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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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

Padel scoring follows the tennis system: points count 15, 30, 40, game. Win 6 games (with a 2-game lead) to take a set, and win 2 out of 3 sets to win the match. At 40-40, the deuce format depends on the competition — traditional advantage, golden point (one sudden-death point), or the 2026 star point rule (up to 2 advantages, then sudden death). At 6-6 in a set, a 7-point tiebreak decides it. Some formats replace the third set with a super tiebreak to 10 points.

Last updated: April 2026 · Rules verified against FIP official regulations.

The 15-30-40 System: Why Not Just 1-2-3?

Padel borrowed its scoring from tennis. Tennis borrowed it from medieval French real tennis (jeu de paume), where players moved forward on a 60-foot court in 15-foot increments after each point.

The original sequence was 15, 30, 45. Somewhere around the 16th century, French players shortened 45 to 40. The most accepted reason? Pronunciation. "Quarante-cinq" (45) has three syllables. "Quarante" (40) has two. Laziness won.

So: 0 (love), 15, 30, 40, game. Four points win a game — unless the score reaches 40-40.

What Happens at Deuce (40-40)?

This is where padel gets interesting. Three systems exist, and which one you play depends on the competition.

Traditional Advantage

Both teams reach 40-40. The next point gives one team "advantage." If the team with advantage wins the next point, they take the game. If they lose it, the score resets to deuce. This can go on for a long time — 15, 20, even 30+ points in extreme cases.

Golden Point (Punto de Oro)

At 40-40, one single point decides the game. No advantage, no reset. The receiving team chooses which side to receive on. Golden point was the standard in the World Padel Tour and early Premier Padel events. It's fast, dramatic, and punishes conservative play at deuce.

Star Point (2026 Rule)

Premier Padel introduced the star point rule in 2026. It works as a middle ground: teams play up to 2 advantages at deuce. If the score is still tied after those 2 advantages, the next point is sudden death — like golden point. This keeps matches moving but gives teams a chance to earn the game on their own terms.

Games, Sets, and Match

Winning a Game

Score 4 points (15, 30, 40, game) with a lead based on the deuce format in play. The server stays the same for the entire game.

Winning a Set

Win 6 games with at least a 2-game lead. If the score reaches 5-5, a team needs to win 7-5. At 6-6, the set goes to a tiebreak.

The Tiebreak (at 6-6)

A tiebreak is first to 7 points, win by 2. Points count 1, 2, 3, 4 (normal numbers, not 15-30-40). The serve rotates: the first server hits one point, then each team alternates every 2 points. Teams switch ends every 6 points.

Winning the Match

Win 2 out of 3 sets. In most professional padel (Premier Padel, FIP events), all three sets are played in full if needed.

The Super Tiebreak: When There's No Third Set

In club play, amateur tournaments, and some professional formats, the third set is replaced by a super tiebreak. Instead of playing a full set, teams play a single tiebreak to 10 points, win by 2.

The FIP officially recognizes the super tiebreak (also called "match tiebreak") as an alternative format under Rule 1. It keeps match length predictable — a full 3-set padel match can run 90 minutes or more, but a super tiebreak wraps up in 10-15 minutes.

Serve rotation follows the same pattern as a regular tiebreak: one point for the first server, then 2 points each. Switch ends every 6 points.

Serve Rotation: Who Serves When?

At the start of the match, a coin toss or draw decides. The winning team chooses to serve or receive. The other team picks their side.

Each team decides its own serve order at the start of each set. Player A might serve first, Player B second — but that order stays fixed for the entire set. The pattern alternates between teams: Team 1 Player A → Team 2 Player A → Team 1 Player B → Team 2 Player B → repeat.

After each odd-numbered game (1, 3, 5...), teams switch ends.

Scoring in Practice: A Quick Example

Game starts. Server's team scores: 15-0. Receiving team scores: 15-15. Server's team scores twice: 40-15. Server's team scores again: game.

Set continues. The team that received now serves the next game. At 6-4, the leading team wins the set.

Second set: the losing team fights back, wins 6-3. Score is now 1 set each.

Third set (with super tiebreak): instead of a full set, teams play to 10 points. Score reaches 9-8. The leading team scores: 10-8. Match over.

Which Format Will You Play?

Most club-level padel uses golden point with a super tiebreak for the third set. If you're playing a casual match, agree on the format before the first serve.

Yes — padel players can leave the court mid-point. If the ball bounces on your side and then exits through a door or sails over the back fence, you can sprint outside the cage and return it. The FIP rulebook (2026 edition) allows out-of-court play on courts with two access points per side, a minimum 2 × 4-metre clear zone outside each entrance, and protective padding on the door frames. Most pro matches feature this rule. At club level, it depends on whether your court has the space.

Last updated: April 2026 · Rules sourced from the FIP Rules of Padel (review of application 01.01.2026).

The Most Spectacular Rule in Padel

Your opponent smashes the ball with heavy topspin. It slams into the glass, launches over the back fence — and the point is still alive. You sprint through the door, chase the ball outside the cage, and flick it back over the fence and onto their side.

