Padel History Explained

Padel History Explained

If you’re a fan of racket sports, you’ve probably heard of tennis and squash. But there’s another sport that’s gaining popularity across the world – padel. Padel is a racquet sport that has similarities to both tennis and squash, but it’s unique in its own way. In this article, we’ll take a look at the history of padel and how it became the popular sport it is today.

What is Padel?

Before we dive into the history of padel, let’s first explain what it is. Padel is a racquet sport that’s played on a court that’s similar to a small tennis court. The court size is 20 m long and 10 m wide, surrounded by screens and glass walls. The game is played in doubles, with two players on each side of the court. The aim of the game is to hit the ball over the net and into the opponent’s court without it bouncing twice.

The History of Padel

Padel was invented by Enrique Corcuera, a Mexican millionaire, in 1969. Corcuera built the first padel court in his house in Mexico, as he was looking for a sport that he could play with friends and family. Padel quickly gained popularity in Mexico, and soon enough, it spread to Spain, where it became even more popular.

In the early 1970s, padel was introduced to Spain by a group of tennis players who were looking for a new sport to play. The sport was an instant success, and soon enough, padel courts started popping up across the country. Padel was particularly popular among tennis players, as they found the sport to be less physically demanding than tennis.

In the 1980s, padel started to gain popularity in other countries, including Argentina, Brazil, and the United States. The International Padel Federation was established in 1991, and since then, padel has been growing in popularity across the world.

The Rules of Padel

As we’ve mentioned earlier, the aim of padel is to hit the ball over the net and into the opponent’s court without it bouncing twice. The game is played in doubles, with two players on each side of the court. The ball can bounce off the walls and the screens, but it can only bounce once on the ground.

Points are scored when the opponent fails to return the ball, hits the ball out of bounds, or hits the ball into the net. The first team to win six games wins the set, and the first team to win two sets wins the match.

Why is Padel Popular?

So why has padel become so popular across the world? One reason is that it’s a relatively simple sport to play, so almost anyone can have a go. Another reason is that it’s an inclusive sport, and it’s a great way to socialize and have fun with friends. Padel is also a great workout, as it involves a lot of running, jumping, and swinging.

In conclusion, padel may be a relatively new sport, but it’s rapidly gaining popularity across the world. Now that you know the history of padel explained, why not give it a go? Who knows, you may find that you love this unique and fun sport just as much as the millions of people who already play it.