Padel tennis: a trend sport on the rise
Padel, pádel or paddle? No matter how you spell it: This set-back game derived from tennis is one of the fastest growing sports in Switzerland, Austria and Germany.
Still a trend or already mainstream? In view of the rapid development that padel tennis has undergone in recent years, it's fair to ask. In German-speaking Switzerland alone, there are now around 20 clubs that offer this sport. It is played indoors or outdoors.
Padels as far as the eye can see
Padel tennis is all the rage. This was also recently demonstrated at the international sports trade fair ISPO in Munich. The organisers set up a special village for the sport with a ball and small racket, or padel. In addition, it felt like every second stand had paddles from various brands in different colours, shapes and designs.
ISPO Award for "Extreme One" from Head
This year, one of the popular ISPO awards also went to the "Extreme One" padel from Head. The expert jury wrote: "This premium padel racket features a state-of-the-art, transparent carbon face that is robust and durable because it is equipped with only one hole in the face. Nevertheless, the racket is particularly light and strong and offers a consistent feel."
Source: Patrick Bardelli
"We wanted to combine a power racket with lightness, durability and comfort. Everything combined in one and the same racket. A racket made for the faster padel game," says Daniel Picot, Product Manager for padel rackets at Head.
The game is played on a rectangle ten metres wide and 20 metres long with two impact zones. Glass panes (or walls) and fences delimit the playing field. The surface is usually artificial turf mixed with sand. The rackets are filled with rubber and not strung, and the hitting surface is perforated to reduce air resistance. Although they look similar to tennis balls, there are special balls for padel tennis: they are less hard and slightly smaller in diameter.
Who invented it?
On the one hand, there is an American priest, on whose initiative the first padel tennis courts for children and young people were set up in Washington Square Park in Manhattan in 1915. And then there is Enrique Corcuera from Mexico, the founder of padel. At the end of the 1960s, he built a wall around three metres high at the opposite end of a small tennis court adjacent to the wall of his house and closed off both sides of the court with a wire mesh fence.
Source: Patrick Bardelli
You can find our entire padel range here.
Cover photo: Patrick Bardelli
From radio journalist to product tester and storyteller, jogger to gravel bike novice and fitness enthusiast with barbells and dumbbells. I'm excited to see where the journey'll take me next.