It’s estimated Padel has attracted more than 25 million active players and that number is still growing (exponentially). With new courts springing up everywhere, here’s why you should get in on the action, plus tips from the pros on how to elevate your game.
Padel’s enclosed arenas are immediately intriguing. With their courts that look like the unholy union of tennis turf and badminton battlegrounds, we already know your curiosity is piqued. On the last count, there were already over 63 000 courts worldwide and you may have noticed a trend of new ones cropping up everywhere – the gym, your street corner and even inside malls. The appeal of the sport is manyfold, but for Adam van Harte – a padel pro and the head coach at Virgin Active Padel Club–there are three main factors.
READ MORE: Ale Galán’s adidas Racket Is Built for Power and Precision
First, it’s got a massive social aspect baked into the game. “Padel is played strictly as doubles,” he says (although a few one-on-one arenas are springing up). “There will always be four people on the court and games are usually followed by a drink or meal together.”
But, secondly, and maybe most importantly, the sport is ultra-accessible. “It’s actually quite easy to play,” he says. Compared to, let’s say, tennis, where you could spend hours honing your serve and feel like you’re making little progress, Padel is definitely a pick-up-and-play alternative. The rackets are forgiving, the rules simple and your shot options are near-endless because you can play the ball off the surrounding walls. As a tennis outcast myself, it was simple to find my rhythm on the padel court. But that low barrier to entry isn’t without a sky-high ceiling. “Easy to play but difficult to master,” stresses Van Harte, who left behind his own professional tennis background to chase rankings on new turf. Just tune into any tournament and you’ll see how far you can go.
READ MORE: Why Everyone Is Playing Padel—And How to Get Started
The final factor? Accessibility. You will never struggle to find a court, especially now that gyms like Virgin Active are building up their padel offerings. Van Harte has been hooked since 2022 and has gone on to win plenty of tournaments. He’s also signed with adidas Padel as their brand ambassador. The transition from curiosity to fully fledged pro was a quick one. But while the competitive nature of elite play has given the sport staying power, the fact that it’s fun means he’ll keep playing long after he closes the book on his professional pursuits.
Getting Started with Padel Equipment
When you first try out padel, you’ll be wielding a rental racket and punting around the sport’s standard-issue tennis balls. It’s likely your shots won’t have much pace, but you’ll start to pick up the basics of positioning which can give you an edge even when your firepower is lacking. And the more often you step onto the court, the more you’ll start to minimise unforced errors and entrench key skills like applying devilish spin to your shots or, super important, wrapping your head around how to play off and against the wall.
You’ll be tempted to head out and grab all the latest and greatest kit, but Van Harte says that for your first few forays, you’ll get by just fine with the court-supplied weaponry. “Kit is important, however, just not when you’re starting out,” he says. And he’s speaking from experience. He played with the club’s armoury of rackets for two months before taking the plunge for his own.
READ MORE: adidas Is Leading the Padel Boom in South Africa — Here’s the Gear You Need
“When it comes time to invest in your own racket, you want to look for something based on your skill level,” he says. Typically, your first purchase will be a racket with a focus on control. While you won’t get the seemingly springloaded firepower or dizzying, spinning artistry of some of the other options, you will get the precision that your game demands right now.
And don’t overlook the shoes. “Padel requires lots of jumping and changes in direction,” he says. “You’ll need a shoe that provides you with good ankle support, something a running shoe does not give you.” He’s seen plenty of injuries that were the result of incorrect footwear, so this purchase should be high up on your must-buys.
6 Rackets To Level Up Your Game
Since its inception, the sport has taken over the world with everyone from F1 drivers and celebs to Brad in accounting notching serious hours on the courts. New spots are springing up everywhere, but you’ll outgrow your rental rackets within a few matches. Meet your new point-scoring power tools.
adidas Metalbone 3.4
This diamond-shaped sharpshooter is the latest to come out of the adidas stable, with padel great Ale Galán spearheading the inspiration for the design. And the sporting pedigree behind its inception shows.
It features the innovative Weight & Balance System, allowing precise customisation to suit your playing style. An extended power extra grip handle in tandem with the low-polyhedron design of the core and frame, gives the potential to tap into some serious power on your swings.
HYKO 360 – GOLD 12K
It’s designed for explosive power, high-spin potential and confident shot-making from every direction, giving you access to more forceful contact and sharper angles.
In other words, it’s ideal for aggressive, high-impact players who aren’t looking to pull any punches when they step onto the court. The 360 sports a 12K carbon-fibre face, making it a durable piece of tech. Plus, the diamond shape serves up generous and oh-so-satisfying sweet spots for hurtling returns.
Sueno Precision
Power is nothing without pinpoint shot placement. This racket will give you the edge, arming you with the accuracy you need to swing with confidence (and flair). The sand-finish surface gives you better grip and spin control, exactly what you want to keep your opponents guessing.
It’s also crafted with sturdy 18K carbon fibre, turning this into a reliable wingman that won’t crumble mid-game. We like the 360g to 370g weight range, which neatly evens the scales between power and control, so it’ll serve you admirably whether you play an aggressive, defensive or balanced game.
Babolat Technical Vertuo Juan Lebron 2.5
Designed in collaboration with WPT legend Juan Lebrón, this racket embodies the spirit of ‘El Lobo’ and delivers a remarkable balance of easy power, precision and unparalleled comfort.
A carbon frame and fibreglass face give the racket a smooth feel that extends beyond just its tactile finish. The highlight here is Babolat’s 3D Spin+ tech, which consists of raised patterns on the racket surface and a rough textured finish. As a result, you can tap into higher levels of spin and the next tier of control.
LÕK Carb-On Flow
In search of swift, precise responses on the court? This is your new win-chasing weapon. With 3D Spin Lines on the face designed to increase ball rotation on impact, you’ll smash into a more dynamic, unpredictable play style.
The Gradual Face design is also engineered to minimise vibrations, so there’ll be less turbulence as you move from one shot to the next. We also like the integration of additional carbon layers that help reinforce the racket for even more durability. (That means more court time, fewer shop runs.)
Cape Town Padel Co – Nr. 3 Diamond
This emerald green marvel doesn’t just look the part. With an 18K carbon surface and a medium-density EVA core (high density will usually give you more power but be less forgiving), it’s a balanced tool crafted for players looking for finesse on their shots without sacrificing too much firepower.
Plus, you’ll still have a strong smash thanks to the sharper edges of its diamond shape.