That's out-of-court play. In Spanish it's called salida de pista (literally "exit from the court"), and it's the single most jaw-dropping thing that happens in padel.

No other racket sport lets you leave the playing area and keep the rally going. Tennis? Ball's out, point's over. Squash? Same. Padel flipped the script.

When Does the Ball Leave the Court?

The ball exits the court in two situations:

Over the back fence. A kick smash (also called the x3 smash) applies heavy topspin to the ball. It hits your side, bounces into the back glass, and the spin launches it up and over the 3-metre fence. The ball is still alive because it only bounced once on your side.

Through the door. The same kick smash — or sometimes a hard angled shot — can send the ball bouncing off the glass and out through the door opening. Standard FIP doors measure between 0.72 and 1.10 metres wide and 2 metres tall with two entrances per side.

In both cases, the ball is in play until it bounces a second time. Your job: get outside and hit it before that happens.

The Official FIP Rules

The FIP Rules of Padel (2026 edition) lay out four conditions a court must meet for out-of-court play:

1. Two access points per side. Each side of the court needs two doors, placed symmetrically.
2. Minimum 2 × 4-metre clear zone. The area outside each entrance must be free of obstacles — no chairs, no walls, no other courts — for at least 2 metres wide and 4 metres long.
3. Minimum 3 metres overhead clearance. The protective area above the exit zone needs at least 3 metres of height. Indoor courts with low ceilings often fail this.
4. Protective padding on door frames. The lateral and upper sides of each access point, plus the net post, must have shock-absorbing padding (spongy rubber, neoprene, etc.) with a minimum thickness of 2 cm.

If any of these aren't met, out-of-court play isn't legal on that court. The match plays as if the ball is dead once it exits.

Why Most Club Courts Don't Allow It

Here's the reality: a large percentage of club courts can't support out-of-court play. Common blockers:

• Indoor facilities often stack courts side by side with no 2-metre gap between them
• Furniture and spectator areas sit right outside the doors
• Low ceilings can't meet the 3-metre overhead clearance
• Missing padding on door frames — many clubs skip this

If you play at a club, check the exit area before assuming out-of-court play is on. No clear zone? Ball exits the court, point's over.

How Pros Use Out-of-Court Play

At the Premier Padel tour, every court meets FIP standards. Out-of-court play isn't just allowed — it's a weapon.

The attack: Arturo Coello and Agustín Tapia are two of the best kick-smashers on tour. A well-placed x3 smash forces the defending team into a sprint through the door. Even if they reach the ball, the return is usually a high, slow lob — easy pickings.

The defense: Some players — Paquito Navarro and Ale Galán among them — have built reputations for spectacular salidas de pista. They chase the ball 4-5 metres outside the cage, whip it around the net post (which is legal), and land winners from outside the court.

The stat: The smash is the shot with the highest point-winning percentage in professional padel, according to research published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (Courel-Ibáñez et al., 2019). The x3 variation is especially effective because even a returned ball comes back weak.

The Around-the-Net-Post Shot

When you're outside the court, one extra rule kicks in: you can hit the ball around the net post instead of over the net. The ball doesn't need to pass above the net — it can travel around the side and land in the opponents' court at any height.

This is legal in padel (and tennis). The shot is rare but spectacular — a low, angled return that curves around the post and drops into the court. It works because from outside the cage, the angle to go over the net barely exists. Going around it is sometimes the only play.

Can You Leave Through Any Opening?

Only through the designated access doors. You can't climb over the fence, squeeze through gaps in the metalwork, or use any opening that isn't an official entrance.

And once you're outside, you still follow normal rules: the ball can only bounce once on the opponents' side, you can't touch the net or net posts, and you can't interfere with opponents.

How to Practice the Salida de Pista

Most recreational players never attempt it. But if your court allows it, here's how to start:

• Drill the trigger. Have a partner hit x3 smashes while you practice reading the ball's exit path off the glass.
• Commit early. Hesitation kills the play. Once you see the ball heading over the fence, sprint immediately. Decide in, not at the door.
• Aim for a high lob. Your first returns won't be winners. A high, deep lob buys time to get back inside the court.
• Watch your footing. The ground outside the court may be wet, uneven, or slippery. Many courts sit on concrete surrounds.

The Crowd-Favorite Play

Out-of-court play is why padel highlights go viral. A player sprinting through a door, chasing down a ball 5 metres outside the cage, and somehow landing the return — it's the sport's signature spectacle.

If you've only played on courts without space for salidas, you've experienced 95% of padel. But that last 5% is what makes people pull out their phone and start filming.

Quick Answer

Padel rackets weigh between 340 and 385 grams without accessories. Beginners should stick to 340-355g for easier handling and injury prevention. Intermediate players do well at 355-365g. Advanced players typically go 365-380g for extra power. The right weight depends on your strength, match frequency, and whether you have any joint issues — not on what the pros use.

Last updated: April 2026 · Prices and availability verified at time of writing.

