All about Padel Tennis: The new trend sport
What you need to know about the new trend sport Padel Tennis
The new trend sport Padel Tennis is currently on everyone's lips. But what exactly is padel tennis and what are the differences to regular tennis? Do you play Padel Tennis in pairs and do I need tennis experience to score in Padel Tennis? Sport Bittl provides the answers!
Learn the rules of the new racket sport and find out which professional equipment you need to be a winner.
What is the difference between tennis and padel tennis?
The up-and-coming sport of padel tennis is hard to ignore right now. Padel Tennis is taking the hearts of sportsmen and sportswomen worldwide by storm! But what exactly makes the difference to ordinary tennis? We from Sport Bittl explain it to you!
Padel Tennis and Tennis are both backstroke sports with some similarities, but also significant differences.
In padel tennis, two players play on each side of the net, while tennis is played in singles or doubles.
Learn more about the differences between tennis and padel tennis here.
1. court size and structure:
Tennis: A tennis court is larger than a padel tennis court and rectangular in shape. The dimensions for singles matches are 23.77 meters in length and 8.23 meters in width for doubles matches.
Padel Tennis: A padel tennis court is smaller and surrounded by glass or mesh walls. The court dimensions are approximately 20 meters in length and 10 meters in width.
2nd playing surface:
Tennis: Tennis is usually played on various surfaces such as grass, sand, or hard courts (made of concrete or asphalt).
Padel Tennis: Padel is usually played on a synthetic, grass-like surface, although other materials such as artificial turf or concrete can be used for the padel court.
3. equipment:
Tennis: Tennis is played with a strung racket, typically made of graphite or other materials. It also uses a rubber ball.
Padel Tennis: Padel is played with a solid racket (similar to a paddle for platform tennis) and a pressure-filled ball similar to a tennis ball, but slightly softer.
4. scoring system:
Tennis: In tennis, there is a complex scoring system, including "Love" (0), 15, 30, 40 and game. Players:inside must win four points to win a game, and they must win six games (with a margin of at least two games) to win a set.
Padel Tennis: Padel uses a simpler scoring system. Points are counted as 0, 15, 30, and 40, similar to tennis, but there is no separate term for "game." Instead, the side that wins two consecutive points after reaching 40 wins. The game and the side that wins six games (by a margin of at least two games) wins the set.
5. playing style and rules:
Tennis: In tennis, the ball must cross the net and land within the confines of the court to be considered "in play." Players may hit the ball directly or allow it to bounce once before hitting it back.
Padel Tennis: In padel, the ball may be played after bouncing off the walls, which adds an additional strategic element. The ball may touch the ground before hitting the walls.
Is padel tennis harder to play than tennis?
The answer to this question depends on several factors, such as your playing ability, experience level, and personal preferences.
Padel tennis requires less technical skills and footwork than tennis, which can make it easier for beginners to achieve success quickly. However, there are tactical aspects that make padel tennis challenging. Players who already play tennis can transfer some skills and knowledge to padel tennis, but must adapt to the specific aspects of the game.
Rules of padel tennis
1. court and playing field:
As mentioned above, a padel tennis court is rectangular (dimensions: 20 m long, 10 m wide) and is surrounded by walls made of glass or wire mesh. There is a net structure that divides the court into two halves. The net is lower than in tennis and usually reaches the height of the racket.
2nd serve:
The serve is from below and diagonally across the net. The serve must land within the diagonal boundary lines of the opponent's service court. The server has only one attempt to execute the serve correctly. If the serve fails, the point goes to the opposing team.
3rd rally:
After the serve, the ball must land in the opponent's service court after the first bounce. The ball may bounce once on the floor before being returned. The ball may bounce off the walls before being returned. The ball may touch the walls any number of times after bouncing on the floor as long as it remains in play before the opponent's second bounce.
4. Counting method:
Points are counted the same way as in tennis, starting at 0 (Love) and then 15, 30, and 40. When both sides reach 40 points, it is called a "Deuce". The team that wins the next point has "advantage". If the same team wins the next point, they win the game. If the other team wins the next point, the count returns to "Deuce." To win a set, a team must win six games, requiring a lead of at least two games. If a set ends 6-6, a tie-break is usually played to determine the set winner.
It should be noted, however, that the padel tennis rules of play may vary somewhat by country and organization.
For a more detailed explanation of the Padel Tennis Rules visit our Sport Bittl Blog.
Padel Tennis Equipment
To play padel tennis properly and comfortably, you need specific equipment:
Padel racket
Unlike tennis, padel racket has a smaller racket blade and a longer handle. It is usually made of lightweight materials such as carbon or fiberglass to ensure good maneuverability and stroke control. The choice of the right racket depends on the individual preferences of the player, as well as the weight, balance and stiffness of the racket.
Padel balls
Padel balls are similar to tennis balls, but are slightly softer. They are pressure filled and offer less bounce than tennis balls. The balls are specifically designed for play on padel tennis courts to provide optimal feel and proper ball response.
Appropriate sportswear and comfortable shoes
Comfortable tennis shorts or skirts and a breathable T-shirt or sports top are a good choice. It is important that your clothing allows you enough freedom of movement and wicks away moisture to ensure a comfortable playing experience. You should also wear suitable tennis shoes that provide good traction on the court to prevent slipping and injuries.
Click here for ball sports apparel
Optionally, wearing goggles may be recommended, especially for beginners or during intense play.
By the way, you can round off your stylish padel tennis outfit with cool tennis accessories like sweatbands, headbands or caps from popular brands like adidas, Under Armour and Wilson. You can find them in our Sport Bittl Shop!
Padel Tennis near you
Have we aroused your interest in padel tennis and would you like to prove your playing skills in padel tennis? Then we have a few addresses for you to become the star on the padel tennis court:
- Scheck Allwetteranlage Padel, Münchner Straße 15, 85774 Unterföhring, Germany.
- Padel City Munich, Pelkovenstraße 148, 80992 Munich, Germany
- Sport Island Taufkirchen, Birkenstraße 169, 82024 Taufkirchen
- Sportcenter Hahn Geretsried, Königsdorfer Weg 7, 82538 Geretsried
- Padel facility Starnberg, Gautinger Straße 39, 82319 Starnberg