I first played Padel 3 years ago, in the Costa Del Sol.  I was playing golf at the Mihas Golf club.  I had just shanked a fairway drive, uttered a trail of expletives directed at the sport of golf generally, when really it wasn’t the entire sport of golf’s fault that I had just misdirected my 5th shot on the long 8th par five.

man laying down on padel court

“It just isn’t working for you today is it” my fellow golfer Mark said to me as a looked dejectedly as to where the ball should have gone.  It was one of those bad days.  I am a tennis player by trade.  County and regional tennis, qualified tennis coach, local English Division 1 club leagues, that kind of thing.  Not quite Roger Federer, but certainly a good bit better than Donald Trump. 

“Listen whilst we are over here why don’t we have a stab at playing a bit of Padel” Mark said as he followed me round the thick

“Padel” I said not having a clue what he was referring to. 

“Yes Padel.  You are a good tennis player aren’t you” Mark carried out still losing me.

“Yes but what has tennis got to do with Padel’s?” I said. 

“Haven’t you heard of it?” Mark carries on being annoyingly vague now at this point given that my head was still scrambled trying to find my ball as the long drewey grass was now starting to reach above my knee. 

“Its called Padel Tennis.  It’s massive here in Spain.  Lots of fun too.  And if you are a tennis player then you will be able to cope. Watch out for the walls though maybe” Mark said laughing.

Fast forward 2 weeks and I was stood on a Padel Court in Mihas, Padel racquet in hand, standing on a Padel court with Mark the golfer by my side and facing a couple of Spanish chaps who both looked like they had both the equipment and the swagger to back it up.  A bead of sweat dripped down my furrowed brow, and not just because of the Mihas heat and humidity.  There was real nerves here.  I didn’t even know the rules….

2 hours and quite a bit of sweat more and I was sold.  My first Padel experience all those years ago was a mix of fun, nerves, laughter, competition and (like the tennis not squash player I am) more than a few bruises for running into the glass walls housing the court.  But it had a feeling unlike I think any other sport I had ever played for the first time.  Pure fun.  And there was no looking back from there.

Aerial view of a paddle tennis court
Mixed Padel
Mixed Padel

Some sports have been historically, rightly or wrongly, more the preserve of one of the genders, so either played more by women or more by men....

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You Padel Team
Author: You Padel Team