Padel tennis is a dynamic and intellectual sport that combines elements of tennis and squash. It is distinguished not only by its dynamics and spectacularity, but also by its deep tactical content. In padel, the winner is not the one who hits harder, but the one who analyzes better, acts more accurately and interacts competently with the partner. Strategy, understanding of positioning and the ability to predict the actions of opponents play a key role here.
Padel is a combination of four sports. It inherited ricochets from the walls from squash, the counting and technique of strokes from tennis, the shape of the rackets from beach tennis, and the peculiarities of serving from table tennis. This makes padel a unique and versatile sport, accessible and interesting for players of different levels.
The padel court is smaller than the tennis court and has a size of 10x20 meters. It is surrounded by walls: 3 meters high on the sides and up to 4 meters high at the back. The walls play an important role - the ball can bounce off them, which opens up additional tactical possibilities. The net, installed in the center, divides the court into two parts and is 88 cm high.
The padel racket is shorter than in tennis and has no strings. Instead, a rigid surface with holes is used, usually made of carbon. This design gives more control over the ball and makes the racket maneuverable. For safety, a safety cord is attached to the wrist. The balls look like tennis balls, but are a little softer and lighter - thanks to this, the game becomes more accurate and controllable.
The matches are played in a "two on two" format. The serve is always made from the right square diagonally. The player must first release the ball onto the court, and then hit it at waist level or below. The serve is considered correct if the ball bounces off the court in the receiving square and does not hit the grid. After the first bounce, the ball can hit the walls - until the second touch of the floor, it remains in play. The scoring system is similar to tennis: 15, 30, 40 and game. A set is won with a score of 6 games with a lead of at least two, a match usually consists of three sets.
Despite the visual similarity to tennis, padel has a number of key differences. Firstly, the size of the court and the presence of walls change the style of play - here, precise interaction is important, not the force of the blow. Secondly, padel is easier to master: basic skills can be acquired already at the first training session, while tennis requires more time to start playing confidently.
Wide availability, moderate physical activity and entertainment make padel popular with a wide variety of people - from children to the elderly. You can start playing it from the age of five or six. Regular training has a beneficial effect on health: the work of the heart and breathing improves, coordination develops, and the musculoskeletal system is strengthened.
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