The most popular padel balls in 2026, by what they're best for:

1. Wilson Premier Padel — the pro tour ball (~€7-9/can)
2. Head Padel Pro S+ — best-selling club ball (~€6-8/can)
3. Head Padel Pro — best for control / fast courts (~€6-8/can)
4. Bullpadel Premium Pro — best for power players (~€6-8/can)
5. Dunlop Pro Padel — best durability (~€5-7/can)
6. Kuikma PB Speed — best budget pick (~€3-5/can)

For most recreational players, any FIP-approved ball from these brands plays well. Pick a slow ball (Head Padel Pro) for fast or indoor courts, and a fast ball (Head Padel Pro S+, Wilson Premier Padel Speed) for slow or cold conditions.

Last updated: July 2026 · Prices are typical European street prices and shift with new stock — check current listings before buying.

What "Popular" Means for a Padel Ball

Balls don't get famous the way rackets do. Nobody posts an unboxing of a can of felt. So "popular" here means two things: which balls the pro tours put in play, and which cans club players actually reach for at the desk.

Those two lists don't fully overlap. The tour ball gets the cameras; the club ball gets the volume. Both matter, because the ball you learn on shapes how the game feels — pressure and bounce change everything on an enclosed court.

One thing every ball below shares: FIP approval. The International Padel Federation sets the specs — roughly 10-11 PSI of internal pressure and a 135-145 cm bounce when dropped from 2.54 meters. Every ball here meets them. The differences come down to felt, core pressure, and how long the bounce lasts.

Fast Ball vs Slow Ball: The One Thing to Get Right

Before the list, the distinction that trips up most players.

A slow ball has lower rebound. It suits fast surfaces and players who like to build the rally, because the court isn't adding extra pace. The Head Padel Pro is the classic example.

A fast ball bounces higher and keeps its liveliness on slow or cold courts, where a normal ball dies. The Head Padel Pro S+ and Wilson Premier Padel Speed are built for exactly this. If your winter games feel flat and dead, a fast ball fixes it.

Get this pairing right and a €6 can plays better than a €9 can used in the wrong conditions.

The 6 Most Popular Padel Balls of 2026

1. Wilson Premier Padel — The Tour Ball

• Price: ~€7-9/can of 3
• Type: Two versions — standard (fast courts) and Speed (slow/cold courts)
• Best for: Players who want to train with what the pros use

This is the most-watched ball in the sport. Wilson has been the official ball of Premier Padel since 2024, when the tour absorbed the old World Padel Tour and became padel's top global circuit. It comes in two versions: the standard Premier Padel ball for fast venues, and the Premier Padel Speed, which adds rebound for slower or colder courts. Both use Wilson's Dura-Weave felt for a consistent response off glass. If you play tournaments or just want the tour feel, this is the reference point.

2. Head Padel Pro S+ — Best-Selling Club Ball

• Price: ~€6-8/can of 3
• Type: Fast (livelier bounce)
• Best for: Club players, slow or humid courts

Head is the volume king at club level, and the Pro S+ is its workhorse. In 2026 it became the official ball of IPE by Madison — the world's largest amateur circuit — for its Spanish tournaments, which tells you how widely clubs trust it. The "+" version uses a reformulated core that holds pressure longer, so the bounce stays alive deeper into a match. It's a livelier, higher-bouncing ball, which makes it the smart pick for slow or humid courts where a control ball would go flat.

3. Head Padel Pro — Best for Control

• Price: ~€6-8/can of 3
• Type: Slow (lower rebound)
• Best for: Fast courts, indoor play, players who build points

The Pro S+'s calmer sibling. The standard Head Padel Pro is a slower ball with lower rebound, which is what you want on a fast or indoor court that's already adding pace. Point-builders love it because it rewards placement over raw power, and rallies last longer. Same trusted Head durability, just a quieter bounce. If your local courts play fast, this beats the S+.

4. Bullpadel Premium Pro — Best for Power Players

• Price: ~€6-8/can of 3
• Type: Fast
• Best for: Heavy hitters, players who attack with the smash

Bullpadel's Premium Pro is a fast ball with a high-density rubber core that holds pressure well and rewards players who like to finish points off the glass. It's a common sight at competitive club matches and tournaments. If your game runs through the smash and the víbora, the extra pace suits how you play. Note that Bullpadel outfits Premier Padel players and events with footwear and apparel, but the tour's official ball is Wilson — so don't buy this expecting the "official tour ball."

5. Dunlop Pro Padel — Best Durability

• Price: ~€5-7/can of 3
• Type: All-round
• Best for: High-volume players who hate changing balls mid-session

Dunlop's competition ball is the quiet value pick. It's FIP-approved and serves as the official ball of LTA Padel in Britain, and its strength is longevity — it holds pressure and felt a little longer than average, which matters if you play three or four sets in a sitting. Not the flashiest name on court, but if you want fewer trips to open a new can, Dunlop earns its spot.

6. Kuikma PB Speed — Best Budget Pick

• Price: ~€3-5/can of 3
• Type: Fast
• Best for: Beginners, practice sessions, anyone playing casually

Decathlon's in-house Kuikma line is still the budget king, and the PB Speed is FIP-approved despite costing roughly half what the tour ball does. For practice, warm-ups, or casual club games, there's no reason to spend more. The felt won't last as long as a premium ball under heavy play, but at this price you can afford to open a fresh can more often. If you're new to the sport, start here.

Also Worth Knowing

A few more balls show up often enough to mention. Adidas makes the Speed RX, a lively ball for players who want to keep the tempo high. Nox sells the Pro Titanium, a consistent performance ball favored by players loyal to the brand's rackets. And for outdoor play, Siux and Tretorn balls get picked for their control and comfortable feel in the wind.

None of these outsell the big four brands, but all are FIP-approved and worth a can if your club stocks them.

Which Ball Should You Actually Buy?

Match the ball to your court, not the logo.

• Fast or indoor courts → a slow ball like the Head Padel Pro
• Slow, cold, or humid courts → a fast ball like the Head Padel Pro S+ or Wilson Premier Padel Speed
• Tournament prep → the Wilson Premier Padel, so you train on the tour ball
• Playing three times a week → Dunlop Pro for durability, or buy Kuikma in bulk
• Just starting out → Kuikma PB Speed and don't overthink it

Whatever you pick, buy in bulk if you play regularly. Most retailers discount 12- and 24-can boxes by 15-20% per can, and every ball loses pressure the moment you crack the seal — so you'll always use the next one sooner than you think. For how long a set actually lasts and when to retire it, see our guide to padel balls vs tennis balls.

Coello and Agustín Tapia beat Ale Galán and Fede Chingotto 6-4, 6-3 to win the Valladolid P2 for the third straight year. The headline stat is absurd: this was their 25th consecutive final. Every tournament they enter, they make the final. Not most. All of them. They didn't drop a single service game in the entire tournament — for the second year running.

Galán and Chingotto pushed the first set to 5-4, but Tapia's spectacular smash on set point sealed it. The second set was clinical — Coello/Tapia broke late and closed it out in front of a crowd that came to crown their king. Coello was named men's MVP.

The women's final told a different story. Paula Josemaría and Bea González beat Ari Sánchez and Andrea Ustero 6-4, 6-2, with Josemaría claiming her second Valladolid title and the women's MVP. The margin surprised: Sánchez and Ustero had just beaten world #1s Gemma Triay and Delfi Brea in the semis for the third straight tournament.

That Sánchez/Ustero streak deserves its own paragraph. Three consecutive tournaments beating the top-ranked pair, only to fall short of the title each time. They've become the most dangerous pair in the draw — but dangerous and champion are different things.

Twenty-five consecutive finals. Three Valladolid titles. The question isn't who's the best pair in padel — it's whether anyone can make this season interesting.

Source: ABC, ValladolidDeporte

• The Observer calls padel an investment 'gold rush' — The UK's national Sunday paper ran a major padel feature this week. Players in Britain rose 125% in 2025 and clubs doubled to nearly 300. Padel racquet brand registrations surged 148% — 270 new padel brands vs just 23 tennis. Andy Murray, brother Jamie, and Annabel Croft invested in Game4Padel (valued at £27m) — the LTA called padel a "gateway drug" into tennis. (The Observer)

• India hits 100,000 padel players — franchise league backed by MS Dhoni — A market report projects India's padel market will grow 10x by 2036. There are 500 courts across the country, with Mumbai holding 75% of bookings. Cricket legend MS Dhoni and JSW's Parth Jindal are backing a franchise league modeled on India's Pro Kabaddi League. (Passionate In Marketing)

• Women's transfer market erupts — Two new partnerships confirmed ahead of Málaga P1. Veteran Alejandra Salazar splits from Ale Alonso to pair with Aranzazu Osoro; Alonso moves to red-hot Marina Guinart (back-to-back FIP Platinum winner). Four top-10 women's pairs reshuffled in a single week. (Padel Magazine)

• Qatar's Capstone Master sets record with 432 teams — The amateur tournament in Doha attracted 432 teams with a 3-year sponsorship deal from Capstone Property. Padel in the Gulf is no longer experimental — it's a commercial fixture. (The Peninsula Qatar)

• Pure Padel opens 5-court club in York — The new venue at Clifton Moor Retail Park launches in July with a full alcohol license. BBC covered the opening, marking padel's second York story in two weeks after a hotel announced plans to replace its tennis courts with padel. (BBC News)

Oysho Valladolid Premier Padel P2 — Valladolid, Spain

Men's Draw:

• 🥇 Coello / Tapia def. Galán / Chingotto 6-4, 6-3
• SF: Coello / Tapia def. Lebrón / Augsburger 6-4, 6-4
• SF: Galán / Chingotto def. Guerrero / Leal 6-4, 1-6, 6-3
• Surprise: Guerrero / Leal reached the semis for the 2nd straight year

Women's Draw:

• 🥇 Josemaría / González def. Sánchez / Ustero 6-4, 6-2
• SF: Sánchez / Ustero def. Triay / Brea 6-3, 7-6(2)
• SF: Josemaría / González def. Rodríguez / Dal Pozzo 6-0, 4-6, 6-4

MVPs: Arturo Coello (men) | Paula Josemaría (women)

Betclic Bordeaux Premier Padel P2 — June 28 – July 5, Patinoire Mériadeck, Bordeaux

Glass courts inside a converted ice rink. France's Premier Padel stop is becoming a permanent fixture on the calendar.

The big question: can anyone stop Coello/Tapia from consecutive final #26? Sánchez/Ustero will chase their first title after three straight near-misses. Several French players are in qualifying, and the Bordeaux crowd always delivers atmosphere.

New this year: Canal+ and Padel Mag TV will broadcast qualifying rounds — a first for Premier Padel P2 events.

After Bordeaux: Málaga P1 (dates TBC) — where Salazar/Osoro and Alonso/Guinart debut as new partnerships.

The Plaza Mayor in Valladolid was built in the 16th century and served as a model for Madrid's own famous square. When Premier Padel installs glass courts there, the temporary stadium sits in the same spot where bullfights were held in the 1600s. From toros to Tapia — Valladolid has always known how to put on a show.

Fran Guerrero — Spain, Men's ranking: outside top 20

Guerrero might be the most Valladolid-coded player on tour. For two years running, he and Javi Leal have turned the Plaza Mayor into their personal playground, reaching back-to-back semifinals against all odds. AS headlined his week with a single stat: he won more matches in Valladolid than in his entire 2026 season combined.

A fiery competitor who feeds off home crowds, his numbers at Valladolid defy everything else on his CV. File him under 'dangerous on home turf' — Castilla y León clearly unlocks something in him.

Twenty-five consecutive finals is historic. It's also starting to look like a problem for padel's growth.

When the men's #1 pair reaches every final, the outcome feels scripted. Tennis lived this with late-career Djokovic — dominance suppresses casual viewership because the drama dies. Padel is chasing global broadcast deals right now, and broadcasters pay for uncertainty, not coronations.

The women's draw had more drama this week than the men's has had all season. Maybe Premier Padel should start marketing the women's finals as the main event on championship Sunday. At least those keep you guessing.

Agree? Hit reply.

25 — Consecutive finals for Arturo Coello and Agustín Tapia. Every tournament they enter in 2026, they reach the final — no pair in professional padel history has pulled off this streak. For context, even Bela and Lima — padel's GOAT partnership — never strung together this many consecutive finals in their peak years.

The best padel gifts in 2026, by who you're buying for:

1. A padel mug with attitude — best affordable, can't-go-wrong gift (from ~€16.45 in The Padel Brief Shop)
2. "Sácame un café" mug — for the coffee-and-padel addict
3. "Mamá padelera" mug — for padel parents
4. "El padel es mi medicina" mug — for the one who plays through everything
5. A new racket (pala) — the biggest-impact gift, if you know their level
6. Overgrips + a tube of balls — the perfect sub-€10 stocking filler
7. A padel bag (paletero) — for the player still cramming gear into a backpack
8. Padel shoes — for anyone playing more than once a week
9. Lessons or club membership — the experience gift that beats another object
10. The full mug collection — for the superfan who already owns everything else

The cheats: under €20, a padel mug is the most giftable thing you can buy. Over €50 and you know their style, buy a racket. In between, gear they burn through — grips, balls, a bag.

How We Picked

We sorted gifts by recipient and budget rather than crowning one winner, because the perfect gift for a beginner who plays twice a month isn't the same as for someone whose racket costs more than their phone. We split the list into two honest buckets: personality gifts (things any padel player enjoys regardless of their gear) and equipment gifts (which only work if you know how they play).

Full disclosure: The Padel Brief publishes this guide and runs The Padel Brief Shop, so the mugs below are ours. We've included them only where they genuinely fit — the affordable, gear-agnostic, "they'll smile every morning" category — and given straight buying advice for the equipment we don't sell.

Personality Gifts (Safe Bets, Any Player)

1. "Eat, Sleep, Padel, Repeat" mug — the can't-go-wrong gift

• Price: ~€16.45 · Ships to: Spain (EUR)

If you only take one idea from this guide, take this one. A padel mug is the rare gift that's personal, useful, and impossible to get wrong — they don't need a specific racket weight or shoe size, they just need to love padel. The "Eat, Sleep, Padel, Repeat" mug is the cleanest version of the joke every padel obsessive will recognise.

