You’ve heard of pickleball, but have you heard of padel? The latest tennis-adjacent sport is spreading quick and fans are already obsessed with it.
An interactive exhibition at the Australian Open in Melbourne earlier this year has led to a bit of an explosion in popularity down under. And the sport has been growing like wildfire in Europe and around the world for way longer.
But what exactly is it, how do you play, and how does it differ from pickleball? Let us explain.
What is padel?
Padel is a combination of tennis, squash and pickleball that has gained mass popularity in continents all over the globe.
The sport mimics tennis in its play style, ball and scoring system. However, it is played on a smaller court that features glass walls around the back and side of the court that are used for ball rebound — not unlike squash.
While the ball is similar to tennis, the game – obviously – uses a paddle with a shorter handle and no strings, rather than a racquet.
How is it different from pickleball?
Both sports were invented in the 1960s, but have only really reached mainstream saturation in recent years. While padel and pickleball occupy the same share of the market in that they are both tennis-adjacent sports, they are actually quite different.
For starters, pickleball uses a plastic ball with holes in it, while a padel ball is made of the same material as a tennis ball but is slightly smaller in size and holds less pressure.
The other major difference is the court itself. While pickleball is played on a badminton-sized court, padel is played on a “pitch” that is encased by glass walls — not unlike a squash court.
While padel has the same scoring system as tennis, pickleball is completely different.
Who is playing?
Much like pickleball, padel has received mass celebrity endorsement that has seen the sport skyrocket in popularity in recent months.
While the likes of Naomi Osaka and Nick Kyrgios have backed pickleball, padel has the support of GOAT Lionel Messi, David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo and Dwayne Wade, just to name a few.
Messi, in particular, loves the sport so much that he had a pitch installed in his home in Barcelona.
Even tennis legend Andy Murray has thrown his money behind a company that builds pitches in the UK — so it definitely has the athletes tick of approval.
Where to play in Australia
If you’re interested in playing in Australia, either recreationally or professionally, you can visit the Padel Australia website to find a club, make your own, or join a tournament.