Everyone obsesses over racket shape. Diamond or round? Carbon or fiberglass? But ask most padel coaches what kills a beginner's progress fastest, and the answer is simpler: wrong weight.

A racket that's too heavy slows your reactions at the net. A racket that's too light robs you of power on smashes. And unlike shape — which affects your style — weight affects whether you can play a full match without your elbow screaming afterward.

Here's how weight actually works.

The Weight Spectrum: 340g to 385g

Every padel racket falls into a 45-gram window. That sounds tiny. It isn't.

Hold a 340g racket in one hand and a 380g racket in the other. The difference is obvious after ten seconds. After 90 minutes of match play, it's the difference between fresh hands and dead arms.

Light (340-355g): Fast to swing, easy on the joints. Less raw power. Best for beginners, players with injury history, and anyone who plays 3+ times per week.

Medium (355-365g): The sweet spot for most club players. Enough mass for solid smashes without tiring you out. Decathlon's Kuikma PR 990 series sits at 355-360g, and it's the most popular intermediate racket in Europe for a reason.

Heavy (365-380g): Serious power, serious demands. Your swing speed needs to be high enough to use the extra mass. Most advanced club players and semi-pros land here.

Very heavy (380g+): Pro territory. Arturo Coello plays at roughly 380g total. Few recreational players benefit from this range.

Why Weight Matters More Than You Think

Weight affects three things directly.

1. Swing speed. A lighter racket moves faster through the air. That means quicker volleys at the net and faster reaction time on bandeja shots. The math is simple: if two players swing with equal force, the lighter racket moves faster.

2. Power transfer. A heavier racket transfers more energy to the ball on contact. Physics wins here — more mass at the same speed means more momentum. But the key phrase is "at the same speed." If the extra weight slows your swing, you lose power.

3. Joint stress. Rackets above 365g put measurably more stress on the elbow, wrist, and shoulder. A 2024 analysis by Padel Vibes UK found that heavier rackets (365g+) correlated with higher incidence of tendon injuries in the elbow and muscle injuries in the shoulder. Lighter rackets (350-365g) reduced joint load enough to be recommended for injury-prone players.

Weight by Playing Level

Beginners (0-12 months): 340-355g

Your technique isn't grooved yet. Off-center hits happen constantly. A light racket lets you recover faster between shots and puts less strain on joints that aren't conditioned for padel movements.

Specific options at this weight: the Kuikma PR 530 (345g), Head Coello Vibe 2026 (355g), or Bullpadel Flow (350g).

Intermediate (1-3 years): 355-365g

You're hitting consistently and starting to attack. A bit more mass helps your smashes land with authority. You can handle the extra grams because your technique absorbs vibration better.

The Adidas Metalbone CTRL at 360g is a popular pick here. Head's Coello Motion 2026 also sits at 360g, designed as a more playable version of Coello's pro model.

Advanced (3+ years): 365-380g

You play regularly, your technique is solid, and you want maximum power on your attacking shots. At this level, the extra weight translates directly into harder smashes and more stable volleys.

The Head Coello Pro 2026 sits at 370g out of the box. The Adidas Metalbone HRD+ 2026 — Ale Galán's signature racket — runs at a similar weight with a high balance point that amplifies the head-heavy feel.

The Hidden Weight: Accessories Add Up

Manufacturers list the "naked" weight — no overgrip, no frame protector. But nobody plays naked.

Each accessory adds mass:

• Overgrip: 5-7 grams per wrap
• Frame protector: 7-10 grams
• Lead tape (for customization): 2-5 grams per strip

A 360g racket with one overgrip and a protector becomes 372-377g. That's a jump from "medium" to "heavy" territory. Reddit's r/padel community regularly reports playing weights of 390-400g after accessories on rackets listed at 365g.

Always weigh your racket ready-to-play, not out of the box. A kitchen scale works fine.

Weight vs Balance: The Real Story

Two rackets can weigh 360g and feel completely different. The reason is balance — where that weight sits.

A racket with 360g and a 272mm balance point (like the Head Coello Pro) feels head-heavy and powerful on overhead shots. A racket with 360g and a 255mm balance point feels handle-heavy and whippy at the net.

The Adidas Metalbone 2026 includes a "Weight & Balance System" that lets you move small weights inside the frame to shift balance without changing total weight. This is a growing trend — several 2026 models from Nox and Bullpadel offer similar customization.

Think of weight as the "what" and balance as the "where." Both matter. A heavy racket with low balance can feel lighter than a medium racket with high balance.

Injury Risk: The Weight You Shouldn't Ignore

Padel elbow is the sport's most common overuse injury. And racket weight is one of the main contributors.

The mechanism: a heavy racket that you can't swing fast enough forces your arm to absorb more vibration on every hit. That repeated stress inflames the tendons in your elbow (lateral epicondylitis) and can take weeks or months to heal.