2. "Sácame un café" mug — for the caffeine-powered player

• Price: ~€20.99 · Ships to: Spain (EUR)

For the friend whose pre-match routine is 90% espresso, the "Sácame un café" mug is a wink they'll get instantly. It's the gift for the player who treats the bar after the match as the real third set.

3. "Mamá padelera" mug — for padel parents

• Price: ~€16.45 · Ships to: Spain (EUR)

Some gifts are made for one specific person, and "Mamá padelera" is made for the padel mum who somehow fits three matches a week around everything else. A small, certain win for a birthday or Mother's Day.

4. "El padel es mi medicina" mug — for the one who plays through anything

• Price: ~€16.45 · Ships to: Spain (EUR)

We all know someone who books a court to fix a bad day. The "El padel es mi medicina" mug is for them — and if none of these four slogans quite fits, the full mug collection has more.

Equipment Gifts (Great, If You Know How They Play)

5. A new racket (pala) — the biggest-impact gift

The dream gift for a serious player, but the one most likely to miss if you guess. The rule of thumb: round-shaped rackets are more forgiving and control-focused (better for beginners and intermediates), while diamond-shaped rackets are powerful and demanding (for advanced players with a clean swing). Trusted brands include Bullpadel, Nox, HEAD, and Adidas Padel. If you're not sure of their level, this is the gift to skip — or pair with a gift receipt.

6. Overgrips and a tube of balls — the sub-€10 stocking filler

The most reliable small gift in padel. Every player wears through overgrips and pressurised balls go flat, so a multipack of grips plus a fresh tube is something they'll actually use within the week. Cheap, practical, never wasted.

7. A padel bag (paletero) — the practical upgrade

For the player still stuffing two rackets, shoes, and a water bottle into a normal backpack, a proper paletero is a genuine quality-of-life gift. Look for a thermal compartment (keeps rackets out of the heat) and a separate shoe pocket.

8. Padel shoes — for the frequent player

If they're on court more than once a week, dedicated shoes matter for grip and ankle support. Match the sole to where they play: herringbone soles for sanded/clay-style courts, omni soles for the artificial-grass courts most common in Spain.

Experience and "Has Everything" Gifts

9. Lessons or a club membership

Sometimes the best padel gift isn't an object at all. A block of lessons, a coaching session, or a few months of club membership gives them more of the thing they actually want: court time. Ideal for a beginner who's just caught the bug.

10. The full mug collection — for the superfan

For the player who already owns the racket, the bag, and the shoes, go back to personality. Let them choose their own slogan from the Padel Brief mug collection — the gear-agnostic gift even a fully-equipped player doesn't have yet.

How to Choose

Work backwards from two questions: how much do you want to spend, and how well do you know their game?

• Under €20, or you don't know their gear: a padel mug. Personal, useful, impossible to get wrong.
• €10 and practical: grips and balls — they'll use them this week.
• Over €50 and you know their level: a racket or a paletero.
• They have everything: lessons, court time, or let them pick their own mug.

The honest shortcut for almost everyone on your list: start in The Padel Brief Shop, pick the slogan that sounds most like them, and you're done.

The story broke via Sporting Goods Intelligence, the sporting goods industry's trade bible. According to multiple reports confirmed by Padel Magazine and PadelAddict, Nike has approached Tapia to become the face of their padel line. There's one problem: Nox CEO Jesús Ballvé confirmed that Tapia is under contract with the Spanish racket brand through the end of 2028.

Tapia isn't hiding his feelings. "It would be a dream for me," he told Padel Magazine when asked about the Nike rumors. That's about as public as contract drama gets in padel.

The move isn't random. In January 2026, Nike signed pickleball's #1 Anna Leigh Waters — their first-ever racket sport deal outside tennis. Now they're targeting padel's #1. Pattern recognized: Nike is building a portfolio that covers every court sport where a wall is involved.

It gets bigger. Reports suggest Nike is also eyeing Premier Padel's official technical partnership, currently held by Bullpadel through end-2026. If Nike replaces Bullpadel as the tour's equipment partner AND signs the world's best player, every competitor — Adidas, Head, Wilson, Bullpadel — would need to respond with real money, not just racket lines.

What happens next depends on the Nox contract. Two and a half years is a long time in padel, but Nike has the patience and the budget to wait. In the meantime, expect every brand in padel to be watching nervously.

Source: SGI Europe — Nike padel move: Nox contract blocks Agustín Tapia deal, Padel Magazine

• Women's padel takes the UN stage — Qatar Sports Investments, Premier Padel, and the FIP hosted a high-level event at the United Nations in Geneva championing women in sport. The headline number: equal prize money now applies across approximately 90% of tournaments on Premier Padel, the CUPRA FIP Tour, and FIP World Cups. No other professional sport can claim that level of parity across its entire tour structure. (Padel FIP)

• Reserve Cup Marbella makes history — Women competed in the Reserve Cup for the first time ever. Team Sierra Blanca Estates took the title, with Arturo Coello and Lara Arruabarrena named MVPs. Carlos Alcaraz showed up in the stands as a surprise guest. The city of Marbella renewed the event agreement through 2030. (El Neverazo)

• Paquito goes unfiltered — In a candid Mundo Deportivo interview, Paquito Navarro admitted: "Padel has evolved and our game is becoming a bit obsolete." The veteran also discussed his return with Di Nenno and his uncertain Spanish national team future. Separately, a viral hidden-camera video showed Paquito disguised as an 80-year-old man at an amateur club — the reactions were gold. (Mundo Deportivo)

• Manchester: UK's padel capital — The Padel Paper declared Manchester the UK's padel capital: 38 clubs, 145 courts, three destination venues. Meanwhile, a York hotel is replacing its tennis courts with padel (covered by the BBC), and Scotland's Highlands are getting their first court ever, via community funding in Kingussie. Padel is everywhere. (The Padel Paper)

No Premier Padel main tour results this week. Valladolid P2 qualifying started June 21.

Reserve Cup Marbella (Exhibition/Team Format — June 18-20, Puente Romano Beach Resort):

• 🏆 Team Sierra Blanca Estates won the title
• MVPs: Arturo Coello (men), Lara Arruabarrena (women)
• First women's competition in Reserve Cup history
• Carlos Alcaraz attended as guest spectator

Next Premier Padel event: Oysho Valladolid P2 — June 21-28, Plaza Mayor, Valladolid

Oysho Valladolid P2 starts now. Glass courts installed in Valladolid's iconic 16th-century Plaza Mayor — one of the most photogenic venues on the circuit. Men's draw: 28 pairs. Women's draw: 24 pairs.

Key storylines: Can Sánchez/Ustero carry their two-tournament momentum into a P2? Is there a men's pair outside the Big Four capable of winning? The P2 format gives lower-ranked players their best shot at a title — someone will seize it.

After Valladolid: Betclic Bordeaux P2 (June 29 – July 5), then Málaga P1 to close the first half.

Nike's only current connection to padel is completely unofficial. Argentine player Leo Augsburger — Juan Lebrón's partner — plays in Nike tennis shoes (the Vapor 12 Hypersmash) without any endorsement deal. If Nike signs Tapia, Augsburger might finally get a call too.

Lara Arruabarrena 🇪🇸

You might know the name from tennis — Arruabarrena reached world #52 on the WTA singles rankings before pivoting to padel. Now 34, she's proving the crossover works. Named MVP at the Reserve Cup Marbella this past weekend, she brought tennis-level athleticism and court coverage that separated her from the field. Originally from San Sebastián, she started playing padel competitively in 2024 and has risen rapidly. Her tennis background gives her an unusual weapon: a flat, aggressive forehand that most padel players simply don't possess. With the Reserve Cup now featuring women through 2030, expect Arruabarrena to be a fixture in these events.

Paquito Navarro saying "our game is becoming obsolete" isn't just honesty — it's a warning the sport should take seriously. Padel's evolution is accelerating so fast that players who were top-5 three years ago can't keep up. That's exciting for fans watching Coello and Tapia redefine what's possible. But it's brutal for the veterans. And it raises a question the sport hasn't answered: what happens to great players when the game leaves them behind at 30? Tennis has a Champions Tour. Padel has nothing. Should it?

Agree? Hit reply.

90% — That's the share of Premier Padel, CUPRA FIP Tour, and FIP World Cup tournaments that now offer equal prize money for men and women. QSI presented the figure at the United Nations in Geneva this week. For context, tennis — the sport padel is most often compared to — still doesn't match this across its entire tour structure. Padel is leading, not following, on gender pay equity.

The FIP's 2026 padel rulebook took effect on January 1, 2026. Five changes matter most:

1. Star Point — an optional sudden-death point at deuce, after two advantages
2. Safety cord penalty — break your wrist cord or drop the racket mid-point, lose the point
3. Clarified serve — the ball can't cross the service line before you hit it
4. New racket holes — peripheral holes can be non-circular, up to 20mm wide
5. A faster clock — strict 20-second enforcement and a 3-minute warm-up

Last updated: June 2026 · Rule details verified against the official FIP rulebook at time of writing.

Who Changed the Rules, and When

The International Padel Federation (FIP) published its updated rulebook in December 2025. The document is dated "Review of application 01.01.2026," and the rules apply to every FIP-sanctioned competition: Premier Padel, the CUPRA FIP Tour, and the FIP Beyond amateur circuit.

Most of the headlines went to one change. The rest fly under the radar but will still cost you points if you don't know them. Here's the full list.

1. The Star Point Lands at Deuce

The biggest change is how games end at 40-40. Padel used to trade advantages until one team won two points in a row. That could drag a single game past ten minutes.

The Star Point caps it. Teams play up to two advantage cycles, and if nobody converts, one sudden-death point decides the game. The receiving team picks which side takes the serve.

It sits between the two older options. Traditional advantage had no limit; golden point skipped advantage entirely and felt random. The Star Point splits the difference.

Tournaments choose between classic golden point and the Star Point, so club matches can keep playing however they like. We broke down the mechanics, the history, and the serve-side rule in our full Star Point guide.

2. Drop Your Racket, Lose the Point

This one surprised players. The wrist cord is no longer a formality.

Every padel racket needs a non-elastic cord, fixed in the handle, worn around the wrist, with a maximum length of 35cm. Its use is obligatory. Under the 2026 rules, breaking or detaching that cord during a point loses you the point. Dropping the racket does the same. The point simply goes to the other pair.

Before 2026 this was a grey area that triggered arguments. Now it's black and white. Check your cord before you play, because a frayed one can hand away a point at deuce.

3. The Serve Gets a Clearer Line

The serve clarification is subtle, and most players won't change a thing. The 2026 rulebook states that the ball must not cross the service line, or its imaginary extension, before you make contact with it.

The rest of the serve stays the same. You drop the ball, let it bounce, and strike it below waist height. The change mainly tightens enforcement for umpires, so pros feel it more than weekend players. If you toss the ball forward over the line and hit it there, that's now clearly a fault.

4. Racket Holes Get More Freedom

Equipment makers got a small win. Peripheral holes on the racket face — the ones near the frame edge — can now be non-circular shapes, as long as the diameter stays at or under 20mm.

That opens the door to new aerodynamic designs for the 2026 racket lineups. It won't change your game, but it explains the slotted and teardrop hole patterns appearing on this year's models.

5. The Clock Speeds Up

Padel wants to play faster, and the 2026 rules push pace in two ways.

First, the 20-second limit between points is now actively enforced. Stall in a sanctioned match and you'll get a warning, then a point penalty. Second, the pre-match warm-up drops from five minutes to three.

Both changes target tournament play. They keep matches tight for broadcasters and stop tactical time-wasting at key moments.

What It Means for You

If you play socially, three rules touch your game: the serve line, the safety cord, and the racket-hole spec on whatever pala you buy next. The Star Point and the strict clock are optional at club level.

If you compete under FIP rules, learn all five. The cord penalty alone can decide a tight match, and umpires are watching the serve line and the 20-second clock more closely than before.

For the bigger picture on how the pro circuit is structured this season, see our Premier Padel 2026 guide. New to the sport? Start with our padel rules for beginners.

The best padel newsletters in 2026, by what you're after:

1. Padel Mecca — best for the overall weekly news roundup
2. Padel Business Magazine — best for the industry and investors
3. Padel.fyi — best for gear and racket reviews
4. Padel Dynasty — best for improving your game
5. The Padel State — best for US padel
6. The Padel Brief — best free bilingual (EN/ES) weekly for fans
7. Padel Cluster — best bilingual option for industry pros

All seven are free to subscribe to. Most are weekly and English-only — the two bilingual options are The Padel Brief (weekly, for fans) and Padel Cluster (twice monthly, for professionals).

Last updated: June 2026 · Cadence and language confirmed at time of writing — check each newsletter's site for current details.

How We Picked

We looked for newsletters that are genuine email editions (not just a blog with a sign-up box), active in 2026, and clearly the best at one specific thing. Rather than crown a single winner, we sorted them by use case, because the best padel newsletter for an investor isn't the best one for a club player chasing tour results.

Full disclosure: The Padel Brief publishes this guide, and yes, we've included ourselves — in the one category we honestly fit. We've kept the rest of the list fair, and the simplest way to judge any of them is to subscribe and read a couple of editions yourself.

The 7 Best Padel Newsletters of 2026

1. Padel Mecca — Best for the Overall News Roundup

• Cadence: Weekly · Language: English · Price: Free

Padel Mecca's weekly roundup is the most complete general news digest in the sport. One edition might move from a league partnership to a new betting deal to a gear launch to on-court drama, which makes it the single best subscription if you only want one and you want to know everything. The breadth is the selling point — and occasionally the trade-off, if you only care about one corner of the sport.

2. Padel Business Magazine — Best for the Industry and Investors

• Cadence: Weekly · Language: English · Price: Free to subscribe

If your interest in padel involves spreadsheets, this is the one. PBM covers court construction, investment, sponsorship, manufacturers, and media rights, with interviews aimed at the people building the industry rather than the people watching it. It's the clearest pick for club owners, operators, and investors tracking where the money is going.

