What is padel? The fastest-growing sport in the world, explained
Glass walls, underarm serves and doubles-only play — how padel works, where it came from, and why everyone you know is suddenly playing it.
By Padel Roundup ·
If you’ve walked past a glass box next to your local tennis club and heard the distinctive pop of a ball on a foam-cored racket, you’ve met padel. It’s the fastest-growing racket sport in the world, with tens of millions of players globally — and if you can hold a racket, you can play it on day one.
The short version
Padel is played on an enclosed court about a third the size of a tennis court — 20 metres by 10 — with walls of glass and mesh that are part of the game. You serve underarm, score exactly as you do in tennis, and play almost exclusively in doubles. The rackets are solid, stringless and perforated with holes; the balls look like tennis balls but carry slightly less pressure, which keeps rallies long and playable.
The walls are what make it padel. A ball that bounces and then hits the back glass is still live, so points don’t end the way they do in tennis — they extend. Beginners quickly learn that the sport rewards patience, positioning and lobbing far more than raw power, which is exactly why complete newcomers can enjoy it immediately and why good juniors don’t automatically beat canny fifty-year-olds.
Where it came from
Padel was invented in 1969 in Acapulco, Mexico, when Enrique Corcuera built a walled court at his home. The game spread to Spain and Argentina, where it became a genuine mass-participation sport — in Spain it’s regularly cited as the second most-played sport after football. Over the past few years it has surged across the rest of Europe, the Middle East and, increasingly, the UK and the US.
Why it’s growing so fast
Three reasons come up again and again:
- The learning curve is friendly. Rallies happen in your first session. Nobody spends six weeks learning to serve.
- It’s genuinely social. Doubles-only means every booking is four people, and the enclosed court keeps everyone close enough to talk.
- Courts fit anywhere. A padel court takes roughly a third of the footprint of a tennis court, so clubs, gyms and even car parks are converting space to meet demand.
What you need to start
Almost nothing. Most clubs rent rackets for a few pounds, balls are cheap, and normal trainers are fine for your first sessions (padel-specific shoes come later, if at all). Book a court, bring three friends — or join one of the open sessions most clubs run to match players — and you’ll understand the fuss within half an hour.
Frequently asked questions
Is padel the same as paddle tennis or pickleball?
No — they are three different sports. Padel is played in doubles on an enclosed court with glass walls that are part of the game. Paddle tennis and pickleball use open courts, different balls and different rules.
Do I need to be good at tennis to play padel?
Not at all. The underarm serve and smaller court make padel much easier to pick up, and complete beginners can enjoy rallies in their first session. Tennis experience helps, but canny positioning matters more than power.
What equipment do I need to start playing padel?
Very little. Most clubs rent rackets for a few pounds, balls are inexpensive, and normal trainers are fine for your first sessions. Book a court, bring three friends, and you are set.
How big is a padel court?
A padel court is 20 metres long by 10 metres wide — roughly a third of the footprint of a tennis court — and is enclosed by walls of glass and mesh.