Everything you need to know about Padel

Padel is here to stay! The racket sport is taking the world by storm, and in the UAE wouldn't be different.

Keep scrolling to learn more about Padel Tennis...

Get addicted to Padel

Padel is a “new” sport, invented in Acapulco, Mexico, by Enrique Corcuera in 1969. Since then, Padel has gained rapid popularity because of its simplicity to play.

It’s an accessible sport for all ages and skills. Also if you have played other racquet sports like Tennis, Squash or Badminton, you will pick up Padel quickly.

Above all, Padel is less technical and physically demanding, and more socially enjoyable than other racket sports, you will enjoy it from the first match!

Considering that the Padel court is smaller, one part of the game is the social aspect; you can have conversations while playing and enjoy quality time with your friends, family, business partners, or colleagues.

It is also a great way to expand your social circle by meeting new people for a pick up game.

Additionally , padel is also an extremely entertaining spectator sport. When professional athletes compete, the games are highly dynamic and exhilarating to watch because of the incredible level of talent and skill on display. The joy of watching and participating in the sport leaves the audience feeling addicted to the many wonders padel tennis offers.

On the other hand, the sport is growing more and more as a leisure option for amateurs. This is because paddle tennis is an easy-to-learn sport and that, initially, it does not require rigorous physical or technical conditioning.

What is Padel?

Padel is a racket sport, always played in pairs in an enclosed court, generally 25% smaller than a tennis court. The Padel court offers walls on the side and the back of the court, and the balls can be played off them similarly to the game of squash. Some more sophisticated courts use glass instead of walls, allowing excellent viewing of the game. Screens or metal nets surround the rest, and the floor can vary from cement to official grass.

The difference between padel and other racket sports is the interaction of the walls, as they put the ball back into play, which gives more emotion and dynamism to the dispute for a point. However, practitioners of both modalities avoid common comparisons between Tennis and padel.

Position of the players

The players stand in the areas located on either side of the net. The server puts the ball into play, and the receiver returns the ball. The height of the ball being served must be at or below the waist level.

The receiver may stand in any part of their area of the court, as can the receiver’s partner and the server’s partner.

Players change sides when the number of games played is odd. If an error is made and the players do not switch sides, they should rectify it as soon as it is discovered to follow the correct order of play.

The maximum rest time between games is 90 seconds.

Padel Side Changes

Occurs when the sum of games is odd
(e.g., 2-1, 3-2).

As an exception, the first game in any set (1-0) does not change fields.

Scoring

Padel follows the same scoring system as standard Tennis (0, 15, 30, 40 “all” equal, serve / rest advantage. The team winning two sets out of three wins the match.

The golden point is played when 40-40, the team receiving the serve decide where is played the point.

Rules

To a large extent, the rules of padel are the same as in tennis, except that in padel, you serve by bouncing the ball on the ground and below hip height. In addition, special rules apply with regards to the walls.

Padel matches should be played on a regulation padel court that is 20m x 10m and is blue, green or terracotta.
Padel games shall be played between two pairs of players using padel racquets.
Before a match, a coin is tossed. The winner gets to choose whether to serve first or which end of the court to start on.
Each match begins with a serve, which must be done underarm but like tennis must go diagonally into the opponent's court.
Both teams must attempt to score more points than their opponents.
The opposition wins a point when any of the following occurs:
- The ball bounces twice
- The ball strikes you or a teammate
- The ball hits the wire fencing or another fixture before going over the net or going into the opponent’s court (classed as out of bounds).
- If the ball hits the ground before hitting the walls (or fence) is considered a valid point. The player can hit the ball with or without a previous bounce, but always respect the maximum of one bounce. After the first bounce, the ball may hit the walls.
Any player can hit the ball in any area of the court.
Matches are made up of 3 sets, with each set made up of six games. The winners of two out of the three sets will be declared winners of the padel match.