Follow along with the FP Movement team as we try new things, challenge ourselves, and get active.

Invented in Mexico in the 60’s, Padel is a sport that combines elements of racquetball, tennis and squash. Played on an enclosed court with solid, stringless rackets, the ball can be played off the walls, with scoring mirroring that of tennis. The first two Padel courts were created in a tennis club in Spain and, about a year later, the sport expanded into Argentina. Fast-forward nearly 20 years and The US Padel Association was formed in Tennessee – since then a handful of inaugurated courts have been added to the United States and the first ever Padel Club was opened in Pennsylvania – so of course we had to try it out!

So, on a nice and (unexpectedly) warm Tuesday we traveled to Bala Cynwyd to try out the world’s fastest growing sport.

Where We Went

Just a short 20-minute drive from our Home Office in the Navy Yard, our day began at PADELphia located inside AFC Fitness. This indoor club features three courts wrapped in glass walls and lined with soft turf. The space is super bright with high ceilings and a fun atmosphere that makes it hard to leave. PADELphia also has an outdoor location on Venice Island in the Manayunk neighborhood of Philadelphia – perfect if you’re looking for a little fun in the sun.

What We Did

After finding our way around the facility and into the Padel area, we secured a few tables while waiting on a few teammates. As we indulged in a few healthy and organic delicacies, we took in the view and talked about how stunning AFC Fitness was. Before we even started playing Padel I was convinced I somehow needed to secure a membership to this place.

Once the rest of the team joined us we grabbed our rackets and a few cans of balls, and split into three groups of 4. Walking onto the court I immediately took in the softness of the turf and the shiny glass walls that surrounded us. I had no idea what I was getting myself into but I was excited nonetheless. Our instructors decided that it would be best for us to “get a feel for things,” so we jumped right in and practiced our serves and volleys. Once we found our groove we thought it would be fun to play a few games while trying to keep score. It might seem super simple to hit a ball back and forth over a low net, but being able to utilize the walls really makes things so much harder, especially since the ball can bounce off the turf only one time before hitting it over the net. About halfway through our practice run, my doubles partner switched places with the instructor so I was now paired up with someone who actually knew what they were doing – it was definitely nerve wracking at first, thinking I was going to be the weakest link. It turned out that I really wasn’t that bad and it was super helpful having him there to give us little tips and tricks while we played. Overall, we laughed at our faults, cheered each other on, and even broke a sweat.

What We Learned

Padel is very interchangeable with tennis – most people who are good at tennis can easily transition to Padel, kind of like how marathon runners can make the switch into triathlon running. The equipment used in Padel is different from tennis, as the paddle is a solid material with no strings and is perforated; and the balls used, while similar to tennis balls, are slightly smaller and have less internal pressure so they don’t bounce off the court as easily. Games of Padel can vary greatly in time – as a novice they can be very short, but the better you get the longer the matches will last. On the court, pairs tend to move as if they’re attached. Pro tip: hitting the ball closer to the wall makes it harder for your opponent to return it.

While playing we quickly learned that little force is required when hitting the ball. On many occasions I found myself applying way too much power behind my hit, and knocked the ball out of the court and over the glass walls. Aim to guide the ball with your paddle, and the key to holding the racket is to act as if you’re shaking its hand and maintain a firm grip. Our instructor advised that a game can be “spiced up” by trying to make contact with the ball while it’s still in the air versus waiting until it comes to you or letting it bounce first (he referred to the latter as “playing slowly”). First and second serves should be made underhand, as the game is played upward, and consider aiming the ball up and over the net rather than straight across.

What We Thought

Most of us hadn’t played any type of racket sport in quite some time (or at all) but, overall, there was a collective excitement that filled the group before we started playing – afterwards that excitement had only grown. I can honestly say that I didn’t have high hopes for myself and I was convinced that I’d barely be able to make contact with the ball. But I ended up surprising myself with my abilities and that sentiment was one that we shared as a group. At its end, we found it hard to get off the courts. We definitely wanted to stick around and continue playing. Padel is designed to be easy for anyone to pick up and it’s meant to be enjoyable for everyone no matter their age or athletic ability. After this experience I can say that this sport is perfect for bringing people together and allows one to become good at it without extensive practice. In the nearly 2 hours that I played I came off the court feeling so confident, and I can’t wait to try it on the outdoor court during the warmer months.