So, what exactly is padel?

If you are here, you have probably already heard of padel, a sport that has grown in popularity by leaps and bounds in recent years. 

Whether you are a curious beginner or a passionate player looking for new information, this article is your ultimate guide to understanding the basic principles of padel. Imagine a perfect blend of tennis and squash, in a cocktail of speed, strategy and adrenaline with a friendly atmosphere. In this article, we will reveal the fundamentals of this fast-growing sport, from the essential rules and the history of the sport to choosing the right equipment.

What is the history of padel?

Padel is a sport born in the 1960s. Its origin is attributed to Enrique Corcuera, a wealthy Mexican businessman who lived in Acapulco. Corcuera wanted to create a new game in his garden that could be played on a small court and was accessible to all members of his family.

 

He thus combined several racket sports, notably tennis and squash, to create padel. He built a court surrounded by walls and used smaller wooden rackets with holes to suit the size of the court. The introduction of slower balls than those used in tennis also made the game easier to master.

Why is it called padel?

The term "padel" originates from the English word "paddle", which literally translates as "oar". In the United States, there is a very similar sport called "paddle tennis", which developed during the 19th century on British cruises. Ship passengers entertained themselves on mini tennis courts by playing with paddles.

However, with the creation of this new sport by Corcuera, the term “paddle” was Hispanicised and the spelling "padel" was ultimately adopted. 

Padel around the world

In 1974, a friend of Enrique Corcuera visited him in Mexico. He discovered padel and decided to take the idea back with him to Spain. The two friends jointly defined the court design and the rules of the game, leading to the construction of the first two courts at the Marbella Club. 

 

Padel's popularity grew rapidly in Spain, attracting renowned tennis players. Tournaments were organised, and enthusiasm was such that a millionaire decided to introduce the game to Argentina. There, padel enjoyed meteoric success and now has more than two million players. 

In Spain, padel has become one of the country's most popular sports, experiencing strong growth during the 2000s. Beyond Spain, padel has also gained popularity in France, Belgium, Italy and, more recently, the Scandinavian countries. The year 2005 marked a major turning point for the sport, notably with the creation of the professional circuit. The establishment of the World Padel Tour contributed to its international reputation, which continues to grow today.

How do you play padel?

A few practical points before anything else

A padel court is a rectangular court measuring 10 metres wide by 20 metres long. The surface traditionally used is sanded or semi-sanded synthetic grass. The official colours are green, blue and ochre.

The four sides of the court are surrounded by walls. The back of the court is a 3-metre-high wall, often made of tempered glass or safety glass (highly resistant to frontal impact, but which shatters into small pieces when stresses are too great). The back wall serves as the baseline.

As for the side walls, the first 4 metres are made of glass, while the following 6 metres consist of a 3-metre-high mesh fence (with an exit in the centre of the court).

The net is approximately 0.88 metres high and is attached to the side walls. A service line parallel to the net and located 6.95 metres from it is marked on each half of the court and defines the service area.

Padel rules

The first thing to know about padel rules is that this racket sport is mainly played in doubles, in teams of 2 players.

Let's start with the first shot of the match: the serve. It is played diagonally from the service area. The server must hit the ball after letting it bounce once. Player 1 serves throughout the entire game. The opposing team serves the following game, and player 2 from the first team serves the next game.

The walls surrounding the court are an integral part of the playing area. As in tennis, only one bounce on the ground is allowed, but the ball may bounce a second time off a wall before being played. Apart from the serve and return of serve, the ball may be played as a volée.

In padel, as in tennis, a point is lost when the ball does not cross the net or bounces twice on the ground. More specific to padel, the ball is also considered “out” when it hits the opponents' walls before bouncing on the ground. It is also forbidden to return the ball by hitting the mesh fence.

Games are scored in the same way as in tennis (0, 15, 30, 40 and game). To win a set, a team must win at least six games with a two-game margin. If the teams are tied at 6-6, the set is played as a tie-break (also called a deciding game) until seven points are reached with a two-point difference.

In 2023, there are 9 match formats for FFT-approved competitions: 3 sets of 6 games, 2 sets of 6 games, 2 sets of 4 games, 1 set of 9 games (with variations on the deciding point) or 1 set to 10 points for the P25 tournament. 

The necessary equipment

To play padel, you need certain specific items of equipment:

The most important item is the padel racket. Padel rackets have a specific shape, generally teardrop-shaped, with perforations on the face and a non-slip grip for better handling. They are more manoeuvrable than a tennis racket, traditionally weighing between 340 and 380g. You will also find a wrist strap attached to the handle (mandatory in competition).

Don't forget to bring padel balls! They are similar to tennis balls but have a lower bounce (there is less pressure in a padel ball than in a tennis ball).

In addition to the racket and balls, you will need to wear suitable sports shoes. Padel shoes are designed to provide optimal grip on the court, with a special sole that offers extra traction during lateral movements and quick changes of direction.

It is also recommended to wear comfortable, breathable sportswear that allows you to move freely on the court. You can opt for sports shorts or skirts, T-shirts or tank tops.

What are the major padel competitions around the world?

National competitions

French senior championship

Let's first talk about French competitions, where there are three distinct types of events during the season. First is the French senior championship. This championship takes place over a weekend, when the 32 best French men's and women's pairs compete over two days in September to determine the two best French pairs.

French interclub championship

Like the senior championship, the French interclub championship is a tournament that divides clubs into two divisions: Nationale 1 and Régionale 1, with a promotion/relegation system featuring four promotions for men and two for women between N1 and R1. Over three days of tournaments, the men's Nationale 1 brings together the 16 best clubs, while the women's Nationale 1 brings together the 8 best clubs.

P1000, P1500 and P2000

Then, as in tennis, all players' rankings are determined through a circuit played throughout the year. P1000, P1500 and P2000 help refine regional and national rankings through numerous events. P1000 tournaments are played every weekend, while there are 8 P1500 events during the year and 4 P2000 events, where the very best compete in 4 major events.

International competitions

Premier Padel

Premier Padel is the official global padel circuit, governed by the International Padel Federation (FIP) and Qatar Sports Investments (QSI).

Having merged with the World Padel Tour in 2023, the circuit now offers 24 events around the world and a final event in Barcelona featuring the 8 best pairs of the season.

The circuit includes 4 "Major" events which are the circuit's biggest events and award 2,000 points to the winners. The FFT organises one of them: the Greenweez Paris Major at Roland-Garros stadium.

Cupra FIP Tour

This circuit includes events that award points for the official international ranking. They are less highly valued than Premier Padel circuit events but remain an alternative for players seeking points. Several categories exist: FIP Promotion, FIP Rise, FIP Star, FIP Gold and FIP Platinum.

World and Euro Padel

In these two competitions, each qualified nation sends its best players. These two tournaments have the same format: four groups of four nations, with the top two from each qualifying for the round of 16, and so on.