3. Padel.fyi — Best for Gear and Racket Reviews

• Cadence: Weekly (Thursdays) · Language: English · Price: Free

Padel.fyi is built for the player standing in a pro shop trying to choose. Every Thursday it delivers racket reviews, comparison guides, technique tips, and the occasional deal. If your padel questions are mostly "which racket should I buy" and "how do I fix my backhand," this is your inbox.

4. Padel Dynasty — Best for Improving Your Game

• Cadence: Weekly · Language: English · Price: Free

Where Padel.fyi leans gear, Padel Dynasty leans coaching. It's a five-minute weekly read on training, technique, the rules, and the occasional gear note, aimed squarely at players trying to get better rather than fans tracking the tour. Short, practical, and easy to keep up with.

5. The Padel State — Best for US Padel

• Cadence: Weekly · Language: English · Price: Free

American padel is growing faster than anywhere, and The Padel State's free weekly "State of the Game" is the best way to follow it. Expect club openings, US tournament news, and the business of padel's expansion across North America. If you play or invest stateside, it's essential.

6. The Padel Brief — Best Free Bilingual Weekly for Fans

• Cadence: Weekly · Language: English & Spanish · Price: Free

This is us, so read the rest with that in mind — but here's the honest case. The Padel Brief is the only free, weekly, fan-first newsletter that publishes natively in both English and Spanish. Each edition covers the top story, quick hits, weekend results, a player spotlight, and a hot take, written for club players and superfans rather than the boardroom. If you want one fun, opinionated weekly digest and you read in English or Spanish, subscribe here.

7. Padel Cluster — Best Bilingual Option for Industry Pros

• Cadence: Twice monthly · Language: English & Spanish · Price: Free

The other bilingual option, but with a very different audience. Padel Cluster sends a twice-monthly briefing in both English and Spanish, read by more than 1,500 professionals connected to the padel business. Less frequent and more industry-focused than The Padel Brief, it's the bilingual pick if your interest is the trade rather than the tour.

Also Worth a Look

A few more that didn't make the seven but are worth your inbox: Actu Padel for European news and results, Padel Magazine for culture and editorial, and The Bandeja for UK-focused coverage.

How to Choose

Start with what you actually want from padel. Fans who just want to follow the tour should pick a general digest — Padel Mecca if you read English, The Padel Brief if you want it bilingual and opinionated. Players trying to improve are better served by Padel.fyi or Padel Dynasty. Anyone with money or a business in the game should read Padel Business Magazine, and Americans should add The Padel State.

The good news: they're all free, so you don't have to choose just one. Subscribe to two or three for a week, see which ones you actually open, and unsubscribe from the rest.

The best padel players in the world in 2026, by FIP ranking:

Men's top 10: 1. Arturo Coello · 2. Agustín Tapia · 3. Alejandro Galán · 4. Federico Chingotto · 5. Juan Lebrón · 6. Leandro Augsburger · 7. Franco Stupaczuk · 8. Miguel Yanguas · 9. Jorge Nieto · 10. Francisco Navarro

Women's top 10: 1. Gemma Triay · 2. Delfina Brea · 3. Beatriz González · 4. Paula Josemaría · 5. Ariana Sánchez · 6. Claudia Fernández · 7. Andrea Ustero · 8. Sofía Araujo · 9. Tamara Icardo · 10. Marta Ortega

Coello and Tapia (men) and Triay and Brea (women) each share their tour's No. 1 spot, because both members of a fixed pair earn identical points.

Last updated: June 2026 · Men's ranking as of 15 June 2026, women's as of 8 June 2026 (FIP). Rankings update weekly — check the live FIP table for the latest.

How the Padel Rankings Work

FIP points are awarded to each player individually, based on how far they advance at each event over a rolling 12-month window. Because padel is a doubles sport and the top players keep a fixed partner, both halves of a pair bank the same points — which is why the No. 1 ranking is shared rather than held by one person. For the full breakdown of tiers and points, see our Premier Padel tour guide.

Two things stand out in the 2026 tables. At the top, two super-pairs have pulled clear of everyone else. Below them, a reshuffle of partnerships has thrown the rest of the top 10 wide open.

Men's Top 10: Best Male Padel Players of 2026

1. Arturo Coello (ESP) — 21,694 points

The 23-year-old is half of the most dominant pair the men's game has seen. With Tapia he has swept the biggest titles of 2026, including a comeback from 1-5 down in the Valencia P1 final tie-break. Raw power and a relentless net game make him the benchmark.

2. Agustín Tapia (ARG) — 21,694 points

Nicknamed "El Mozart" for his hands, Tapia shares the No. 1 spot with Coello — the two have played every match together over the last 12 months. His creativity is the perfect foil to Coello's force.

3. Alejandro Galán (ESP) — 17,669 points

A former long-time world No. 1, Galán is the clear best of the rest alongside Chingotto. The pair grabbed the 2026 Race lead during the spring and have stayed within touching distance of the summit.

4. Federico Chingotto (ARG) — 17,669 points

The tactical brain of the chasing pair. Since teaming with Galán in late 2024, Chingotto has turned an unlikely partnership into the season's success story, matching the leaders title for title at several events.

5. Juan Lebrón (ESP) — 7,800 points

A four-time former world No. 1, Lebrón rebuilt his ranking in 2026 with a new partner. The points gap to the top four is large, but his pedigree makes him the most dangerous floater in any draw.

6. Leandro Augsburger (ARG) — 7,039 points

The breakout of the season. Pairing with Lebrón, Augsburger climbed into the top six and signed the longest sponsorship deal in padel history. At his age, the arrow only points up.

7. Franco Stupaczuk (ARG) — 7,020 points

A left-handed power player reunited with Yanguas after their late-2024 surge. "Stupa" brings firepower from the back of the court that few can match.

8. Miguel Yanguas (ESP) — 6,947 points

The most exciting young Spaniard on tour. Alongside Stupaczuk, Yanguas has the shot-making to trouble anyone on his day, and sits a whisker behind his own partner.

9. Jorge Nieto (ESP) — 5,972 points

Nieto holds ninth, the line where the established names give way to the chasing pack fighting for seeding at the majors.

10. Francisco Navarro (ESP) — 5,907 points

A veteran shot-maker, "Paquito" Navarro rounds out the men's top 10 and remains one of the most experienced heads in the game.

Women's Top 10: Best Female Padel Players of 2026

1. Gemma Triay (ESP) — 17,794 points

The co-No. 1 has been the women's game's defining figure, on and off the court — she also stepped into the sport's governance as IPPA president. With Brea, she anchors the dominant women's pair.

2. Delfina Brea (ARG) — 17,794 points

The Argentine shares top spot with Triay. Brea's aggression and movement make their partnership the one every other pair is measured against.

3. Beatriz González (ESP) — 14,757 points

The top of the chasing pack. With Josemaría, González pushed for the Race No. 1 spot in 2026 and has the firepower to beat the leaders over three sets.

4. Paula Josemaría (ESP) — 14,069 points

One of the most complete players in the women's game. Alongside González she has traded blows with the leaders all season, sitting just behind her partner on points.

5. Ariana Sánchez (ESP) — 13,649 points

An elite all-court talent. With Ustero, Sánchez pulled off one of 2026's marquee results, beating Brea/Triay to take a title from the world No. 1 pair.

6. Claudia Fernández (ESP) — 12,007 points

A rising young star who has quickly established herself in the top six. Paired with Araujo, Fernández is one of the names most likely to break into the top four next.

7. Andrea Ustero (ESP) — 9,574 points

A breakthrough season alongside Sánchez has carried Ustero into the top seven, with her best results yet against the elite pairs.

8. Sofía Araujo (POR) — 7,579 points

Portugal's No. 1 and the highest-ranked woman from outside Spain and Argentina, proof of how fast padel's talent base is widening.

9. Tamara Icardo (ESP) — 6,339 points

A consistent top-10 presence who keeps banking deep runs to hold her place among the world's best.

10. Marta Ortega (ESP) — 6,249 points

Ortega rounds out the women's top 10, one of the Spanish contingent pushing to climb in the second half of the season.

The Storylines Behind the Numbers

Two super-pairs own the top of both tours, and the points gaps say it all: Coello/Tapia lead the men by more than 3,000 points, and Triay/Brea hold a similar cushion in the women's game. Beating them takes a near-perfect three sets, which is exactly why Sánchez/Ustero's win over the women's No. 1 pair was the upset of the season so far.

The more interesting battle is from fifth place down, where new 2026 partnerships — Lebrón with Augsburger, Stupaczuk with Yanguas — are still settling. Those points totals are bunched tight, so a single strong tournament can swing three or four ranking places. Bookmark the live FIP rankings if you want to track it week to week.

Down 1-5 in the third-set tie-break. Ale Galán and Fede Chingotto needing one point to win the Valencia P1. The crowd at La Fonteta holding its breath. And then - six of the next seven points went to the world number ones. The final score: 6(4)-7, 6-1, 7-6(6). Back-to-back titles after Rome.

The match was a rollercoaster from the first set. No breaks of serve in the opener - decided on a tie-break that went to Chingotto/Galán. Coello/Tapia responded with a 6-1 second set that felt like a different match. Then came the third set chaos. Chingotto/Galán broke for 5-3 and served for the title. Couldn't close it. Coello/Tapia broke back, held, and forced the tie-break. Then fell behind 1-5.

What happened next will be replayed for years. Point by point, Tapia and Coello clawed back. Smash by smash, the momentum shifted. At 8-6, it was over. Their 36th meeting — and the most dramatic yet.

In the women's final, Ari Sánchez and Andrea Ustero beat Claudia Fernández and Sofía Araújo 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 for their second title of 2026. Fernández and Araújo deserve recognition — they beat 6th seeds Calvo/Ortega in the semis and reached their first final of the season, pushing Sánchez/Ustero to three sets. A breakout tournament for both. But the semifinal was the real headline. Sánchez/Ustero defeated the number one pair Gemma Triay and Delfi Brea 7-5, 2-6, 6-4 - ending their run of 13 consecutive finals.

One week after breaking Josemaría/González's 22-match winning streak in Rome, Sánchez/Ustero ended Brea/Triay's finals run in Valencia. Two different #1/#2 pair streaks broken in two weeks. That's not a coincidence. That's a pair hitting their peak at exactly the right time.

Coello/Tapia now have four 2026 titles. Sánchez/Ustero have two - plus the confidence that comes from beating everyone.

Source: El Neverazo - Remontada y título Tapia/Coello, Marca - Sánchez/Ustero ratifican recuperación

• FIP announces 2027 rule changes - more prize money for early rounds, top players barred from lower tours - The biggest structural change: top-4 players can't enter FIP Gold events, top-24 men/top-20 women excluded from Silver. Early-round ranking points increase at Major/P1/P2 level. Counting tournaments drop from 22 to 21. Player welfare is the headline - but protecting lower-ranked players' pathways might matter more long-term. (Padel FIP)

• UK padel takes over warehouses - 1M+ sq ft leased in 18 months, Segro joins the LTA - Padel operators have leased over 1 million square feet of UK industrial space in the last 18 months, up 390% year-on-year. CoStar now tracks padel as a "distinct occupier category" alongside logistics and data centres. FTSE 100 property giant Segro has partnered with the LTA. When commercial real estate analysts start tracking your sport, it's not a trend anymore. (City AM)

• The 59x gap: padel vs tennis prize money gets quantified - The Italy Major winner earned €47,250 per player. Roland Garros singles winner earned €2,800,000. That's a 59x gap - widening to 88x at first-round level (€984 vs €87,000). The Italy Major was padel's first event to break €1M total prize pool. Progress? Yes. Enough? Not even close. (Skull Padel)

• Canada's padel moment arrives - CBC feature, first national championship in 2027 - Canada's national broadcaster aired a major padel feature. The Canadian Padel Association announced a 2027 national championship with a $500,000 prize pool. From a chicken-wire court in Calgary in 1992 to a half-million-dollar national tournament - padel's 35-year Canadian journey is finally accelerating. (CBC News)

• The Galán-Lebrón handshake refusal is the story nobody wanted — The Valencia P1 semifinal between Chingotto/Galán and Lebrón/Augsburger ended without a handshake. During the match, Galán complained that Lebrón spoke to him mid-point. Lebrón was also seen urging Augsburger to hit Galán directly in the chest. Galán called it "bochornoso" — shameful. Lebrón refused the post-match handshake with the chair umpire too. Both players have their perspective and neither has been officially sanctioned. But whatever the rights and wrongs, a no-handshake moment between two of padel's biggest names — broadcast globally — is not a good look for a sport trying to grow its audience and attract new fans. (Marca, Padel Tonic)

• Smash Padel secures £1.25M to go from 5 to 20 UK sites - The coaching-led operator raised from Middleton Enterprises. Taunton opens this summer, three more sites by year-end. The pitch: grow the sport first, monetise second. A different model from the court-booking operators dominating UK padel. (Business News Wales)

Valencia P1 - June 6-14, La Fonteta, Valencia 🇪🇸

Men's Draw:

• Final: Coello/Tapia (1) def. Chingotto/Galán (2) - 6(4)-7, 6-1, 7-6(6) 🏆
• SF: Coello/Tapia def. Stupaczuk/Yanguas 6-2, 6-2
• SF: Chingotto/Galán def. Lebrón/Augsburger 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 (comeback from a set down)

Women's Draw:

• Final: Sánchez/Ustero (3) def. Fernández/Araújo (4) - 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 🏆
• SF: Sánchez/Ustero def. Brea/Triay (1) 7-5, 2-6, 6-4 ⭐ (ends 13-final streak)
• SF: Fernández/Araújo def. Calvo/Ortega (6) 6-3, 6-2
• Upset: Fassio/Eugenio def. Salazar/Alonso (7) in R1

Valladolid P2 - June 22-28 - One-week break before the tour heads back to Spain. Outdoor courts this year (last year's edition was indoors). Lower prize money (€264,534) but key Race points.

After Valencia, the story to watch is whether Sánchez/Ustero's two-week dominance carries into a P2. Josemaría/González need a response after the Rome marathon loss. Brea/Triay haven't lost two consecutive tournaments all season - how they rebound defines the summer.