Red flags that your racket is too heavy:

• Elbow soreness after matches that lasts more than 24 hours
• Shoulder fatigue in the second set
• Wrist pain on backhand volleys
• You're compensating by pushing shots instead of swinging through

What to do: Drop 10-15 grams. Remove the frame protector (saves 7-10g immediately). Switch to a lighter model if needed. A 350g racket that you can swing properly will produce better shots — and fewer injuries — than a 375g racket you're muscling through.

What the Pros Use (And Why You Shouldn't Copy Them)

Pro padel players use heavier rackets than recreational players. That's not opinion — it's measurable.

• Arturo Coello (#1, Head): 380g playing weight (370g racket + overgrip). Diamond shape, 272mm balance.
• Alejandro Galán (Adidas): Metalbone HRD+ 2026, diamond shape, high balance. Estimated 375g+ playing weight.
• Head Coello Team 2026 (the "accessible" version): 360g, same shape, softer feel. Designed for advanced club players, not pros.

These players train daily, have physio teams, and generate enough swing speed to use the extra mass. Copying their racket weight without their conditioning is like running a marathon in sprint shoes — wrong tool for your fitness level.

Quick Decision Guide

Pick 340-355g if:

• You're new to padel (under 1 year)
• You play once a week or less
• You have elbow, wrist, or shoulder issues
• You're over 50 or have limited upper body strength

Pick 355-365g if:

• You play 2-3 times per week
• Your shots land where you want most of the time
• You want more punch without sacrificing too much control
• You're injury-free and physically active

Pick 365-380g if:

• You play 3+ times per week and train regularly
• Your technique is consistent enough to find the sweet spot
• You want maximum power on smashes and bandeja
• You have no history of arm or shoulder injuries

When in doubt, go lighter. You can always add an overgrip or protector to gain 10-15 grams. Taking weight off a racket is much harder.

The Bottom Line

Weight is the most practical spec on a padel racket. Shape is about style. Materials are about feel. But weight determines whether you can actually play your best for a full match.

Start light. Move up only when you're sure your body and technique can handle it. Your elbow will thank you.

In padel doubles, the team at the net wins roughly 80% of points (Applied Sciences, 2024). Your entire game should revolve around two goals: get to the net and stay there. Both partners move as a single unit — 3–4 metres apart, shifting together like they're tied by a rope. The court splits into three zones: attack (0–3 m from the net), transition (around the service line), and defence (near the back glass). Know where you belong in each phase and you'll beat players with better shots than yours.

Last updated: April 2026 · Court dimensions and positioning data verified at time of writing.

Net Position Wins Padel Matches — Here's the Data

Padel is not tennis. In tennis, baseliners win Grand Slams. In padel, the back of the court is where you go to survive — not to win.

Research published in Applied Sciences (2024) found that up to 80% of points in professional padel are won from a position close to the net. Volleys account for 20–25% of winning shots. The bandeja and smash together add another 12–18%.

Padel Telegraph's 2025 match analysis backs this up: players who control the net win over 70% of rallies.

The message is clear. If you're stuck at the back, you're defending. If you're at the net, you're dictating.

The Three Court Zones

Babolat's coaching team breaks the padel court into three zones. Every player should know which zone they're in and what to do there.

Attack Zone (0–3 metres from the net)

This is home base. When you're here, you control the point.

Stand 1–2 metres from the net. Keep your racket up in front of your chest. Split step before every opponent shot. Aim at your opponents' feet, not for flashy winners.

One mistake beginners make: standing too close to the net. If you're glued to the net tape, any lob sails over your head. Give yourself room to react.

Transition Zone (3–7 metres from the net)

The service line area. This is no man's land — the worst place to stand on a padel court.

You're too far from the net to volley with authority. You're too far from the glass to use it. Balls landing at your feet are almost impossible to return cleanly.

The rule: move through this zone, never stop in it. After you serve, walk through it to reach the net. After a good defensive lob, advance through it with your partner.

Defence Zone (1–2 metres from the back glass)

When the opponents have the net, you'll be here. Stand 1–2 metres from the glass — close enough to play balls off the walls, far enough to have reaction time.

Your job from this zone: hit deep lobs, wait for a short ball, then climb forward together.

Unit Movement: The Rope Rule

The single most important tactical concept in padel doubles. Imagine a 3–4 metre rope connecting you and your partner at the hips.

When the ball goes left, both players slide left. When the ball goes right, both shift right. When one player advances, the other advances. When one retreats, both retreat.

This means:

• Never have one player at the net and the other at the back glass. That split formation creates a massive gap through the middle.
• Always shift together laterally to track the ball. If your partner chases a wide ball, you cover the centre.
• Match depth. If your partner drops back to play a lob off the glass, you drop back to the service line area, not stay planted at the net.

Professional pairs like Ale Galan and Arturo Coello move in near-perfect synchronisation. Watch any Premier Padel final — their lateral movement looks choreographed.

Serving Positioning: How to Start Every Point Right

The Server

Start behind the service line, roughly in the centre of your half. Serve to the opponent's body or the T (centre line) — this limits return angles and buys you time.

After the serve, walk forward immediately. Your serve is your ticket to the net. If you serve and stay back, you've wasted the biggest positional advantage in padel: the serving team starts with one player already at the net.

