, but then fewer emphasised shots, lots of movement and less tension about winning, and all this in a social occasion. Ciao. Padel, to all in the three-ball zone down the line and happy new year. Padel is a cross between tennis, squash, and pickleball. It is a fitness, strategy, and mind game that is neither too tense nor hard to learn, but it is also a game that is perfect for social playing. Padel – like life – is a game of threes. That's threes of everything: three balls, three servers, three shots and three foci. Padel, in its native Spain, is played for five sets, with each player serving only once; in Italy and Germany, it's played to 11 points.

Thus, the next time you want to try something new and fun, don't miss out on Padel.