For the men, Chingotto/Galán carry the mental weight of two consecutive final losses. A P2 is the perfect reset opportunity. After Valladolid: Bordeaux P2, then Málaga P1, Pretoria, and London to close the first half.

Broadcast: Premier Padel YouTube (early rounds), Red Bull TV (QF onwards).

Padel operators have now leased more UK warehouse space than the entire Sheffield retail park sector did in 2025. A 60,000 sq ft Padel Bonito lease near Sheffield - where steel once defined the economy - now houses padel courts instead. The sport is repurposing Britain’s industrial heritage.

Andrea Ustero 🇪🇸 | Age: 19 | Ranking: #7 | Position: Right side

Two weeks that changed everything. Ustero helped break Josemaría/González's 22-match winning streak in Rome's 4-hour marathon. Then she ended Brea/Triay's 13-final streak in Valencia before winning the title. Partner Ari Sánchez says her ceiling is "still very high." At 19, she's the youngest player among the top-8 women's pairs - and the one improving fastest. Remember the name.

The 1-5 to 8-6 comeback might have broken Chingotto and Galán psychologically. Not today, not this week - but over time.

When your rivals come back from match point in a tie-break, something changes. You stop trusting your leads. You tighten up at 5-3 with serve. You remember the time you had it won and didn't close. Tennis has a name for this phenomenon: the Federer-Djokovic 2019 Wimbledon effect. Chingotto/Galán are now carrying the weight of Rome plus this. Two consecutive finals lost. The rivalry H2H still slightly favors them in 2026 - but momentum doesn't care about spreadsheets.

Will they bounce back in Valladolid? Or will the doubt creep in?

5 — The number of match points Chingotto/Galán had to win the Valencia final. They didn't convert a single one. In a padel tie-break, the first to 7 wins (with a 2-point margin, or sudden death at 6-6). Being 1-5 down means you've already survived five match points. Coello/Tapia then won seven straight to close it 8-6. That's the number to understand — not the scoreline, but what it took to survive it.

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© 2026 The Padel Brief | thepadelbrief.com

The best intermediate padel rackets in 2026, by use case:

1. Nox AT10 Pro Cup Soft — best all-rounder (~€190-220)
2. Head Extreme Team — best for adding power (~€190-220)
3. Nox Equation Soft Advanced — best budget pick (~€120-140)
4. Adidas Metalbone Team — best for spin (~€180-210)
5. Lok Easy Flow Gen 2 — best sweet spot / forgiveness (~€180-200)
6. Oxdog Hyper Tour X 2.0 — best value pick (~€130-180)

For most players moving up from a beginner frame, pick a teardrop shape, 360-375g, with a soft-to-medium EVA core. It keeps the forgiveness you still need while giving you the spin and power your technique is starting to earn.

Last updated: June 2026 · Prices are typical European street prices and shift as new models launch — check current stock before buying.

What Changes at the Intermediate Level

A beginner racket is built to forgive you. An intermediate racket starts to reward you — but only when you hit it cleanly.

Three things change as you move up. Faces switch from all-fibreglass to carbon or hybrid, which adds ball speed and feedback. Cores get firmer, so the ball leaves faster. And shapes shift the balance point higher, which trades some sweet spot for punch. The catch: all three demand more consistent contact than a beginner frame does.

So the goal at this stage isn't the most powerful racket you can find. It's the one that nudges your game forward without punishing the mishits you still make under pressure.

How to Choose an Intermediate Racket

Shape. Teardrop is the default for a reason — it sits between the control of a round frame and the power of a diamond. Round still wins for pure control and the largest sweet spot. Diamond adds smash power but punishes off-centre hits, so only go diamond if your overhead is already a weapon.

Weight. Stay between 360 and 375g. Below 360g feels quick but flimsy on smashes; above 375g adds power but tires your arm and raises the risk of tennis elbow, the most common padel injury. Most 2026 intermediate frames land at 360-370g.

Core. A soft-to-medium EVA core is the comfortable middle ground. Soft cores absorb shock and protect your elbow; firm cores hit harder but transmit more vibration. If you play twice a week or more, lean soft.

Surface finish. A rough or sanded face grips the ball for spin. If you're starting to hit the bandeja and víbora, a textured surface is worth more than a few extra grams of power.

The 6 Best Intermediate Padel Rackets of 2026

1. Nox AT10 Pro Cup Soft 2026 — Best All-Rounder

• Price: ~€190-220
• Shape: Teardrop
• Weight: 360-375g
• Core: HR3 Soft EVA (medium-soft)
• Best for: Players who want one racket for every situation

This is the racket most intermediate players should start with. The teardrop shape and soft HR3 core give you a wide margin for error while still letting you attack when the ball sits up. It's the more forgiving sibling of Agustín Tapia's pro frame, tuned for players who haven't yet grooved a perfect swing. Nothing about it is specialised, and that's the point.

2. Head Extreme Team 2026 — Best for Adding Power

• Price: ~€190-220
• Shape: Diamond (forgiving)
• Weight: 360g
• Core: EVA with a fibreglass face
• Best for: Control players ready to start finishing points

Head builds the entire Extreme 2026 line around power, and the Team is the entry point — Head itself calls it a "comfortable entry into the world of power rackets." It's a diamond, so the balance sits high for smash punch, but the fibreglass face and lower 265 balance make it far more forgiving than the Extreme Pro or One. If you win on placement now and want to add a finishing shot, this is the safest way in.

3. Nox Equation Soft Advanced 2026 — Best Budget Pick

• Price: ~€120-140
• Shape: Round
• Weight: 360-375g
• Core: HR3 Soft EVA
• Best for: Control players on a budget, or anyone protecting their elbow

You don't need to spend €300 to play well. The Equation Soft Advanced is a round, control-first frame with a soft core and a maneuverability rating near the top of its class. It won't generate free power, so big hitters will outgrow it — but for placement, comfort, and value, nothing here beats it under €140.

4. Adidas Metalbone Team 2026 — Best for Spin

• Price: ~€180-210
• Shape: Diamond
• Weight: 360-375g
• Core: EVA Soft Performance
• Best for: Players learning to brush the ball for spin

The Metalbone Team pairs a Spin Blade GRITT sand-finish surface with a soft EVA core, so it bites the ball without beating up your arm. Adidas pitches it as a control racket for intermediates moving toward a more aggressive style, and the octagonal carbon structure keeps hits precise. If your priority is spin on the serve and overheads, this is the pick.

5. Lok Easy Flow Gen 2 2026 — Best Sweet Spot

• Price: ~€180-200
• Shape: Round
• Weight: 360-375g
• Core: Soft EVA with a flex carbon face
• Best for: Players who still mishit under pressure

Lok is a newer name, but the Easy Flow Gen 2 earns its spot on forgiveness alone — its sweet spot is the largest in this guide. The round head and flexible face mean off-centre balls still go where you aim. If consistency is the thing holding your game back, a bigger sweet spot fixes more rallies than extra power ever will.

6. Oxdog Hyper Tour X 2.0 2026 — Best Value Pick

• Price: ~€130-180
• Shape: Teardrop
• Weight: ~363g
• Core: EVA Medium
• Best for: Players who want one do-everything racket without a big-brand premium

Oxdog isn't a household name yet, but the Hyper Tour X 2.0 is the kind of frame that wins people over. The teardrop head and medium EVA core sit right in the intermediate pocket — forgiving enough to trust, firm enough to reward a clean hit with real pop. Its Double Size Holes perforation widens the playable area beyond the sweet spot, and the even 260mm balance keeps it quick at the net. If the soft Nox all-rounder feels too tame and you want more ceiling for less money, this is the pick.

Should You Upgrade From Your Beginner Racket Yet?

Only if your technique has caught up. The honest test: can you hit the middle of the face most of the time, even when you're stretched? If yes, the extra spin and power of a carbon frame will pay off. If you're still spraying balls off the frame, a forgiving round racket like the Equation Soft Advanced or Lok Easy Flow will serve you better than a stiff diamond.

If you're not sure where you sit, our beginner padel racket guide covers the level below — and there's no shame in staying there until your swing is ready.

Arturo Coello and Agustín Tapia beat Federico Chingotto and Alejandro Galán 7-5, 7-6(5) in a men's final that lived up to its "Clásico" billing. Chingotto/Galán had won four straight meetings and two consecutive Rome titles. This time, the world #1s found their level: 58 winners against 21 unforced errors. Coello called it "a special victory" while Tapia dropped a staggering stat — this was their 23rd consecutive final.

Twenty-three. In a row.

On the women's side, Delfi Brea and Gemma Triay defeated Ari Sánchez and Andrea Ustero 6-1, 7-5 to win back-to-back Rome titles. But the real story happened 24 hours earlier.

Sánchez and Ustero played the longest match in Premier Padel history to beat Paula Josemaría and Bea González 5-7, 7-6, 7-6 in the semifinal. Four hours and 12 minutes. They saved four match points. Four. Two at 6-5 in the second set, one at 8-7 in the tiebreak, one at 6-5 in the deciding-set tiebreak. Josemaría/González's 22-match winning streak and five consecutive titles evaporated in one extraordinary night.

The exhaustion showed in the final — Sánchez/Ustero dropped the first set 1-6 — but nothing can take away what they achieved. That semifinal is an instant classic.

Triay was candid: "Winning this tournament is very important after losing five finals consecutively. Reaching #1 is very hard, but defending it is harder."

Over 9,000 fans packed the Foro Italico for finals night. Rome remains padel's grandest stage.

Source: Padel Addict — Italy Major finals, Padel FIP — Historic semifinal

• Giulia Dal Pozzo makes Italian history — The 21-year-old became the first Italian player ever to reach a Premier Padel Major semifinal. Partnering with Nuria Rodríguez, she won 10 consecutive games in her QF comeback before falling to Brea/Triay 3-6, 3-6 in the semis. At world #50, she's Italy's biggest padel hope — and the Foro Italico crowd let her know it. (Padel Tonic)

• Momo González cries, then conquers — González and Lucas Campagnolo were the tournament's giant-killers, upsetting 3rd seeds Stupaczuk/Yanguas 6-4, 7-6, then beating the reunited Navarro/Di Nenno 6-3, 6-3 in the QF. González was in tears after avenging a loss to Stupaczuk/Yanguas from just one week earlier in Albania. Their run ended in the SF against Coello/Tapia. (Padel FIP)

• "We don't live with dignity" — Rafa Méndez's viral rant — Spanish player Rafa Méndez (world #114) broke down the economics of being a pro padel player: €1,900 first-round Major payout, €1,300 flight to Argentina, €3,000-4,000 monthly expenses. His conclusion: "It's impossible to be a true professional." The video, sparked by the pro-amateur pairing controversy at FIP Platinum Albania, went viral on Marca. (Marca)

• Tatler Asia + Standard Chartered launch padel in Asia — The Tatler Padel Series 2026 will travel across Dubai, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Bangkok over six months. Standard Chartered and Club Med are backing it. When a major international bank sponsors padel in Asia, the sport has crossed a credibility threshold. (MENAFN)

• Padel arrives in Kenya and Seattle — Two expansion stories from opposite ends of the spectrum: Carrefour Kenya hosted its inaugural Open Padel Tournament in Nairobi (June 4-7), while Jam Padel opened Seattle's first padel facility in Bellevue, right next to Meta's campus. Founding memberships: $1,200-2,200. (Soko Directory, Downtown Bellevue)

BNL Italy Major — Foro Italico, Rome

🏆 Men's final: Arturo Coello / Agustín Tapia (1) def. Federico Chingotto / Alejandro Galán (2) — 7-5, 7-6(5) SF: Chingotto/Galán def. Lebrón/Augsburger — 7-6, 6-3 SF: Coello/Tapia def. González/Campagnolo — 6-1, 6-4

🏆 Women's final: Delfi Brea / Gemma Triay (1) def. Ari Sánchez / Andrea Ustero (3) — 6-1, 7-5 SF: Brea/Triay def. Dal Pozzo/Rodríguez — 6-3, 6-3 SF: Sánchez/Ustero def. Josemaría/González (2) — 5-7, 7-6, 7-6 ⭐ (4h12m)

Notable upsets: González/Campagnolo def. Stupaczuk/Yanguas (3) 6-4, 7-6 | González/Campagnolo def. Navarro/Di Nenno (6) 6-3, 6-3 | Dal Pozzo/Rodríguez def. Fernández/Araújo (4)

Valencia P1 starts today (June 8-14). Back-to-back with Rome means fatigue will be a factor. Coello/Tapia and Chingotto/Galán are top seeds. Watch for early upsets — the top pairs just played a grueling Major week.

Key storyline: can González/Campagnolo carry their Rome momentum? And how do Sánchez/Ustero recover from a 4h12m semifinal? Physical recovery is one thing; mental recovery after saving four match points and then losing the final might be harder.

Valencia main draw men's 1st round: today. Women's main draw starts Tuesday. Stream on Premier Padel YouTube.

The Italy Major semifinal between Sánchez/Ustero and Josemaría/González (4h12m) lasted longer than the 2025 Italy Major women's final and both its semifinals combined. The previous Premier Padel record? Exactly 4 hours — Milan P1 2024, Riera/Borrero vs Saiz/Lobo.

Nationality: Italian | Ranking: World #50 | Age: 21

Dal Pozzo just became the first Italian player to reach a Major semifinal — in her home country, at the Foro Italico, with 9,000 fans cheering her name. She plays with Nuria Rodríguez and is known for an aggressive style that feeds off crowd energy.

Her QF comeback — winning 10 consecutive games after trailing 3-1 in the second set — showed a competitive fire that can't be taught. At 21, she's the face Italian padel has been waiting for. One to watch closely for the rest of 2026.

Giulia Dal Pozzo's semifinal run matters more for padel's future than Coello/Tapia winning another title. The sport desperately needs local heroes in its expansion markets. Spain and Argentina dominate padel the way Brazil dominates football — completely. But for the sport to grow globally, it needs faces from host nations.

A 21-year-old Italian reaching a Major SF at the Foro Italico with the crowd behind her is worth more than any marketing campaign Premier Padel could buy. If padel can produce a Dal Pozzo in Italy, it needs to figure out how to produce the equivalent in the UK, the US, and Asia. Local heroes build fandoms. Everything else is infrastructure.

