Padel, how it was born and how it is carried out.

In 1969 Enrique Corcuera, a Mexican entrepreneur, wanted to build a tennis court in the courtyard of his house in Acapulco. Since the available space was limited and surrounded by walls, he decided to consider the walls as an essential part of the playing field. Thus was born padel, which has gained exponential membership in recent years. According to recent research, in Italy, the number of practitioners reached the figure of 1,2 million in 2020, with an increase of 489% compared to 2019.

The sport is played with a racket with a rigid plate and a ball similar to a tennis ball, but with a lower internal pressure, which allows greater control of shots and bounces on the banks. The padel ball has the possibility of bouncing off the walls, but not on the net, under penalty of losing the point: it can only bounce on each of the two courts once before being hit by the racket.

Il portal idealo carried out an analysis of the most suitable objects for practicing this sport: it emerges that the choice of shoes and rackets is fundamental, also because the stresses that the limbs undergo during the game are high.

Choosing shoes for padel

On a padel court, players tend to move mainly vertically and obliquely, the soles of the shoes are designed taking this flexion into account. The soles must ensure excellent grip, speed up and facilitate changes in direction: the ankles are extremely stressed, and manufacturers usually opt for a particular shape. The goal is to lock the ankles, and provide adequate protection, to minimize the risk of sprains. The soles can be herringbone, omni or mixed, and a correct choice guarantees a high level of cushioning, preventing the knees from making excessive efforts. For the rest, padel shoes are comparable to tennis models as regards the internal part and the upper.

Choosing padel rackets

The frame of the padel racket tends to vary between 350 and 390 grams: opting for a heavier racket, but with a low balance, allows you to have greater control than a lighter model but with a high balance. Along with the round models there are teardrop or diamond ones. The former are recommended for beginners, because the balance near the handle allows you to enjoy an effective grip and control your shots more easily. Those with more experience can opt for the diamond model, with the balance moved towards the upper part capable of guaranteeing very powerful shots.