The history of padel: from one Acapulco garden to 35 million players
Padel began in 1969 with a Mexican businessman who didn't have room for a tennis court. How a garden improvisation conquered Spain, Argentina and, half a century later, Britain.
Lead story · Skills
Bandeja and víbora explained: padel's two overheads and when to hit each
The bandeja keeps you at the net; the víbora makes opponents pay. What the names mean, how the technique differs, where to aim and which one club players should learn first.
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All 23 stories →From tennis to padel: what transfers, what to unlearn
Tennis players pick up padel faster than anyone — then plateau harder than anyone. What your tennis game gives you, the habits to unlearn, and how to make the switch properly.
Padel scoring explained: golden point, tie-breaks and why 40-40 is the whole game
How padel scoring works — tennis points, sets and tie-breaks — plus the golden point rule: where it came from, how the pros play it, and the tactics for winning it.
Padel shoes: why your trainers are a twisted ankle waiting to happen
The sole pattern that actually matters, what to spend, when running shoes become dangerous on court, and how to choose padel shoes that fit your game and your budget.
The lob: padel's most important shot (and why beginners ignore it)
No shot wins more amateur padel points than a good lob. How to hit it, when to use it, the three lobs every player needs — and how to deal with one coming back at you.
Is padel a good workout? What the science actually says
Padel feels more like a night out than a gym session — so does it count as exercise? Heart rate data, calories, the muscles it works and where it falls short.
- Who are Martina Calvo and Claudia Fernández? Meet the youngest champions in padel history
- Padel court dimensions: every measurement explained
- UK padel statistics 2026: players, courts, growth and money
- Why is padel so popular? The real reasons behind the boom
- The 10 mistakes every beginner padel player makes
- History at Olympia: teenage champions and a Superclásico settle the London P1
- How much does it cost to play padel in the UK?
- Padel vs pickleball: what actually is the difference?
- How to play padel: rules, scoring and your first match
- Premier Padel comes to Britain: inside the London P1 at Olympia