The Server's Partner

Start at the net, 1–2 metres back, centred in your half. Your racket should be up and ready.

Your job: intercept any weak return that floats through the middle. If the return goes wide to your partner's side, hold your position and let them handle it.

Communication matters here. Top-level pairs signal before each point — a hand behind the back telling the server whether the net player plans to poach (cut across) or hold their line.

Returning Positioning: Why Both Players Start Back

This trips up every new padel player. In tennis, the returner's partner stands at the net. In padel, both returners start near the baseline.

Why? Because the serving team already has the net. Putting your partner at the net while you return from the back creates that dangerous split formation — and the server's partner at the net will punish any loose return with a volley.

The Returner

Stand just behind the service box, near the centre of the receiving area. After your return:

• If the return was deep and low — move forward together with your partner.
• If the return sat up high — stay back and prepare to defend.

The Returner's Partner

Stay back, roughly level with the returner, in your half of the court. Move forward only when the returner does. You advance as a pair or not at all.

From Defence to Net: The Transition Climb

Getting pushed back doesn't mean losing the point. It means you need to earn the net back.

Step 1: Hit a deep, high lob. Aim past the service line. This forces the net team to retreat and play an overhead.

Step 2: As the lob travels, both players advance to around the service line.

Step 3: Read the opponent's reply. If they hit a bandeja or short ball, keep advancing to the net. If they smash deep, hold position or retreat.

Step 4: Repeat until you reach the net.

The key word: stages. Never sprint from the back glass to the net in one rush. You'll arrive off-balance with your racket down. Climb in 2–3 forward steps, resetting your ready position between each advance.

Common Positioning Mistakes

Camping in no man's land. Standing around the service line because it "feels safe." It's the opposite. Move forward or fall back — don't hover.

Split formation. One player at the net, the other at the back. This leaves a highway through the middle of the court. Every intermediate opponent will exploit it.

Chasing wide balls across your partner's half. Trust your partner. If a ball goes to their side, they take it. You cover the centre. Crossing over creates chaos.

Standing flat-footed. A split step — a small hop that lands on the balls of both feet — before every opponent shot is non-negotiable. Without it, you can't react to volleys or change direction quickly enough.

Ignoring lateral movement. Shifting forward and back but forgetting to slide sideways with the ball. The rope rule applies in all directions.

FAQ

Where should I stand when my partner is serving in padel? Stand at the net, roughly in the centre of your half, about 1–2 metres from the net. Your job is to intercept weak returns through the middle while your partner serves and moves forward to join you.

Why does the returning team in padel both start at the back? The serving team already holds the net. If the returner's partner stood at the net, they'd face volleys with no time to react. Both players start back, then advance together once a good return pushes the serving team off the net.

How far apart should padel doubles partners stand? About 3–4 metres apart at all times. Picture a short rope connecting you — when the ball moves left, both players shift left. This gap covers the full width of your half without leaving an exposed middle.

What is the transition zone in padel? The area around the service line, roughly 3–7 metres from the net. It's the most dangerous spot on the court because you're too far from the net to volley and too close to the glass to defend lobs. Move through it quickly — never camp there.

How do I move from defence to attack in padel doubles? Hit a deep lob that forces the net team back. As the ball travels, both you and your partner advance to the service line. If the next ball sits up, continue forward to the net. Climb in stages — never sprint the full distance in one go.

Yes, you can volley in padel — and you should. After the serve is returned, either player can hit the ball before it bounces at any point during the rally. The one strict exception: you cannot volley the serve return. The receiver must let the serve bounce first, or they lose the point. Beyond that, volleys are not just legal — they're the foundation of winning padel. Research published in Applied Sciences (2024) found that up to 80% of professional padel points are won from a position close to the net, with volleys accounting for 20-25% of all winning shots.

Last updated: April 2026 · Rules verified against FIP Rules of Padel, effective 01.01.2026.

The One Rule That Trips Everyone Up

Here's the rule that confuses every beginner: you cannot volley the serve return.

When your opponent serves, the ball must bounce once on your side before you hit it. If you step forward and hit it out of the air — even if it's a perfect volley — you lose the point instantly.

This comes straight from the FIP Rules of Padel (updated January 2026). The serve must bounce in the correct service box, and the receiver must play it after the bounce.

After that first return? All bets are off. Volley anything you want.

Why the Serve Return Exception Exists

Padel's serve is underhand and relatively slow. Without the bounce rule, the receiver's partner could camp at the net and intercept serves out of the air, turning the serve into a dead ball. The rule keeps the serve meaningful.

It also creates an interesting tactical asymmetry. The serving team starts with both players at the net (the server follows the serve in). The returning team starts with one player at the back. This is why the serving team wins roughly 60-65% of points in professional padel, according to match data from the Premier Padel tour.

After the Return: Volley Everything

Once the serve return is in play, volleys are your best friend. The net position in padel isn't just nice to have — it's where points are won.