Agree? Hit reply.

4h 12m — The longest match in Premier Padel history. Ari Sánchez and Andrea Ustero saved four match points to end Josemaría/González's 22-match winning streak in a semifinal that rewrites the record books.

Source: Padel FIP

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Yes, padel is a genuinely good workout. A match holds your heart rate at 140-160 bpm — roughly 70-80% of maximum — for most of the session, which is moderate-to-vigorous aerobic exercise by any health guideline. You'll cover 2,500-3,800 metres and make 600-plus accelerations and direction changes in a single match, burning an estimated 400-700 calories an hour. It trains your legs, core, and shoulders together, and it does it without the relentless sprinting of singles tennis. The catch: it's aerobic and uneven, so it complements strength training rather than replacing it.

Last updated: June 2026 · Physiological figures sourced from peer-reviewed systematic reviews; calorie estimates derived from standard metabolic equivalents.

How Hard Is Padel, Really?

The honest measure of a workout isn't how tired you feel — it's what your heart and lungs are doing. On that score, padel holds up well.

Across the research, mean heart rate during a match lands at 140-160 bpm, about 70-80% of maximum, with peaks near 180 bpm on long rallies (narrative review, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health). That's the zone fitness guidelines call moderate-to-vigorous — the same target you'd aim for on a brisk run or a spin class.

Oxygen use tells the same story. Players work at 40-50% of their VO2 max during play, with measured VO2 max values of 43-59 ml/kg/min in men and 40-53 in women (systematic review, Martín-Miguel et al., 2025). Padel doesn't max out your engine, but it keeps it running steadily for an hour or two.

The movement load is where it gets interesting. One match means roughly 2,500-3,800 metres covered, over 600 accelerations, and around 420 metres of explosive distance (activity-profile systematic review, Kinesiology). Rallies last 10-15 seconds with a work-to-rest ratio near 1:1.2 — short bursts, brief recovery, repeated for the whole match. That intermittent pattern is exactly what makes it accessible: you're never sprinting flat-out, but you rarely stop.

How Many Calories Does Padel Burn?

Here's where you should be slightly skeptical of round numbers. Most "padel burns 800 calories" claims come from fitness blogs, not labs — the studies measure heart rate and oxygen, not calorie output.

A defensible estimate uses metabolic equivalents (METs). Intermittent racket sports run around 6-7 METs. For a 75kg player, that works out to roughly 450-550 calories an hour; a lighter player burns less, a heavier or more competitive one more. The realistic range:

• Recreational social game: ~400-500 calories/hour
• Competitive match, longer rallies: ~600-700 calories/hour

So the popular "500-800" figure isn't fantasy, but the top end only applies to fit players in fast, full matches. Treat 400-700 as the honest window.

Which Muscles Does Padel Work?

Padel is a full-body effort, but the load isn't evenly spread.

Legs do the heavy lifting. The 600-plus accelerations, lunges to dig out low balls, and constant push-offs hammer the calves, quads, and glutes. This is also why calf tears are one of the most common padel injuries — the forward lunge is explosive and repetitive.

The core works on every overhead. Trunk rotation on the bandeja, víbora, and smash, plus the rapid changes of direction, load the abdominals and lower back continuously rather than in big single efforts.

The shoulders and forearms take the upper-body share. Serving and hitting overheads every couple of minutes loads the rotator cuff, while wall shots and backhands work the forearm extensors.

What padel doesn't do is build raw strength. The resistance is your own bodyweight and a 360g racket — useful for muscular endurance, not for getting stronger.

What Padel Does for Your Fitness Over Time

Single matches are one thing; what does regular play actually change? The research on recreational players is encouraging, if still early.

Women who play padel regularly show lower waist and hip measurements, better balance, stronger abdominal endurance, and higher cardiovascular capacity than sedentary peers (narrative review, PMC9180804). Male recreational players post good marks for cardiorespiratory fitness, upper-body power, handgrip strength, speed, and agility.

Francisco Pradas, a sports-science professor at the University of Zaragoza who studies the sport, puts it bluntly: padel "could become the best tool in the 21st century to combat sedentary lifestyles" (National Geographic). The reason is adherence — people show up for padel two to three times a week because it's fun and social, and the workout that actually happens beats the perfect one you skip.

The Brain Workout Nobody Mentions

Padel taxes more than your legs. Tracking the ball off two glass walls, reading your partner, and timing a volley keeps your brain busy the whole match.

There's early biological evidence for this. A study measuring blood markers after competition found padel raised BDNF — brain-derived neurotrophic factor, a protein tied to brain health and learning (International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health). The constant spatial problem-solving is part of why players describe padel as mentally absorbing in a way a treadmill never is.

Where Padel Falls Short

A fair answer needs the downsides. Padel is moderate-intensity, not maximal — if you want peak cardiovascular load, squash and badminton push heart rates higher. It builds almost no maximal strength, so it won't replace the gym.

And it carries a real injury cost. Around 85% of regular players report an injury at some point, with tennis elbow and calf tears leading the list. The uneven, rotation-heavy load is the trade-off for an accessible, fun sport. A proper warm-up and twice-weekly strength work are the fix, not optional extras.

How to Get the Most Out of It

Want padel to count as your main cardio? Play two to three times a week, 60-90 minutes a session — the frequency the research links to fitness gains. Warm up for ten minutes first; it cuts injury risk sharply and lets you play harder, longer.

Then add two short strength sessions a week aimed at calves, core, and rotator cuff. That covers padel's blind spot and keeps you on the court instead of on the sidelines. Done that way, padel is one of the rare workouts you'll actually look forward to.

Start with the men's draw. Fede Chingotto and Ale Galán (2) are chasing a third consecutive Rome title. No pair has ever won three straight at the same Major. They've won five tournaments in 2026 and trail Arturo Coello and Agustín Tapia (1) by just 2,360 ranking points. A title here could flip the #1 ranking.

Then there's the reunion. Paquito Navarro and Martín Di Nenno (6) are back together full-time, five years after their original partnership. They were finalists in the very first Italy Major in 2022 - and Rome is where they'll start this new chapter. "Paquito is going to bring out the best in me again," Di Nenno told Padel Addict. The nostalgia is real, and so is the intrigue.

The women's draw carries its own weight. Delfi Brea and Gemma Triay (1) defend the title they won last year - the victory that put Triay back at world #1, where she's stayed ever since. Standing in their way: Paula Josemaría and Bea González (2), riding a five-consecutive-title streak that nobody has been able to stop.

And then there's Ale Salazar. The legend is making her final Foro Italico appearance before retiring at season's end. She just reached the FIP Platinum Albania final with Ale Alonso - proving she can still compete at a high level. Her farewell in Rome hits different. This isn't about points.

Projected men's QFs: Coello/Tapia vs Garrido/Bergamini, Di Nenno/Navarro vs Stupaczuk/Yanguas, Lebrón/Augsburger vs Nieto/Sanz, and Leal/Guerrero vs Chingotto/Galán. The bracket is loaded.

Source: Premier Padel - Italy Major draws, Padel Addict - Di Nenno interview

• Global Padel Report: 19.4 million players, 58,334 courts - The 2026 Playtomic × PwC report dropped at the Padel World Summit with massive numbers. In 2025 alone, nearly 5,000 new clubs and 8,000 courts were added worldwide. The US is emerging as a "luxury market" with 250 new clubs last year, growth clustered in Florida, Texas, and California. Pickleball? The report frames it as a gateway to padel, not a competitor. (Sports Business Journal)

• Padel World Summit smashes records - Barcelona's PWS closed its third edition with 7,208 attendees (up 20%), 1,175 business meetings, and 140 exhibitors from 30+ countries. Startup winners: VAM-OS (club finance), CourtBrain (bookings), and Bopa (ball re-pressurization). Next edition confirmed for May 4-6, 2027. (Mundo Deportivo)

• Red Bull launches first Premier Padel mobile game - "Red Bull Padel: Court Legends" is now live on iOS and Android. Free-to-play, licensed athletes (Galán, Lebrón, Bea González), real tour venues, team-building mechanics. Padel's first serious entry into gaming. (Red Bull)

• VVV Sports raises £5M, eyes NASDAQ - The London-listed padel company plans a US expansion: Center of Excellence in New York, the R3 Bullpadel Cup stateside, and a dual NASDAQ listing. They also acquired TOPSERIES Pickleball. Padel-on-NASDAQ is a sentence nobody expected. (City AM)

• Kareena Kapoor enters her "padel era" - One of Bollywood’s biggest stars posted herself on a padel court, declaring "Never say never." When India's top celebrity picks up a padel racket and it makes national news, that's a market signal for 1.4 billion people. (Times of India)

FIP Platinum Albania - Tirana (Skanderbeg Square)

🏆 Men's Final: Franco Stupaczuk / Mike Yanguas def. David Gala / Enzo Jensen - 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 🏆 Women's Final: Marina Guinart / Veronica Virseda def. Ale Salazar / Ale Alonso - 7-5, 6-1

Stupaczuk and Yanguas ride into Rome with momentum as the 3rd seeds. Guinart and Virseda claimed their first title of 2026 and enter the Italy Major as 8th seeds. Salazar reached her second Platinum final of the season - further proof that the retirement tour is anything but a victory lap.

No Premier Padel event this week. Next: BNL Italy Major (May 31 - June 7, Rome).

BNL Italy Major - May 31 - June 7, Foro Italico, Rome 🇮🇹

Qualifying wraps up today and tomorrow. Main draw starts Tuesday, June 2. The matchups to track:

• The #1 race explodes. Chingotto/Galán trail Coello/Tapia by 2,360 ranking points but lead the Race by 790. A Major title reshuffles everything.
• Navarro/Di Nenno's first real test. Seeded 6th, they could meet Stupaczuk/Yanguas (3) in the QFs - fresh off their Albania title.
• Can anyone stop Josemaría/González? Five straight titles. Brea/Triay won Rome last year. Something has to give.
• Salazar's last Rome. Every match could be her final one at the Foro Italico.
• Watch: Available on Premier Padel TV and local broadcasters. Finals on Sunday, June 7 at 6:30 PM.

The Foro Italico in Rome was built in the 1930s as part of Mussolini's grand sports complex. Originally called the "Foro Mussolini," it was renamed after World War II. Today it hosts the Italian Open (tennis) and the Italy Major (padel) - making it one of the only venues in the world that stages elite-level events in both racket sports on the same grounds.

Franco Stupaczuk 🇦🇷

Current ranking: #6 (with Mike Yanguas). Age: 30. Playing side: left.

Stupaczuk is the kind of player who makes padel look effortless. The Argentine left-sider is known for his tactical intelligence and devastating víbora - widely considered one of the best on tour. After years as one of the sport's most consistent performers, he's found excellent chemistry with Yanguas in 2026. Their Albania title this weekend was their reward. Off the court, Stupaczuk is a student of the game who famously studies video of opponents before every tournament. He's also one of the most respected voices in the locker room - the kind of player younger pros seek advice from. At 30, he's in his prime — and playing like it.

Padel's "luxury sport" positioning in the US is a double-edged sword. The Global Padel Report celebrates premium clubs and affluent consumers, but here's the problem: padel's global success story is built on accessibility. In Spain, an hour of padel costs €10-15. In the US, it's $50-80+. That works for investor decks, not for building a player base. Basketball won America because you could play it on any public court. If padel stays behind country club gates, it'll attract money but never become a mass sport. The US needs both DUS Padel wellness clubs and public courts in parks. One without the other is a luxury brand, not a sport.

Agree? Hit reply.

58,334 - Padel courts worldwide at the end of 2025, according to the Global Padel Report (Playtomic × PwC). That's up 16% in a single year, with 7,898 new courts added. Spain still leads with the most courts, but France, the UK, and Scandinavia are driving the fastest growth in Europe. The US? Just getting started with 1,000+ courts - but growing fast.

Source: Padel Tonic - Global padel surpasses 58,000 courts

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The world number one took over as provisional president of the International Padel Players Association (IPPA) this week after Lucía Sainz resigned on May 19. The IPPA board accepted the resignation and thanked Sainz for her work strengthening women's padel. Triay stepped in immediately.

Think about what this means. The best female player on the planet now speaks for every female player in the sport. She competes against the people she represents. She negotiates with the tours she dominates. It's rare in any sport for an active number one to also lead the union — the closest comparison is Djokovic creating the PTPA in tennis.

Triay's timing is interesting. Prize money equity in padel still lags. Tour conditions, calendar input, player welfare — these are all live issues. With both on-court dominance and off-court authority, she has the platform to push for change in ways no one else can.

The question is whether she can balance competition and governance. The Italy Major starts next Saturday. Triay will be competing for a title at the Foro Italico while also carrying the weight of every player's expectations off the court.

Meanwhile, the business side of padel had its own headline week. The Padel World Summit opens tomorrow in Barcelona, and the numbers are staggering. The Global Padel Report 2025 (Playtomic with PwC) values the padel industry at around €2 billion. The projection? €6 billion by end of 2026. Over 6,000 professionals and 140 companies will gather at Fira de Barcelona for three days of deals, startups, and strategy.

From player governance to billion-euro projections, this was the week padel proved it's no longer just a sport. It's an industry.

