Why you will love playing Padel?

Have you already heard of padel but never played it? Then read this!

If there is one thing we are sure of, it is that after reading this article, you will not last long without discovering this sport.

Padel is clearly the sport to invest in, as it is growing in France and is hugely popular in certain countries such as Argentina and Spain.

So don’t wait until this sport is at the height of fashion to get started!

We are going to look at 6 points that make this sport a “game” that is as special as it is enjoyable.

Padel: A fun sport

 

 

Padel is a racket sport that is easy to play and does not require a top level to have fun.

Unlike tennis or badminton, your arm movements are shorter and therefore less demanding and easier to learn; the rackets are small and therefore quite manoeuvrable, and the racket face is large enough to allow anyone to return the ball.

The final little feature, which makes it comparable to squash, is that you can play off the walls, which will be your allies throughout your time playing. This feature makes the game great fun and often leads to unlikely points that you are proud to have been part of.

 

Padel: A friendly sport

 

The second thing people often think of when talking about padel is its friendly atmosphere. Indeed, unlike other racket sports, it is played only in pairs rather than one-on-one. This 2v2 format allows you to enjoy yourself with a teammate. It really brings out the team spirit that is not always present in racket sports.

However, this could create a problem, as you always need to find three other players in order to play. That is why several clubs, such as Esprit Padel for example, use a player-matching system.

Indeed, thanks to an app, you can create or join a game even with players you do not know yet. This system makes the sport even more sociable, as you can very easily meet new people and perhaps even your future dream teammate.

It also allows players who become addicted to this sport to play very regularly, even if they do not necessarily have teammates and opponents who are as available as they are.  

This system is also very effective thanks to an informal level principle that will allow you to join games with players of a similar level to yours.

 

An informal level system

We are going to briefly talk to you about the 10 existing levels and their purpose, but if you want to learn more in a fun way, we invite you to watch these videos made by Esprit Padel, which explain what each level corresponds to.

Here is the first video, which aims to describe padel and introduce you to the first 3 levels. The other levels are explained in other videos or in this humorous article highlighting the personality traits of the different levels.

The levels, which are defined informally, will allow you to play with players who have a similar level to yours. Let’s be honest, it is quite boring to play with players whose level is far below ours, but it is just as boring if they are far too strong for us.

 

Quality rackets at affordable prices

It will not surprise you if I tell you that to play this sport, you need a padel racket. You then have two options: either rent one for the duration of your session or buy one.

The second option may seem like an investment, but it is not necessarily one, since the main brands involved in racket sales offer you the most manoeuvrable and comfortable ones at affordable prices. If you want to find out more about these rackets with a very attractive quality/price ratio, I recommend reading our article: The 8 best rackets under €100

Rackets at modest prices are often intended for beginners and allow you to enjoy yourself from your very first racket shot. Indeed, they are often quite light, making them very manoeuvrable, and have a fairly large face (especially rackets with a round shape. Click on this link if you want to learn more about racket shapes), allowing you to return every ball quite easily.

 

Numerous activities within clubs

 

We may be repeating ourselves a little, but the atmosphere surrounding this sport is all about fun. This can be felt in the clubs through the activities they offer. This is the case with promotion and relegation sessions or recreational tournaments organised by clubs, allowing people to have fun without taking part in an official tournament. It also allows you to meet new people, which is always enjoyable.

 

Tournaments for all levels

 

 

Official tournaments are organised by the French Tennis Federation, which is now the federation responsible for Padel. To take part in a tournament, you simply need to hold an FFT licence for the current sporting year.

4 categories, based on level, were established by the FFT, but a new category has just been added to the delight of beginners:

 

• P25: This is the new category designed to involve beginners who want to officially face new opponents and are looking for a challenge.
• P100 and P250: These tournaments require at least 4 teams. Players’ level ranges from intermediate to advanced.
• P500, P1000 and P2000: These are the three tournament categories with the highest level, particularly P2000 events, which are aimed at the best players.

 

After these fine words, all you have to do is put on some shorts and a T-shirt and finally discover this new sport, which is sure to have some great surprises in store for you!