We test Padel - the racket sport trend from Spain
Padel - no, not paddle - is a racket sport derived from tennis that is very popular in Spain and South America. We have tried out this sport, which is still relatively unknown in this country, for you.
What is padel?
Padel or padel tennis is a racket sport based on tennis, but only played in doubles. [[image:8487615]]
Playing field
At 20 by 10 metres, the pitch is smaller than a tennis court. It is enclosed at the ends in a U-shape by glass walls, which - similar to squash - are part of the playing surface. The rest of the court perimeter is enclosed by wire mesh fencing or wire netting. The central arrangement of the net and the T-line markings are derived from tennis. The surface is usually made of concrete, cement, artificial turf or carpet.
Raddles and balls
Padel rackets are shorter than tennis rackets and are not strung. They are usually made of foam and plastic. The hitting surface has a variable number of holes. To prevent accidents, the racket handle is fitted with a strap or cord for the wrist.
Padel balls are exactly the same size and look like tennis balls, but have a slightly lower air pressure, which makes them slower. [[productlist:6409888,6406502,6391785,6393999]]
Rules of the game
The counting method is exactly the same as for tennis. The main difference to tennis is the possible integration of the glass walls into the game. After bouncing the ball in the court, you can let it bounce off the glass wall and continue playing directly from there. The ball can also be played directly against your own glass wall if it then enters your opponent's court directly. If you play the ball directly to the opponent's glass wall, the ball is out.
Another difference to tennis is the serve: the player must stand behind the T-line and hit the ball below the hip. The serve is therefore always from below. It must reach the opponent's cross service court. As in tennis, the player has two service attempts. [[image:8487616]]
Our conclusion after the test
We played padel for about two hours at the TC Sonnenberg facility and had a lot of fun. Even if you've never played padel tennis before, you get into the game relatively quickly and have some good rallies. Compared to tennis, squash or badminton, you don't have to be extremely fit on your feet to stand a chance. The most important thing is to have good reactions. Some feel for the ball and experience in racket sports are certainly a plus.
On the one hand, the fact that the sport can only be played by four players is good for the fun of the game. On the other hand, it makes the game less intense and you have to find three playing partners for each game.
Where can I play this sport in Switzerland?
There are currently eight facilities throughout Switzerland where padel can be played. In addition, the "Interessengemeinschaft Padel-Tennis Schweiz" has been formed to promote and develop the sport of padel in Switzerland. <p