The numbers back this up:

• 70-80% of points are won from a net position (Applied Sciences, 2024)
• Volleys account for 20-25% of all winning shots in professional matches
• Winning players performed more attack strokes in 85% of points during World Padel Tour seasons 2015-2019 (PMC research, 2021)

Padel courts are 10 meters wide and 20 meters long. That's smaller than a tennis court. At the net, you cut off angles and force opponents into defensive shots off the glass. At the back, you're reacting.

Types of Volleys in Padel

The Block Volley

The most common volley. You barely swing — just present the racket face and redirect the ball. Use it when the ball comes at you fast and you don't have time for a full swing.

If the ball comes straight at your body, turn and take it on the backhand side. It's more natural and gives you better control than trying to get your forehand around your torso.

The Drive Volley

A more aggressive volley with a short punch through the ball. Use it when you're set, balanced, and the ball arrives at a comfortable height. Aim deep — 1-2 meters from the back glass.

The key mistake: swinging too big. A padel volley is a push, not a tennis forehand. Keep the backswing short. Your racket should travel 30-40 centimeters max before contact.

The Drop Volley

A soft touch shot that dies near the net. Use it when opponents are pinned deep behind the service line. The ball should bounce twice before reaching the back glass.

This takes feel. Practice it with a soft grip and loose wrist. If you're squeezing the handle, the ball goes too far.

Volley Technique: The Basics

Grip

Continental. Same as your bandeja and serve. The V between thumb and index finger sits on top of the handle. This neutral grip lets you switch forehand to backhand without rotating your hand — critical when you have fractions of a second to react at the net.

Ready Position

Stand 2-3 meters from the net. Racket at chest height, head up, slight knee bend. Weight on the balls of your feet.

Common mistake: standing too close to the net. At 1 meter from the net, every lob goes over your head and every fast ball arrives before you can react. At 2-3 meters, you cover both.

Footwork

Step forward into the volley with the opposite foot. Forehand volley: step with your left foot (if right-handed). Backhand volley: step with your right foot. This step transfers weight into the shot.

Don't cross your feet. Don't stand flat-footed. Small split steps between shots keep you ready.

Contact Point

Hit the ball in front of your body — roughly 30-40 centimeters ahead of your leading shoulder. If the ball gets beside you or behind you, your options shrink to zero.

The racket face should be slightly open (tilted back 10-15 degrees). This creates a bit of underspin, which keeps the ball low after it bounces.

Where to Aim Your Volleys

Bad volleys go short and sit up at a comfortable height for your opponents. Good volleys go deep — into the body or toward the back glass.

Three targets to practice:

1. Deep center — between both opponents. Forces them to decide who takes it
2. At the feet — when opponents are moving forward toward the net. A ball at ankle height is almost impossible to attack
3. Into the body — aim at the hip of the closer opponent. Body shots jam the swing and force weak returns

Avoid aiming for the side glass unless you've got a clean angle. A volley that hits the side glass and pops up gives your opponents a free attack.

The Net Battle: Why Volleys Win Matches

Padel is a game of position. The pair that controls the net controls the point. Here's what that looks like in practice:

The serving team starts at the net. The returning team starts split — one at the back, one at the net. The entire first phase of the rally is the returning team trying to work their way forward and take the net away from the servers.

They do this with lobs, low chiquitas, and patient groundstrokes off the glass. The serving team defends with volleys, bandejas, and smashes.

This is why the volley matters so much. It's not one shot — it's the skill that lets you hold your ground at the net point after point. Every volley you miss or hit weakly is an invitation for your opponents to take your spot.

Watch Arturo Coello or Ale Galan play a match. They don't hit spectacular volleys. They hit 40-50 solid ones per match. Compact, well-placed, deep. That consistency is what keeps them at the net.

Common Volley Mistakes

Swinging like a groundstroke. The volley is a compact punch, not a full swing. If your racket goes behind your shoulder on the backswing, you're overdoing it.

Standing too close to the net. You'll get lobbed constantly and fast balls will handcuff you. Keep 2-3 meters of breathing room.

Aiming short. A volley that lands on the service line bounces up at waist height — the perfect setup for your opponents. Aim deep: past the service line, toward the back glass.

Flat racket face. A perfectly flat racket sends the ball straight at your opponents with zero margin. Open the face slightly for underspin and control.

Forgetting the split step. After every shot at the net, do a small hop to reset. Flat feet between volleys means you're always a half-second late to the next one.

The Bottom Line

Yes, you can volley in padel. Except on the serve return, you're free to hit the ball out of the air whenever you want. And you should — often. The net is where padel points are decided. Master the block volley first, add the drive volley for aggression, and mix in the drop volley to keep opponents honest. Get the continental grip, stand 2-3 meters from the net, and punch through the ball with a compact motion. That's 80% of what you need to hold the net and win more points.

A padel match lasts 60 to 90 minutes on average. Matches are best of three sets with no time limit — the clock stops when someone wins. A straight-sets blowout can wrap up in 45 minutes, while a tight three-setter between evenly matched teams stretches past 2 hours. Most clubs offer 90-minute bookings, which is enough for a full match plus a warm-up.

