Padel: The Sport to Play in 2024

The racquet sport of padel, though still relatively unfamiliar to many, is experiencing a rapid surge in popularity, particularly across the south of England. A new facility featuring six purpose-built courts has recently opened in Eastleigh, Hampshire. Padel, which combines elements of tennis and squash, originated in Mexico in 1969 and is now played by an estimated 30 million individuals globally. Andy Knee, chief executive of Padelstars, the company responsible for the Eastleigh facility at Trojans Club, described the sport as “easy to pick up and hyper-social.” Padel is predominantly a doubles game, utilizing the same scoring system as tennis but on a slightly smaller court. Similar to squash, the court is enclosed, allowing players to use the walls to introduce a distinct dynamic to the game. The racquet features a solid, firm face, devoid of strings, with perforations designed to generate resistance when striking the ball. The balls resemble tennis balls but are smaller and possess a marginally lower air pressure. Despite its nascent stage in the United Kingdom, the country now boasts over 450 padel courts, marking a six-fold increase since 2019. Mr. Knee first encountered the sport two decades ago during his time working in Barcelona. He established Padelstars in 2022 with the aim of constructing courts and fostering the sport’s development within the UK. “It’s a mix of great exercise, its easy to pick up and its hyper-social and its clear to see why people are taking to it in increasing numbers,” he stated. Many newcomers to the game frequently highlight its straightforward rules as a primary appeal. Coach James Andreotti commented on its accessibility for beginners. He remarked: “I think the entry level is much lower than tennis. “It takes years to become a beginner at that, but with padel I can have people playing to a good level within hours. That’s what I think draws people to playing.” Player Becky Davis characterized padel as a game that “anybody can play.” She added, “I love the fact that it’s doubles so it’s much more sociable than tennis. “You’re always with your partner, you’re always close together and it’s a really fun environment on court.” The enjoyment aspect was also emphasized by fellow player Phillip Emptage, who noted that it offers excellent exercise. He quipped, “My wife would say I’m obsessed with it, and I think she’s right!” Currently, the UK features more than 450 padel courts, representing a six-fold expansion since 2019. UK Padel maintains a directory of venues and clubs where the sport, overseen by the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), is played. Over 10 multi-court facilities are presently available in Hampshire, Dorset, Oxford, and Berkshire. Padel was originally conceived by Mexican businessman Enrique Corcuera and his wife, Viviana, at their holiday residence in Acapulco. He incorporated walls up to four metres high on each side to prevent balls from landing on adjacent properties. The sport subsequently spread to Spain and eventually to Argentina, where it gained significant traction, now counting over two million licensed players. For updates, you can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our approach to external linking is available.