WHAT IS PADEL?
Padel is a racket sport that combines elements of tennis and squash. It is a fun, sociable and very accessible game as players of all ages and abilities will get the basics of the game within the first half an hour of playing.
Strategy is more important than power and strength in padel therefore physical abilities do not guarantee a win!
COURT AND RULES
Padel is played in doubles on an enclosed court surrounded by walls of glass and metallic fence. The court's dimension is 20mx10m. The ball used is very similar to a tennis ball, just a bit softer.
The serve is underarm with a bounce and has to land in the service box. The ball has to hit the court first to be "in" but it can then bounce off any wall or fence. Points can be scored when the ball bounces twice in the opposition's side. Scoring is the same as tennis.
HISTORY
Enrique Corcuera in 1969 decided to adapt his Squash court at his home in Acapulco (Mexico) with elements of Platform Tennis creating what he called "Paddle Corcuera". He is considered the inventor of Padel.
Enrique's Spanish friend Alfonso of Hohenlohe-Langenburg tried this new invention at Enrique's home and instantly felt in love. Immediately after, he decided to create the first two Padel courts in a Tennis club in Marbella (Spain), this was 1974.