Source: Marca — Triay asume la presidencia, Economia Digital — Padel World Summit 2026, El Periódico — PWS auge global

• UK padel passes 1 million players — The LTA's 2025 Annual Report shows participation doubled to 860,000, with courts reaching 1,500+. It's since passed 1 million in early 2026. In 2019, the UK had 68 courts and 15,000 players. Seven years later: 1,500 courts, 1 million players. That's not growth — that's an explosion. (LTA Annual Report)

• Belasteguín announces first Argentine club — $5M investment — The GOAT of padel is bringing Bela Padel Center to Canning, Buenos Aires. Opening May 2027, developed with Pride Developer. It will be the third Bela Padel Center globally. Forbes Argentina covered it. The greatest player investing $5M in his home country, right after Buenos Aires broke the world attendance record? Perfect timing. (Forbes Argentina)

• Dominic Thiem invests in Austrian padel brand "Smash" — The former tennis world number three backs a startup targeting 200 courts across Austria by 2027. First court just opened in Bruck an der Leitha. The German-speaking market has 100 million people, high disposable income, and almost zero padel saturation. Thiem might have spotted the biggest untapped market in European padel. (Brutkasten)

• Slazenger Padel plans 150 courts across 10 new UK clubs — A flagship 10-court venue is coming to Braehead, Glasgow (30,000 sq ft). Slazenger's 2026 plan: 10 clubs, 150 courts. Between Slazenger, Vida Del Padel, and Padel Social Club, the UK court shortage might finally start to ease. (A1 Retail)

• Galán calls Chingotto "the best partner I've ever had" — Fresh from their fifth title of 2026, Galán publicly chose Chingotto over former partner Juan Lebrón in interviews with COPE, Marca, and Mundo Deportivo. The ranking gap to number one is now just 2,360 points. The Race lead is 790 points in their favor. This pair isn't temporary — it's a legacy project. (COPE)

No Premier Padel tournament this week. Off-week between the Buenos Aires P1 (May 10-18) and the BNL Italy Major (May 31 – June 7).

Current Race Standings (Men): Galán/Chingotto 4,670 pts | Coello/Tapia 3,880 pts Current Rankings (Men): Coello/Tapia 21,180 pts | Galán/Chingotto 18,820 pts Current Race & Rankings (Women): Josemaría/González lead the Race; Brea/Triay hold #1 overall

BNL Italy Major — Foro Italico, Rome — May 31 to June 7

The season's first Major since the opener. Bigger draw, more points, more pressure.

The men's entry list is absurd: 49 of the top 50 are in (only Pablo Cardona is injured). Over 20 new pairings will debut after a wave of splits — Paquito Navarro and Fran Guerrero split, Momo González and Martín Di Nenno split. The draw will be chaos.

The real storyline: can Chingotto and Galán take the number one ranking? At 2,360 points behind with Major points on the table, one title could flip it. For Coello and Tapia, this is the last stand before the narrative becomes permanent.

On the women's side, all 50 of the top 50 are entered. Josemaría and González go for title number six in a row. Brea and Triay go for redemption — again.

Broadcast: Premier Padel TV, Red Bull TV, YouTube (early rounds).

Padel's first international governing body, the International Padel Federation (FIP), was founded in 1991 with just three member nations: Argentina, Spain, and Uruguay. Today, it has over 70 member countries across six continents. The sport went from three countries to global in just 35 years.

Fran Guerrero 🇪🇸 | Age: 22 | Ranking: #12 | Position: Right side

One of the most talented young players on tour, the Málaga native just split from Paquito Navarro and reunites with Javi Leal for the Italy Major. Known for explosive attacking play and incredible reflexes at the net, he's the kind of player who can win a point from anywhere. At 22, he's already reached QFs at virtually every P1 this season. Off the court, he's one of the most active pros on social media, giving fans a behind-the-scenes look at tour life. With Leal beside him and a Major ahead, Rome could be where Guerrero breaks through.

Triay leading the IPPA while ranked number one should terrify every tour organizer who's been slow on prize money equity.

In tennis, Djokovic built the PTPA from scratch and still met resistance from every direction. Triay doesn't need to build anything — she inherited a functioning association and holds the top ranking. That's on-court dominance AND union authority in one person. If she pushes for equal prize money, better tour conditions, or more player input on the calendar, she has the credibility to make it stick. No one can dismiss her as a disgruntled outsider. She wins finals and now she signs letters.

The real question: will she use that power? Or will the dual demands of competing and governing dilute both? Hit reply with your take.

1,000,000 — Padel players in the UK, according to the latest LTA data. In 2019, there were 15,000. In seven years, the sport grew 66x. No racket sport in history has matched that trajectory in Britain.

Source: LTA Annual Report 2025

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Padel and pickleball look similar from a distance — both use a paddle, both are racquet-style doubles, both grew explosively in the last five years — but they are not the same sport. Padel is played on a 20m × 10m enclosed glass court with a slightly depressurised tennis-like ball, using tennis scoring (sets, games, deuce). Pickleball is played on an open 13.41m × 6.10m court with a perforated plastic ball, scoring to 11 (win by 2), and includes a no-volley "kitchen" zone at the net. Pickleball is huge in the US (24.3 million American players); padel is the global heavyweight (30M+ players in 100+ countries).

Last updated: May 2026 · Court specs and rules verified against USA Pickleball and the FIP Rules of Padel.

The 30-Second Version

Court — the biggest difference

Padel's defining feature is the cage. The court is enclosed by glass walls at the back, glass + mesh on the sides, and the ball stays in play after it hits any of them. A point can ricochet off three walls and still count. Roughly 25–30% of all padel shots are wall plays — they're the heart of the sport.

Pickleball has no walls. The court is open, painted on hard surface (often a converted tennis or basketball court). Shots that go past the lines are out. This makes pickleball look more like badminton or table tennis: short, sharp rallies, no chasing the ball into the back glass.

Court footprints are also very different. A padel court (20m × 10m = 200m²) is more than two and a half times the size of a pickleball court (13.41m × 6.10m ≈ 82m²). Many US clubs that previously built pickleball courts in 2022–2023 are now adding padel because the higher revenue per booking (4 players, 90-minute sessions) justifies the larger footprint.

The ball changes everything

Pickleball uses a hard plastic ball with 26 or 40 holes — basically a wiffle ball. It moves slower than a padel ball and bounces lower, which is why pickleball games stay close to the net and feature lots of "dinks" (soft drop shots into the kitchen).

Padel uses a pressurised ball nearly identical to a tennis ball — slightly smaller, slightly less internal pressure. It comes off the strings of a padel paddle (actually solid foam, no strings, but the racket face has a similar trampoline effect) at real tennis speeds. Pro padel smashes regularly exceed 200 km/h.

This is also why padel feels physically closer to tennis than pickleball does. If you've played tennis before, padel's bounce and pace feel familiar. Pickleball will feel deliberately slower.

Scoring — tennis vs ping-pong logic

Padel scoring is identical to tennis. Points go 15, 30, 40, game. Six games win a set (with a tiebreak at 6–6 or sometimes a "Golden Point" sudden death at deuce — depends on the league). Best of three sets. A typical padel match runs 60–90 minutes.

Pickleball scoring is closer to table tennis. Games go to 11, win by 2. Traditionally only the serving team can score (side-out scoring), but the PPA Tour and World Pickleball League adopted rally scoring (any team can score on any rally) for most 2025+ pro events, and recreational players are split between formats. Pickleball matches typically last 15–25 minutes per game.

The "kitchen" — pickleball's signature rule

The 7-foot zone in front of each side of the pickleball net is called the non-volley zone (NVZ) or "kitchen". You cannot volley the ball — hit it out of the air — while any part of your body or paddle is touching the kitchen line or inside the zone. This forces the soft, tactical "dink rally" that defines pickleball at every level.

Padel has nothing equivalent. You can volley anywhere on the court, including pressed right up against the net. The wall is what slows the game down, not a no-volley rule.

Serves are similar — but not the same

Both sports serve underhand. That's basically the only similarity.

Padel serve:

• Bounce the ball, hit it below waist height
• Must land in the diagonal service box on the opponent's side
• Two attempts (like tennis)
• The ball can be hit straight or after one bounce, depending on your style

Pickleball serve:

• Hit the ball below waist height, paddle moving in an upward arc
• The serve must clear the kitchen and land in the diagonal service box
• One attempt (no second serve)
• The two-bounce rule applies: the serve must bounce on the receiver's side AND the return must bounce on the server's side before either team can volley

The numbers — who's winning the race?

Pickleball owns the US. 24.3 million Americans played pickleball in 2025 — up 22.8% from 2024 — and the average player is now 34.8 years old, no longer the retirees-only stereotype. There are 18,258 court locations across the US, with another 2,300+ added in 2025 alone. Pickleball has been America's fastest-growing sport for five straight years, with participation up 311% from 2021 to 2025.

Padel owns the rest of the world. Globally, there are over 30 million padel players across 100+ countries, with around 70,000 courts projected by 2026. Padel grew from a niche Spanish/Argentine sport into the dominant racquet sport across Europe and Latin America. Spain alone has over 15,000 courts; Italy added more than 6,000 between 2020 and 2025.

The US is the contested market. Padel passed 1,000 courts across 37 states in April 2026, with Florida holding 41% of them, Texas 18%, California 10%, and New York 4.7%. Active US padel players are over 1 million, with club growth running at 51.5% year-over-year. If the USPA's projections hold, the US will have 30,000 padel courts and 10 million players by 2030 — putting it on a collision course with pickleball.

Which should you play?

If you're in the US and want to start hitting tomorrow, pickleball wins on convenience — courts are everywhere, equipment is cheap (~$30 paddle, $5 balls), and you can learn the basics in one session. The barrier to entry is the lowest in racquet sports.

If you want a sport that rewards strategy, footwork, and tennis-like rallies, padel is the deeper game. Walls turn every defensive position into a counter-attacking opportunity, and the doubles-only format makes it inherently social. The catch in the US right now: courts are still scarce in most metros outside Florida, Texas, and New York.

The honest answer: try both. They're not substitutes — they're complementary sports played by overlapping audiences. Most US players who pick up padel today already play pickleball, and vice versa.

The fastest ways to find padel partners as a new player: (1) download Playtomic and join "Open Matches" near your level, (2) book a group clinic at a local club — you'll leave with three new contacts, (3) ask your club to add you to its WhatsApp group, and (4) sign up for an "americana" round-robin night. Playtomic alone has 2 million players and 16,000+ courts across 60 countries, and almost every club runs weekly social events specifically to mix players who don't know each other.

Last updated: May 2026 · App features and club practices verified at time of writing.

Why this is the hardest part of starting padel

Padel is doubles, all day every day. You can't show up alone and rally a wall for an afternoon — you need three other humans. New players hit this wall in week one and quit before they ever learn the bandeja.

The good news: the entire global padel industry has organized itself around solving this exact problem. 3,282 new padel clubs opened in 2024 alone, and almost every one of them runs structured player-mixing events. You just need to know which doors to walk through.

Step 1 — Get on Playtomic (or your country's equivalent)

Playtomic is the dominant booking and matchmaking app in Europe and Latin America, with over 2 million players, 16,000+ courts, and 6,000+ partner clubs across 60 countries. Active monthly users in the UK alone jumped from 35,000 to 156,000 in one year.

After signing up:

1. Set your level honestly. Playtomic uses a 0–7 scale. A complete beginner is around 1.0–1.5. A weekly recreational player who can sustain a rally sits at 2.5–3.4. Don't over-rate yourself — it tanks your matches and your reliability score.
2. Search "Open Matches" near you. Filter by your level ±0.5. You'll see public matches that need a fourth (or third) player. Join one.
3. Follow regulars at your club. Once you've played a few times, follow opponents and partners you enjoyed. They'll see your future open matches and may join.

Regional alternatives where Playtomic isn't dominant: MATCHi (Scandinavia, UK), Padel Mates (UK, Northern Europe), and local apps in Argentina, Mexico, and the US.

Step 2 — Take group lessons, not private ones

This is the highest-leverage move you can make in your first month. Private lessons make you better faster, but group clinics — four players, one coach, 60–90 minutes — put you in a room with three other people who are exactly your level and also looking for partners.

Tell the coach on day one: "I'm new in town or new to padel and want to build a regular game." Coaches know everyone and will introduce you to compatible players. You'll walk out of a 4-week clinic with three to eight new contacts.

Step 3 — Ask reception for the club WhatsApp group

Almost every padel club has at least one informal WhatsApp group where members post "looking for a fourth tonight at 8pm". Reception staff rarely advertise it — you have to ask.

A useful phrase: "I'm trying to play more — is there a WhatsApp group I can join to find pickup games?" In Spain, Argentina, and Mexico, expect a yes. In newer markets like the US, UK, and the Nordics you may get pointed to an in-app feature instead.

Step 4 — Sign up for an "americana" or round-robin night

The americana is a club night where 8–16 players rotate partners every 4–6 games. You play with everyone, against everyone, and leave knowing who plays at your level. Most clubs run one per week, usually €10–€20 including a drink.

Variants you'll see on club calendars: americana, round robin, mexicana, social night, mix-in. All the same format.

Step 5 — Enter a beginner tournament

This sounds intimidating — it isn't. Most clubs run "iniciación" or 5ª/6ª categoría tournaments where teams are matched to your level. If you don't have a partner, the club will pair you with someone in the same boat. Tournaments take a Saturday afternoon, and you'll meet six to eight new players you'll keep seeing at the club.

Etiquette that gets you re-invited

• Be on time. Padel courts are booked in 90-minute slots. Five minutes late means your group plays 85.
• Bring fresh balls when it's your turn. A new can of three balls costs €5–€7. Group of four → you bring balls every fourth match.
• Pay your court share immediately. Cash, Bizum, Venmo — whatever the group uses. Don't make anyone chase you.
• Don't dispute your level upward. Playing a step above yours occasionally is fun. Doing it every week makes you the player nobody wants on their team.
• Don't no-show. Most apps have a reliability rating. One no-show kills it for months.

What if you live somewhere padel isn't big yet?

The US, India, Australia, and most of Asia are still early. In those markets:

• Find the one or two clubs in your metro and become a regular face.
• LinkedIn and Meetup have surprisingly active padel groups in cities like New York, Miami, Singapore, and Dubai.
• Search Facebook groups for "padel + your city" — many active local communities live there.
• Offer to be a fourth. Players in new markets are starved for opponents — you'll get in.

Within four to six weeks of starting, almost everyone has a regular weekly game. Some have three.

They beat Arturo Coello and Agustín Tapia 6-2, 6-1 in the Buenos Aires P1 final — 78 minutes that felt like a statement, not a match. They led 4-0 in the first set. They led 5-1 in the second. Galán closed it out with three consecutive winners. The crowd erupted. Coello and Tapia had nowhere to hide.

That's five titles in 2026: Gijón, Miami, Brussels, Asunción, Buenos Aires. Seventeen as a pair. And four straight finals won against the world number ones. Let the scorelines tell the story: 6-3 7-5 in Asunción, now 6-2 6-1 in Buenos Aires. The margin is growing, not shrinking.