Last updated: April 2026 · Prices and availability verified at time of writing.

There's No Clock in Padel

Unlike football or basketball, padel has no running clock. The match is over when one team wins two sets. That means your 45-minute Tuesday night session and a 2-hour weekend battle both count as "a match."

This is what makes the question tricky. Duration depends on three things: how close the teams are in level, which scoring format you're using, and whether the match goes to a third set.

The Breakdown: Sets, Games, and Points

A padel match is best of three sets. Each set is first to six games, with a tiebreak at 6-6. Here's how the time stacks up:

• One game: 3 to 5 minutes on average
• One set: 18 to 30 minutes (research from PadelMBA puts the range at 18-30 minutes depending on competitiveness)
• Two-set match (6-3, 6-4): 45 to 65 minutes
• Three-set match (6-4, 4-6, 7-5): 80 to 120 minutes

Each rally in professional padel lasts 12-14 seconds for men and 14-16 seconds for women, according to match analysis studies. Amateur rallies tend to be shorter — more unforced errors, fewer 20-shot wall exchanges.

What Makes Matches Longer (or Shorter)

Skill level parity. Two teams at the same level produce more deuce games, more tiebreaks, more third sets. A mismatch ends fast.

Scoring format. Golden point (sudden death at 40-40) trims 2 to 4 minutes per match compared to the advantage system. Most amateur tournaments and club play use golden point. Premier Padel and FIP-sanctioned events use the advantage system, which allows games to extend through multiple deuces.

Playing style. Two defensive teams who lob and grind from the back wall drag rallies out. Two aggressive teams that finish at the net? Much faster. A defensive battle at a similar level can add 15-20 minutes.

Weather and surface. Outdoor matches in heat include more breaks. Artificial grass courts play slower than indoor courts, extending rally length.

How Long to Book a Court

Most padel clubs offer 60-minute or 90-minute slots. Here's the practical guide:

• 60 minutes: Two sets comfortably, maybe a super tiebreak for a third. Good for weeknight games.
• 90 minutes: A full best-of-three match with warm-up time. The sweet spot for competitive play.
• 120 minutes: Only needed if you're doing drills before or after, or if both teams are at a high level and matches regularly go three sets.

If you're splitting cost four ways, the difference between 60 and 90 minutes is small. Go with 90 — nothing worse than running out of time at 5-5 in the third.

Pro Matches: The Extremes

At the professional level, match duration swings wildly.

The longest match in Premier Padel history lasted 4 hours and 39 seconds — Marina Lobo and Sofia Saiz Vallejo defeated Riera and Borrero at the Milan P1 in December 2024. That's a marathon by padel standards.

On the other end, top seeds wrap up fast. Arturo Coello and Agustín Tapia entered 2026 with 19,800 ranking points after 13 titles in 2025. They can close a mismatch in 40 minutes flat.

The Guinness World Record attempt? A charity event in March 2025 that aimed for 39 straight hours of play.

Padel vs Tennis: Which Takes Longer?

Tennis matches run longer. A men's Grand Slam match (best of five sets) averages 2.5 to 3 hours. Even a best-of-three women's match typically runs 90 minutes to 2 hours.

Padel's shorter rallies, smaller court, and golden point option keep things tighter. A padel match rarely exceeds 2 hours outside of professional play.

The Bottom Line

Book 90 minutes. You'll almost always have enough time for a full match, a drink of water between sets, and a few practice serves at the start. If you're short on time, 60 minutes works for two quick sets — just skip the warm-up and play fast.

The top padel players in the world earn €400,000–€800,000+ per year from prize money and sponsorships combined. Agustin Tapia and Arturo Coello each took home €492,375 in prize money alone in 2024, winning 14 of 21 tournaments. But drop below the top 30–50 in the world rankings and the math flips: travel costs of €25,000–€35,000 per year plus coaching fees often exceed what players win. Only a thin slice of professional padel players can live from the sport alone.

Last updated: April 2026 · Prices and availability verified at time of writing.

The Top Earners: What the Best Players Make

Agustin Tapia (Argentina, FIP #1, born 1999) and Arturo Coello (Spain, FIP #1, born 2002) dominated 2024. Each earned €492,375 in prize money after winning 94 of 101 matches and claiming 14 titles in 21 tournaments.

Those numbers are prize money only. Add sponsorships and the picture changes. Tapia signed a deal with Commvault (NASDAQ: CVLT) for the 2025–26 season. Coello carries equipment and clothing deals. Industry estimates put total earnings for a top-5 men's player at €800,000–€1 million per year when prize money, equipment contracts, clothing deals, and corporate sponsorships are stacked together.

On the women's side, Ariana Sanchez (Spain, FIP #3, born 1997) leads the all-time career prize money database at €1,302,344 according to Padelearnings. Gemma Triay and Delfi Brea are right behind her.

Prize Money by Tournament Tier

Premier Padel runs three tiers. The money jumps at each level.

