The origins of padel
Played with a smaller racket, a smaller ball, in a smaller court, you would think of Padel as the baby brother of tennis. And it kind of is, but for many reasons it has taken over the world and is now one of the fastest-growing sports, with thousands of courts opening and more than 90 national federations.
Padel is actually a variation of tennis, meaning that it requires rackets, a ball and a court divided by a net. The similarities end up there, where a different set of rules and a whole different way of playing start.
The origin of this sport is still a debate, with many countries claiming that they invented it first. From wherever it has come, the popularity of Padel has skyrocketed, especially after several sports celebrities like Lionel Messi, Jurgen Klopp, Gerard Piqué and Luis Suarez have declared themselves as fans of this fast-paced game.
How to play Padel
Also known as Padel Tennis, the points are counted exactly the same as in regula tennis(15, 30, 45,) and the differences are pretty clear.
First, Padel is played in a much smaller court. The 10×20 meter space is divided in two by a net, and is surrounded by clear walls that take part in the game.
The rackets and the ball are also smaller: the ball is slightly less pressured than a tennis ball, meaning it will bounce less as well. The rackets are actually considered bats, as there are no strings. Instead, they have a meshy fabric surface with small holes.
The serves are also very different, as they are done underarm, meaning that the ball has to bounce one on the turf (floor) and then hit with the racket at a waist level.
Even though there are Padel courts made for singles, the game is more often played in doubles (two people teams).
Padel is a fast-paced game that depends more on strategy and cooperation rather than on physical strength or training. One of the many advantages of the game is the fact that it is very straightforward to understand, so teams can learn the basic rules and start playing the same day.
Basic rules of Padel
As mentioned before, the walls also take part in the game, similarly to in squash. The ball can bounce and can be played off the walls. However, the ball can only bounce on the turf once before being returned. In Padel, you score a point every time that:
- The ball bounces twice on the ground
- The ball hits the net
- Your opponent hits the ball outside of your play area
- Your opponent hits the ball into their own grid
- An opponent gets hit by the ball
Benefits of playing Padel
- It’s an activity for the whole family, as there are no age limitations and the rules are pretty easy to follow.
- Increases your overall health and physical abilities
- Improves coordination, agility, responsiveness and elasticity
- Improves your cardiovascular health
- It’s a fun way to get kids into sports
- It’s a great exercise for weight loss as you can burn up to 400 calories in just one game.
Places to play Padel in Dubai
The Padel craze is quickly spreading all across the UAE, so there are a lot of options to choose from. These are the most popular places to play Padel in Dubai:
Smash Padel and Fitness Club
Located in The Palm, the gym offers the Padel courts as extra, but you can get 8 bookings for free by purchasing a yearly subscription. If you only want to play Padel, the bookings are also available for non-members.
Real Racket Academy X Dubai Golf
In association with the Real Racket Academy, several golf clubs like the Emirates Golf Club, the Jumeirah Golf Estates and the Dubai Golf & Yacht Club all have opened Padel courts recently. They offer group practices, ladies-only sessions, private classes and even a kids Padel club.
The Alley DXB
The Alley DXB is a new patent-pending format of the Padel game inspired by Ghost Padel. It is a “brilliant” idea (in the literal sense) to make Padel playing even more fun and adrenaline-pumping.
It is played in the dark. The only visible things are lines that mark the field, the balls and the players’ clothes – all fluorescent.
Padel pro
The courts are open for tournaments, sessions and even offer a match-making service if you don’t have a partner to play with. Located in JLT, Padel pro is a great option, especially if you want to book several sessions because the costs get cheaper the more you book!
Just Padel
If you want to have a great time playing at the beach, there are four Just Padel facilities in Dubai. Kite Beach, Kent College in Meydan South, Uptown School in Mirdiff, and Mina Rashid Marina.
Dubai Sports World
To be honest, these are perhaps the most popular courts in Dubai so you have to book ahead if you want to play here. However, they are that popular for a reason and it’s because the courts and services are amazing.
Real Racquet Academy Dubai
Arriving straight from Las Vegas, it is of course next to Top Golf that this franchise opens its first courses. Since then she has opened new ones at DIFC’s Dusit Thani among others.
Places to play Padel in Abu Dhabi
If you want to play Padel in Abu Dhabi, here are some of the best options available:
Let’s Padel Academy
Offering classes, training, ladies-only sessions and even professional counseling, Let’s Padel Academy is a great option for those who want to take the sport more seriously. They are located in Mussafah.
Abu Dhabi Country Club
The first place in the city to have Padel courts is still one of the best places to practice the sport, you can access by being a member but you can also book the courts only.
Zayed Sports City
As part of their Zayed Sports Academy, they have recently opened a Padel academy for adults and children.
Padel Point
They built the first padel public indoor courts in the UAE and now have expanded to being a whole academy and sports center where tournaments are held. They have 3 branches available for you to go: Al Quoz 3, Zabeel Ladies Private Court & The Manor by Ja branch
Padel equipment
You can rent the Padel rackets directly on site, you can also buy the balls there. If you want to buy yours, you can find Padel equipment in any sports shop as Go Sport, Decathlon, or Sun & Sand Sports
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