For Coello and Tapia, this is uncharted territory. Four consecutive finals lost — all to the same pair. They looked sharp in the semis, beating Franco Stupaczuk and Mike Yanguas 6-2, 7-6. But something breaks when they face Chingotto and Galán. The composure and the big points — it all tilts the other way.

Paula Josemaría and Bea González won the women's final 6-3, 7-5 against Gemma Triay and Delfi Brea. Their fifth consecutive title. Their sixth consecutive final against the same opponents. Twenty consecutive wins. Josemaría and González controlled the first set, then held their nerve through a tense 4-4 stretch in the second to close it out in 67 minutes.

Both semifinals produced drama. Triay and Brea saved a match point against Claudia Fernández and Sofía Araújo (3-6, 7-6, 6-4). Josemaría and González came from a set down against Ari Sánchez and Andrea Ustero (2-6, 7-5, 6-4). Neither pair had it easy — but both found a way to the final again.

The other headline: 16,920 spectators packed the Mary Terán de Weiss stadium during the semifinals, setting a new world attendance record for padel. The previous record? Also Buenos Aires. Tapia said it best: "We wait for this week all year."

Source: elneverazo — Galán y Chingotto barren a los número uno, Canal 26 — Chingotto y Galán campeones, Padel Addict — 16,920 attendance record

• Delfi Brea joins Red Bull — The Argentine world number one becomes Red Bull's fourth padel athlete, alongside Juan Lebrón, Ale Galán, and Bea González. Red Bull now sponsors players on both sides of the women's number one rivalry. That's not hedging — that's a bet on padel's star system maturing. (Sport.es)

• The Financial Times covers Britain's padel boom — The FT published a deep look at UK padel investment, noting that planning restrictions — not demand — are the primary brake on growth. When the FT writes about your sport's investment opportunity, you've graduated from trend piece to asset class. (Financial Times)

• Vida Del Padel: from 1 club to 20 in a year — This UK operator has scaled from a single venue to six, with 20 planned by year-end. Already generating £2M in annual revenue with 120,000 players through its doors. While London gets the headlines, Lincoln and Guisborough are where padel goes mainstream. (Insider Media)

• VanEck becomes exclusive ETF partner of the Anglo American Padel Cup — An investment management firm sponsoring a padel tournament in South Florida (February 2027). VanEck joins Playtomic and Babolat as core sponsors. Only their second-ever sports sponsorship. When Audemars Piguet and ETF firms are fighting for padel branding, the monetization story writes itself. (BusinessWire)

• Bollywood meets padel in Mumbai — Bhumi Pednekar, Zaheer Iqbal, and other celebrities turned out for the "Padel for Paws" charity event at Phoenix HSBC Racquet Club. Superdry hosted a separate "Sip and Padel" event the same weekend. Two padel-celebrity events in one city, one weekend — India is paying attention. (Social News XYZ)

Buenos Aires P1 — Parque Roca, Argentina (May 10-18) Attendance record: 16,920 spectators (world record, set during semifinals)

Men's Draw:

• Final: Chingotto/Galán (2) def. Coello/Tapia (1) — 6-2, 6-1 🏆
• SF: Coello/Tapia (1) def. Stupaczuk/Yanguas 6-2, 7-6
• SF: Galán/Chingotto (2) def. Lebrón/Augsburger (4) 6-0, 6-3

Women's Draw:

• Final: Josemaría/González (2) def. Brea/Triay (1) — 6-3, 7-5 🏆
• SF: Brea/Triay (1) def. Fernández/Araújo 3-6, 7-6(1), 6-4
• SF: Josemaría/González (2) def. Sánchez/Ustero 2-6, 7-5, 6-4

BNL Italy Major — Rome, June 1-7 — The first Major since the season opener. More ranking points, more prize money, more pressure.

Chingotto and Galán arrive with five consecutive titles and total psychological dominance. Coello and Tapia need a Major win to stop the narrative. On the women's side, Josemaría and González go for six straight — and Brea/Triay will have two weeks to figure out what went wrong (again).

Rome is always electric. Italian crowds bring the energy. After Buenos Aires broke the attendance record, all eyes on whether Rome can match the atmosphere. Broadcast: Premier Padel TV (YouTube for early rounds).

The Mary Terán de Weiss stadium in Buenos Aires — where this week's world record was set — is named after Argentina's first female Olympic tennis player. She competed at the 1948 London Olympics. From Olympic tennis to world-record padel crowds, the venue keeps making racket sport history.

Santino Contreras 🇦🇷 | Age: 16 | Ranking: Unranked (wild card)

This week, Contreras — who just turned 16 — became the youngest player ever to compete in a Premier Padel P1 main draw. The teenager from El Soberbio, Misiones, earned a wild card and stepped onto the biggest stage in padel at Parque Roca. Win or lose in the early rounds, playing Parque Roca at 16 changes everything. The padel world will hear this name again.

Coello and Tapia are having their Djokovic moment. Still number one by ranking, clearly number two on the court.

Four consecutive finals lost to the same pair isn't a slump — it's a pattern. And the scorelines are getting worse, not better: 6-3 7-5, now 6-2 6-1. At some point, you stop calling it a bad day and start calling it a new reality. The ranking will catch up. The only question is whether Coello and Tapia can change something — tactics, mentality, coaching — before Rome, or whether Chingotto and Galán walk into the Major as the clear favorites.

Agree? Or will the Golden Boys bounce back? Hit reply.

16,920 — Spectators at the Buenos Aires P1 semifinals on Saturday night. A new world attendance record for padel. The previous record? Also Buenos Aires. This city doesn't just love padel — it lives it.

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© 2026 The Padel Brief | thepadelbrief.com

Roughly 85% of padel players get injured at some point — nearly double the rate in tennis. The seven most common injuries: tennis elbow (the #1, around 20% of all cases), calf tears, rotator cuff tendinopathy, lower back strain, jumper's knee, ankle sprains, and abdominal strains. Prevention comes down to three things: a real dynamic warm-up (cuts risk ~40%), strength work twice a week on calves and rotator cuff, and stopping when you're fatigued — because 42% of injuries happen in the final stage of a match.

Last updated: May 2026 · Data sourced from peer-reviewed epidemiology studies and Spanish sports-medicine clinics.

How Bad Is It, Really?

Padel injury prevalence is 85% among regular players, against 39-46% for tennis (systematic review of padel, tennis and squash injuries, 2025).

The rate per hour is closer — 3 injuries per 1,000 training hours, 8 per 1,000 match hours (Castillo-Lozano & Casuso-Holgado, PMC10277135). The gap with tennis comes from cumulative exposure and the specific demands of padel: short, explosive movements, repeated overheads, and constant trunk rotation in a confined space.

One number to keep in mind: 25% of padel injuries are recurrences. If you've been hurt before, you're the most likely candidate to get hurt again (García-Fernández et al., Universidad Complutense de Madrid).

1. Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis)

The undisputed #1. Five of five major epidemiology studies put the elbow at the top of the list. Common extensor tendinopathy accounts for around 20% of all padel injuries, with elbow problems hitting 30-74% of players depending on the cohort (Demeco et al., Musculoskeletal disorders in padel).

The mechanism: repetitive eccentric load on the ECRB tendon during backhands and wall shots. Wrist-led technique makes it worse.

Counterintuitive finding: novices get tennis elbow more than pros. Better technique distributes load through the kinetic chain instead of dumping it on the forearm.

Recovery: 4-12 weeks of conservative treatment is standard (JOSPT clinical guidelines on lateral elbow pain).

2. Calf Tear (Tennis Leg)

Second on every list. A medial gastrocnemius strain caused by an explosive forward lunge — the move you make to dig out a low ball at the net. Players over 30 are at higher risk because tendon elasticity drops with age (Demeco et al.).

It often happens on the first hard point of a session — proof that warming up matters.

3. Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy

Shoulder injuries account for 8-13% of padel cases, with rotator cuff tendinitis specifically at 7.8% (García-Fernández et al.).

The bandeja, víbora, and smash all load the supraspinatus and the subacromial space. Add a service motion every two minutes for an hour, and the shoulder starts complaining.

4. Lower Back Strain

Between 9% and 27.5% of injuries depending on the study. Driven by trunk rotation during overheads and forward lunges from a flexed-spine position (Castillo-Lozano & Casuso-Holgado).

Recreational players with weak core musculature are the typical sufferers. Pro players load their hips and rotate from the pelvis — most amateurs rotate from the lumbar spine.

5. Patellar Tendinopathy and Knee Injuries

Knee complaints make up 10.8-22.9% of injuries. Jumper's knee from repeated smash landings, meniscus damage from rapid direction changes, and patellofemoral pain from poor mechanics on lateral push-offs (PMC review).

6. Ankle Sprains

Lateral inversion sprains — the classic "rolled ankle" — from quick side-to-side movements and the occasional collision with the perimeter wall. More common on artificial turf than on harder synthetic surfaces (Costa Health review).

7. Abdominal Strain

Trunk injuries account for around 20% of padel cases by body region (García-Fernández et al.). Most happen during the cocking phase of a smash, when the abdominal wall is loaded eccentrically. Once strained, it takes 3-6 weeks before serving is comfortable again.

Who Gets Hurt the Most

Three risk factors are well-supported across studies:

• Age over 30 independently predicts injury (recreational players study, n=457)
• Previous injury — 25% of all injuries are recurrences (García-Fernández et al.)
• Poor sleep — the same 457-player study found sleep disturbance was a stronger predictor than weekly playing volume

Gender data is mixed and inconsistent across studies, so don't read too much into single-cohort findings.

How to Stay on the Court

Seven prevention rules with evidence behind them:

1. Dynamic warm-up, 10-15 minutes. Skip static stretching before play — it reduces muscle power and increases injury risk. Use leg swings, arm circles, lunges, and gradual rally pace. A proper warm-up cuts injury risk by roughly 40% (Padel Magazine prevention summary).
2. Strength train twice a week. Calves, glutes, rotator cuff (elastic band external rotations), and a brick-solid core. This is the single highest-leverage protection.
3. Stop when you're tired. 42% of injuries happen in the final stage of a session. The "one more game" point is the one that hurts you.
4. Fix your backhand and overhead technique. A coaching session is cheaper than physio. The lower the wrist involvement, the safer the elbow.
5. Match your racket to your body. Lighter heads (under 370g) and a grip size that fills your hand reduce wrist and elbow load. If you're flaring up, drop a few grams.
6. Sleep. Padel-specific data shows sleep is one of the strongest modifiable factors. Skip the supplements and fix your bedtime.
7. Respect recurrence. If you've had tennis elbow before, do daily eccentric wrist work even when pain-free. The injury comes back.

Bottom Line

Padel is hard on the body — harder than tennis, by every published measure. But almost every common injury maps to one of three causes: undertrained body, untrained technique, or fatigue ignored. Fix those, and most of this list goes away.

The match started with a statement. Coello and Tapia hadn't been broken all week. Chingotto and Galán broke them in the first game. From there, Chingotto delivered what MARCA called "a masterclass of tactical play" — reading every angle, choosing every shot with surgical precision. The first set was theirs at 6-3.

Coello and Tapia fought back in the second. But every time the match reached a decisive "golden point," Chingotto and Galán found the answer. Two spectacular points from Chingotto sealed the 7-5 and the trophy.

Context matters here. In the semis, Coello/Tapia had beaten Juan Lebrón and Leo Augsburger 6-2, 6-1 in 45 minutes. They looked untouchable. Yet against Chingotto/Galán — who had needed three hours just to survive the quarterfinals against Tello/Arce — the Golden Boys froze again when the title was on the line.

The numbers tell the story: Chingotto/Galán are 23-3 this season with titles at Gijón, Miami, Brussels, and Asunción. Coello/Tapia are 2-for-6 in finals — their worst start since forming in 2023.

The women's clásico delivered again. Paula Josemaría and Bea González came from a set down to beat Delfi Brea and Gemma Triay 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 in the women's final. Their fourth consecutive title. Their sixteenth consecutive match win. And as of Monday, they are the new FIP Race #1 — overtaking Brea/Triay for the top spot.

This was the fifth consecutive final between the same two pairs. Brea and Triay took the first set. But Josemaría and González flipped the match with relentless pressure in the second, then pulled away in the third as Brea appeared to struggle physically. González is now 3-for-3 in Asunción — she's never lost there.

Buenos Aires P1 starts today. The Race is wide open in both draws. We're about to find out who really owns 2026.

Source: MARCA — Chingotto y Galán se llevan el 'clásico', elneverazo — Paula y Bea ganan su cuarto título consecutivo

• Audemars Piguet becomes Premier Padel's official timekeeper — The Swiss luxury watchmaker signed on as the tour's official timekeeper across all 25 tournaments in 17 countries. They also signed Agustín Tapia as a brand ambassador. AP joins Rolex, Prada, and Lamborghini in the padel luxury sponsor portfolio. When haute horlogerie enters your sport, the money has arrived. (Sportcal)

• FIP upgrades Kuwait to Major, Pretoria to P1 after Qatar postponement — The Qatar Major was postponed due to the war in Iran. To rebalance ranking points and prize money, Kuwait (Oct 26-31) was upgraded from P1 to Major and Pretoria (Jul 27 - Aug 2) from P2 to P1. A South African P1 is a landmark for padel on the African continent. Record crowds confirmed at all 6 events so far this season. (Padel FIP)

• Robb Report declares padel "the hottest sport for the global elite" — A major feature citing FIP data: 35 million players globally (up from 8M in 2018), 77,000+ courts (up 23% in 18 months), 4,775 new clubs opened in 2024-25, and padel now in 150 countries. The piece profiles Reserve Padel, PPL, and the luxury brand ecosystem. When Robb Report writes about your sport, the billionaire class is paying attention. (Robb Report)

• Padel Social Club raises £5.5M for London expansion — Three new central London venues confirmed: Paddington (June 2026), The O2 (Nov), Kentish Town (Nov). Stormzy is an existing investor. PSC already has 30,000+ players with 95%+ peak utilization. Adding 17 courts. London's padel demand far outstrips supply, and PSC is racing to close the gap. (Verge Magazine)

• Glass padel courts kill up to 135 birds per year in Spain — New research shows bird collisions with glass court panels are a serious problem across Spain's 30,000+ outdoor courts. A simple external netting solution costing ~£600 per court dramatically reduces deaths. Spanish firm Artesivo plans to showcase a bird-safe adhesive film at Padel World Summit 2026. This is a story the industry needs to get ahead of — fast. (Euro Weekly News)

Asunción P2 — Asunción, Paraguay (May 3-10) Prize money: €264,534

Men's Final: Chingotto/Galán (2) def. Coello/Tapia (1) — 6-3, 7-5 Women's Final: Josemaría/González (2) def. Brea/Triay (1) — 4-6, 6-3, 6-3

Men's Semifinals:

• Coello/Tapia (1) def. Lebrón/Augsburger (4) — 6-2, 6-1
• Chingotto/Galán (2) def. Alonso/Goñi — 6-1, 7-5

Women's Semifinals:

• Brea/Triay (1) def. Sánchez/Ustero — 7-6, 6-2
• Josemaría/González (2) def. Fernández/Araujo — 3-6, 7-5, 6-2

Buenos Aires P1 — May 11-17, Parque Roca, Argentina

The biggest tournament of the South American swing starts today. Record 89 pairs — the most for any P1 this season. The venue is chasing the 16,156 spectator world record set last year.

