The padel sports is on everyone's lips, but few actually know what it is or, in any case, are really aware of its dynamics.
Yes, it's something that looks a bit like tennis (or at least it's the classic answer), but it would be really too simplistic to end the discussion this way.
padel is a huge world, which is gaining more and more popularity and attracting significant numbers of players from all over the world.
Most importantly, it is, on balance, a sizzling novelty in a world of racquet sports that has seen tennis dominate unchallenged for far too many years. So, today, we're here to shed some light on a few questions.
How does the game of Padel work?
Well, we have to admit that the rumors are partly true, the padel has some tennis connotations, in fact it is played on a field similar in appearance.
This is if we exclude the fact that it is smaller and that there is no line that delimits what is on the pitch and what is off the pitch.
Indeed, in padel there is no outside, since there are gods walls against which the ball can bounce to return to the field and be played again.
This with some limitations of course, in fact he must first touch the field and then the wall and, when serving, there are some limits on the rebound.
However, this is to give a sensible dimension to the sport, which otherwise would turn into a crazed pinball machine.
In practice, what changes for the purposes of the game? Which, thanks to the smaller field and the walls, padel is a sport where you run a little less and it is mostly played in position.
Obviously it is a valid argument if we compare it with tennis, a sport where the field is bigger and is also played in 1v1.
Ah yes, we forgot to mention that although there are sporadic fields of Padel 1v1, this it is a sport that is officially only played in pairs.
This according to the rules of the international federation padel, which might even recognize 1v1 one day, but that's not the day.
As we have already written articles about how to play padel and on rules of this sportI'll leave you the links for further information.
Paddle equipment
The equipment in padel is similar to that of tennis, ie you go on the court with the racket and the right shoes, but the rest are accessories.
The ground of the field is made of a hard material, but there are no precise rules in this regard, which can lead to encountering different surfaces.
In general, however, it is made of material similar to a hard rubber, which leads to high adherence with shoes.
The racket (also called shovel), is very different from that of tennis, with a much more massive and elaborate structure.
The body is several centimeters thick, contains a bouncy material such as rubber or polyurethane, and has holes in the otherwise uniform surface.
No net like for tennis, the racket here is massive and has more weight, but also a sophisticated touch.
If you want to know more about best padel rackets or the clothing ideal to play, we leave you our guides.
What is there to know about Padel?
Before concluding, it is right to add a few more curiosities about the padel that many people may want to know.
This is a sport born in Latin America, then spread as a logical consequence also in Spain and which sees these nations dominate unchallenged.
All the best padel players ever existed so far spoke the Spanish language or, at most, Portuguese for those coming from Brazil.
Italy is catching up in the sector, with amazing results ai padel World Cup in the women's field (a third and a fifth place).
The diffusion, previously practically a total prerogative of the places already mentioned, is now taking on a more global connotation.
padel begins to be a sport practiced in many countries, with a great force that drives millions of new individuals to try it every year.
In the current state of things, it seems that it is a sport ready to establish itself globally, in a positive trend that appears unstoppable.
Whether it will be just a passing fad or something destined to stay, we'll find out in a few years.
Conclusions
If you haven't tried the padel yet, then maybe it's time to take action and buy your first racket.
I'm sure that, by sending a few messages to friends, you'll find many who are willing to book the field and jump into this new adventure.
If, on the other hand, they seem more reluctant to you, then try sending them the link to this article, maybe we can make them change their mind;)