Have you ever heard of padel? For some, this sport may sound unfamiliar. Yet, padel is becoming increasingly popular, especially among young people. Although it might look similar to tennis at first glance, the two have significant differences. Are you curious to know more? Let’s dive deeper!
This sport first emerged in Mexico in 1969, created by Enrique Corcuera. At the time, Corcuera had a squash court in his backyard and wanted to create a more exciting game variation. By combining elements of tennis and squash, padel was invented. Initially, padel was only played by Corcuera and his friends as a recreational activity in a confined space, using walls as part of the gameplay.
Over time, padel has evolved and spread to other countries, including Spain, which is now the global hub for padel. Its popularity continues to grow as many see it as a fun, easy-to-learn sport that people of all ages can play.
One of the most pivotal moments in padel’s history was its introduction to Spain in 1974. In Spain, the sport experienced a significant growth. Padel courts began popping up in various cities and public interest in the sport soared.
As its popularity skyrocketed, padel gained recognition as an official sport. In 1991, the International Padel Federation (FIP) was established. Thanks to FIP, padel became more well-known worldwide, and international tournaments began to take place. Padel has become hugely popular today, especially in Latin America and Europe.
The main difference between padel and tennis lies in their courts. A padel court is smaller and enclosed by glass or concrete walls. These walls are integral to the game, as the ball can bounce off them and return to the court. A tennis court, on the other hand, is open and not confined by walls.
The padel racket is also smaller and shaped like a paddle, with a solid surface instead of strings. It is specifically designed to spring the ball differently compared to a tennis racket. Meanwhile, a tennis racket is longer and features tightly strung strings. As for the ball, padel balls are softer and slightly smaller than tennis balls.
The playing styles and strategies of the two sports also differ considerably. Tennis emphasizes powerful hits and speed, with players often trying to strike the ball as hard as possible to outplay their opponents. In contrast, padel focuses more on a combination of powerful and soft strokes, along with strategic use of the walls. Padel players frequently do short shots, lobs, and volleys to control the game and create scoring opportunities.
Teamwork is another crucial aspect of padel, as players must communicate and coordinate strategies to defeat their opponents. This difference in playing style makes padel a more complex sport that requires a broader range of skills compared to tennis.
Padel is typically played in doubles, or 2 versus 2, on a smaller court of about 10 x 20 meters. For singles, a court as small as 6 x 20 meters is enough.
Padel courts are surrounded by concrete or glass walls, enabling gameplay involving wall bounces similar to squash. A narrower net, standing 88 cm high, separates the two sides of the court. The goal of the game is to hit the ball with the racket in such a way that it bounces once on the opponent’s court and becomes unreturnable.
The game begins with a serve. The serving player must stand behind the service line and hit the ball using an underhand motion below the waist. A valid serve requires the ball to hit the back wall after crossing the net and bounce once in the opponent’s service box before being touched by the receiver. After the serve, players take turns hitting the ball until one team makes a mistake.
The walls in padel are not only boundaries but also an integral part of the game. Players can bounce the ball off the walls to create angles that make it difficult for opponents to return or extend rallies. However, the rule is the ball cannot bounce twice against the walls before being hit by the other player.
Points in padel are scored using the same system as tennis: 15, 30, 40, and game. A set typically consists of six games, with the first team to win six games claiming the set. If both teams win five games each, a tiebreaker is held to determine the set winner.
To conclude, padel and tennis are two fascinating sports with their own unique characteristics. While they share similarities, differences in courts, rackets, balls, and playing styles make each sport distinct.
So, which sport do you prefer? Tennis or padel? Before trying padel or continuing with tennis, make sure to protect yourself with Sports Insurance from MSIG Indonesia!
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