Storylines everywhere. Chingotto/Galán arrive as the hottest pair in padel. Coello/Tapia need a response. Lebrón/Augsburger get a homecoming for Argentine Leo Augsburger. Sixteen-year-old Santino Contreras earned a wild card — the second-youngest player ever in Premier Padel.

On the women's side, Josemaría/González go for a fifth consecutive title as the new Race #1. Brea/Triay will want revenge.

P1 points are worth more than P2. The Race standings could shift dramatically by Sunday.

Watch on: Premier Padel YouTube (rounds 1-3), Red Bull TV (QF onwards)

Padel is now played in 150 countries — up from just 50 five years ago. According to the FIP, 4,775 new clubs opened between April 2024 and November 2025 alone. That's roughly 9 new padel clubs opening every single day, somewhere in the world, for 18 straight months.

Bea González 🇪🇸 Ranking: FIP Race #1 (with Paula Josemaría) | Age: 24 | Position: Left

Bea González just claimed her fourth consecutive Premier Padel title and the Race #1 spot. Yet she remains one of padel's most underrated stars. The Málaga native is known for her explosive overheads and her ability to close points at the net with devastating precision. Off the court, she's one of the most active players on social media, giving fans a window into life on tour. Fun fact: González has a perfect record in Asunción — three editions, three titles. No other player, male or female, can match that.

Padel's bird collision problem could become the sport's first genuine PR crisis — and the industry is sleepwalking into it.

Up to 135 bird deaths per outdoor court per year. Spain has 30,000+ outdoor courts. You do the math. A £600 netting fix exists. It works. And the industry hasn't adopted it at scale.

If animal welfare organizations pick this up before padel acts, the narrative flips overnight. "The world's fastest-growing sport" becomes "the sport that kills millions of birds." That headline writes itself. The FIP, court manufacturers, and clubs should mandate bird-safe solutions now — before regulators force their hand.

Agree? Hit reply.

35 million — Global padel players as of late 2025, according to FIP data cited by Robb Report. Up from 8 million in 2018. That's more than 4x growth in seven years. And the sport is now in 150 countries, with 77,000+ courts worldwide.

Source: Robb Report — How Padel Became One of the Hottest Sports for the Global Elite

The lob (globo) is a high, deep shot that sails over your opponents' heads and lands near the back glass. It's the main way to push net players backward and steal the net position yourself. Use a continental grip, open racket face, and swing low to high. Aim cross-court, landing the ball between the service line and back glass. In professional padel, 80% of points are won at the net (Applied Sciences, 2024) — the lob is how you get there.

Last updated: April 2026 · Technique sourced from LTA Padel, NXPadel, and peer-reviewed studies in Applied Sciences.

Why the Lob Matters More Than the Smash

Every beginner wants to smash. But the lob wins more points.

Here's why: 80% of points in padel are won by the pair at the net, according to a 2024 study published in Applied Sciences. The net is where you win. The lob is how you get there.

A deep lob forces your opponents to retreat from the net. They have to turn, run backward, and play a difficult shot off the back glass. While they scramble, you and your partner walk forward and take the net.

The smash ends individual points. The lob controls entire matches.

When to Use the Lob

The lob works in three situations:

1. You're stuck at the back and opponents own the net. This is the classic scenario. They're at the net, hitting volleys and smashes. A hard drive? They volley it. A chiquita? They cover it. The lob goes over their heads and resets the point.

2. On the return of serve. In professional padel, players use the lob as their return about 28% of the time (Applied Sciences, 2020). Female pros use the lob return 12% more often than men. A lob return buys time and prevents the serving team from holding the net position.

3. To break rhythm. When opponents expect pace, a high, slow lob changes the tempo. It forces them to stop, look up, retreat. That mental reset creates openings.

How to Hit the Lob: 5 Steps

1. Continental Grip, Open Racket Face

Get behind the ball early. Continental grip — the same grip you use for volleys and the bandeja. Open the racket face about 45 degrees toward the sky.

The open face is what sends the ball upward. You don't need to muscle it.

2. Swing Low to High

Start the racket below the ball. Swing upward in a smooth arc. The power comes from your legs pushing up and the path of the racket. No wrist flick, no snap.

Think "lift." Not "hit."

3. Aim High and Deep

Your target: the ball peaks at 3-4 meters above the court and lands between the service line and the back glass. FIP regulations require a minimum 6-meter ceiling clearance for indoor courts — that's how important height is to this shot.

Too short? They smash it. Too deep? The ball bounces high off the back glass and floats back to them for an easy overhead.

4. Go Cross-Court

Cross-court lobs travel a longer diagonal distance. That gives you more margin for error. A cross-court lob also forces both opponents to reposition, not just one.

The LTA Padel coaching program recommends cross-court as the default lob direction. Go down the line only when the angle is blocked.

5. Move Forward After the Lob

This is the step beginners forget. The lob is a transition shot. After you hit it, walk forward toward the net.

If your lob lands deep, opponents retreat. You and your partner take the net. If you stand still at the back, you wasted the entire purpose of the lob.

Flat Lob vs. Topspin Lob

Two versions exist:

Flat lob (with slight backspin): Safer. The ball floats high, dips slowly, and bounces low off the back glass. Opponents struggle to attack it because the low bounce keeps the ball below smash height. This is the default for most players.

Topspin lob: Riskier. Brush up the back of the ball to add topspin. The ball dips faster after its peak, which helps against tall opponents who might reach a flat lob. The trade-off: topspin lobs bounce higher off the glass, giving opponents a better angle.

Most coaches recommend the flat lob until you're comfortable with the shot. Add topspin once your depth is consistent.

Common Lob Mistakes

Lobbing under pressure. The lob needs balance. If you're stretched or off-balance, the lob will be short. Hit a drive or chiquita instead and reset.

Standing still after lobbing. You hit a great lob. Opponents retreat. And you... stay at the back. That's like unlocking the door and refusing to walk through it.

Always lobbing to the same spot. Predictable lobs get read and punished. Mix cross-court and down the line. Vary the height.

Lobbing when opponents are already at the back. The lob moves people backward. If they're already there, the lob just gives them time. Use a drive or drop shot instead.

The Pro Move

Gemma Triay uses the lob as an offensive weapon, not just a defensive escape. Her lobs land within centimeters of the back glass, giving opponents almost no angle to work with. Arturo Coello and Agustín Tapia read the lob early and use it to set up their signature transitions from defense to attack — lobbing once, advancing, then finishing at the net.

Tapia and Coello skipped Newgiza. Third year running. While the world number ones rested, Galán and Chingotto swept through the draw: 6-4, 6-0 in the quarters, 6-3, 6-4 over Coki Nieto and Jon Sanz in the semis, and 6-4, 6-1 over Franco Stupaczuk and Miguel Yanguas in the final. Their 2026 record sits at 18-2.

Three titles from five events. An 18-2 record. Zero signs of slowing down. The pair that was supposed to be chasing is now out front.

In the women's draw, Bea González and Paula Josemaría won their second straight title, beating Gemma Triay and Delfina Brea 6-4, 5-7, 6-4. That's three consecutive finals between the same two pairs — Cancún went to Triay/Brea, then Miami and now Newgiza to González/Josemaría. The series stands 2-1. Every match has gone three sets. Every match has been a war.

Josemaría was again the difference. Her defensive reads and clutch play in tight moments have turned this rivalry from "competitive" into "appointment viewing." The women's tour hasn't had a duo this locked in since Salazar and Marrero.

The big question now: Brussels. Tapia and Coello return this week. They've lost the Race lead without losing a match. The pressure is entirely on them to prove the skip strategy didn't cost more than points — it may have cost momentum.

Source: Padel Tonic — Galán and Chingotto surge to the top of the 2026 Race, Padel Tonic — González/Josemaría beat Triay/Brea 6-4 5-7 6-4

• Leo Augsburger signs the longest contract in padel history — 14 years with Siux — The 21-year-old Argentine committed to Spanish brand Siux through 2040. Fourteen seasons. He'll be 36 when this deal ends. In a sport where partnerships barely last a calendar year, a brand just made a generational bet. This is padel's first lifetime-style deal. (Mundo Deportivo)

• Lebrón and Augsburger crash out in R16 — lose to qualifiers — After three straight semi-finals, the third seeds lost to Enzo Jensen and Luis Hernandez in the Newgiza R16. The gap between consistency and reliability just showed up. Galán and Chingotto don't have these dips. Lebrón and Augsburger need Brussels to be a reset, not a trend. (Padeladdict)

• Alejandra Salazar's farewell tour begins at Brussels — Fifty-eight titles. Former world number one. One of the most decorated players in women's padel history. Salazar confirmed 2026 is her final season, and Brussels will host her official farewell event this week. The current generation plays on a tour she helped build. (La Libre)

• Qatar Major postponed — geopolitics hits the padel calendar — The Ooredoo Qatar Major (originally April 6-11, Doha) was postponed due to regional instability. The FIP Steering Committee is assessing knock-on effects. Losing a Major means fewer big-point opportunities for the whole tour. Padel is now global enough that world events reshape its calendar. (World Padel Network)

• Padel is now a €6 billion industry — European Business Magazine pegged the global padel economy at €6 billion, triple its 2022 value. Nine new clubs open every day. Premium indoor facilities hit ROI in under 24 months. Over 35 million people play across 130+ countries. The 92% first-timer return rate is the kind of metric SaaS founders would kill for. (European Business Magazine)

Newgiza P2 — Giza, Egypt (April 11-18) Prize money: €264,534

Men's Draw:

• Final: Galán/Chingotto (1) def. Stupaczuk/Yanguas (2) — 6-4, 6-1 🏆
• SF: Galán/Chingotto (1) def. Nieto/Sanz — 6-3, 6-4
• SF: Stupaczuk/Yanguas (2) def. Tello/Alonso (8) — 6-1, 6-4
• Upset: Lebrón/Augsburger (3) eliminated in R16 by qualifiers Jensen/Hernandez

Women's Draw:

• Final: González/Josemaría (2) def. Triay/Brea (1) — 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 🏆
• SF: González/Josemaría (2) def. Sánchez/Ustero (3) — 6-2, 6-3
• SF: Triay/Brea (1) def. Ortega/Calvo — 6-0, 6-3
• Upset: Ortega/Calvo def. Araújo/Fernández (4) — 6-0, 4-6, 6-2

Note: Third consecutive final between González/Josemaría and Triay/Brea. Series: 2-1.

Brussels P2 — April 19-26, Tour & Taxis, Brussels

This is the one to watch. Tapia and Coello return after sitting out Newgiza, and they come back having lost the Race lead without playing a point. Galán and Chingotto arrive as Race leaders and back-to-back champions chasing a three-peat.

Lebrón and Augsburger need a statement result after the R16 exit in Egypt. They can't afford another early loss if they want to stay in the title conversation.

The women's draw carries double weight: González and Josemaría are hunting three straight titles, plus the tournament hosts Alejandra Salazar's official farewell ceremony. Fifty-eight titles, a career that predates the Premier Padel era. Bring tissues.

Qualifiers run April 19-21. Main draw starts April 21. Finals on April 26.

The Newgiza P2 venue sits roughly 2km from the Great Pyramid of Giza. Professional padel players were competing in the shadow of structures built 4,500 years ago. Padel courts need about 200 square meters. The Great Pyramid's base covers 53,000. You could fit 265 padel courts on the footprint of a single pyramid.

Marta Ortega

Spanish, right-handed, world number 10. At 29, Ortega is one of the most experienced players on the women's tour — and one of the most underrated. Her partnership with Martina Calvo started 2026 with a clear mission: break into the top tier.

At Newgiza, they delivered. A 6-0 first set against fourth seeds Araújo/Fernández in the quarterfinals showed they can hurt any pair in the draw. They reached the semi-finals for the second time this season.

Ortega's game is built on intelligence. She reads the play two shots ahead, positions herself expertly at the net, and rarely gives opponents free points. Off court, she's known as one of the hardest workers in the sport. If Calvo and Ortega keep this trajectory, they'll be the pair nobody wants to draw in the second half of the season.

Women's padel is producing the most compelling rivalry in any racket sport right now, and it still isn't getting the coverage it deserves. González/Josemaría versus Triay/Brea: three straight finals, all three-setters, alternating winners. The drama is real. The quality is elite.

If this were happening in men's tennis — two pairs meeting in three consecutive finals with the series at 2-1 — every sports outlet on the planet would be running features. Women's padel has the storyline. It has the intensity. What it needs is for media and fans to treat it like what it is: the best show on tour right now. Agree? Hit reply.

14 — Years on Leo Augsburger's new contract with Siux. The 21-year-old signed through 2040, making it the longest sponsorship deal in padel history. In basketball, brands do this with once-in-a-decade talents. Padel just got its first.

Source: Sport.es