Major (total pool: €525,000 per category)

• Winner: €47,250 per player
• Finalist: €23,625
• Semifinalist: €13,125
• Quarterfinalist: €8,531
• Round of 16: €5,250

P1 (total pool: ~€260,000 men's / ~€235,000 women's)

• Winner: €25,500 men's / €17,000 women's
• Finalist: €13,500 / €9,350
• Semifinalist: €7,125 / €5,100

P2 (total pool: ~€197,000–€235,000)

• Winner: €15,000 men's / €8,500 women's
• Finalist: €8,250 / €4,675

Data from Relevo and Padelalto. Prize pools vary slightly by host country.

The Gender Pay Gap in Padel

At Major level, men's and women's prize money is equal: €525,000 per category. That's a strong floor.

Below that, the gap appears. A women's P1 winner takes €17,000 — 33% less than the men's €25,500. At P2 level, the gap widens: €8,500 versus €15,000.

The gap is shrinking. Prize pools across all tiers have more than doubled since 2022. But parity at P1 and P2 hasn't arrived yet.

The Cost of Going Pro

Here's where the dream collides with spreadsheets. A player ranked around #80 in the world earns roughly €15,000–€30,000 in annual prize money.

Now subtract costs:

• Travel: €25,000–€35,000 per year (flights, hotels for 15–20 international tournaments)
• Coaching: €10,000–€20,000 per year
• Equipment and physio: €5,000–€10,000 per year
• Total annual expenses: €45,000–€100,000

A player ranked 50th to 80th in the world often runs a deficit on prize money alone. Many supplement income through coaching, private lessons, and clinics. Some depend on family support or small regional sponsors just to stay on tour.

Only the top 30–50 players earn enough from tournaments to cover costs and live comfortably. Everyone else needs sponsorships or a second income.

The US Factor: Pro Padel League

The Pro Padel League (PPL) is trying to change the economics — at least in North America. After raising $15 million in Series A funding led by Charlotte Hornets co-chairman Rick Schnall, the PPL announced guaranteed player compensation for the 2026 season.

Players pick one of five salary tiers: $15,000–$45,000 guaranteed in 2026, doubling to $30,000–$90,000 in 2027 when the schedule expands. Add prize money and bonuses on top.

The PPL's 2026 season runs five events across North America starting July 9, with over $350,000 in total compensation and prize money. PPL II, a developmental circuit, launched separately with its own $350,000 pool.

Guaranteed salaries are new for padel. The Premier Padel circuit operates on prize money only — no base pay.

Sponsorships: Where the Real Money Lives

For top players, sponsorships dwarf prize money. Equipment brands (Bullpadel, Wilson, Adidas, Babolat, Head, Nox) sign the top 20–30 players for equipment and clothing deals. Corporate sponsors are entering too: Commvault's deal with Tapia, Qatar Airways as Premier Padel's title sponsor.

Players outside the top 20 get smaller deals — free equipment, travel support, maybe €10,000–€30,000 per year. Past the top 50, most players have no sponsorship income at all.

The sponsorship market is growing with the sport. Padel equipment alone was a €550 million market in 2022, and brands are fighting for visibility on the highest-ranked players.

Padel vs. Tennis: The Earnings Gap

Padel's top earner makes roughly €500,000 in prize money per year. Tennis's top earner? Over $15 million. Novak Djokovic has earned more than $180 million in career prize money.

A top-100 tennis player earns €300,000–€800,000 per year in prize money. A top-100 padel player earns closer to €15,000–€50,000. The gap is massive — but padel prize money has more than doubled since 2022, and the trajectory is steep.

Tennis has a 50-year head start in prize money growth. Padel is compressing that timeline.

What's Changing

Three forces are pushing padel earnings up:

1. Prize money growth: More than doubled since 2022 across all Premier Padel tiers
2. New leagues: The PPL's guaranteed salary model could become a template for other regional leagues
3. Corporate sponsors: Tech companies (Commvault), airlines (Qatar Airways), and betting firms (Betsson) are entering padel — that money flows to players

The sport is at the stage where tennis was in the 1980s: prize money is real but concentrated at the top, sponsorship money is growing fast, and the professional middle class is still struggling.

The padel smash comes in four types: flat (power finish), topspin (kick off the glass), x3 (ball exits over the 3m side fence), and x4 (ball exits over the 4m back wall). Amateur smashes travel 105–135 km/h. The key to all four is position first, power second — get under the ball, turn sideways, and snap the wrist at the highest contact point.

Last updated: April 2026 · Prices and availability verified at time of writing.

The Smash Is Not What You Think

Most beginners treat the smash like a free winner. Hit hard, win the point, celebrate. But padel coaches will tell you the opposite: the smash loses more points than it wins at amateur level.

Why? Walls.

In tennis, a smash that clears the baseline is gone. In padel, that same ball rebounds off the back glass and floats back to your opponents. A bad smash gives them an easy counter.

The best players — Agustin Tapia, Arturo Coello, Ale Galan — smash less often than beginners. But when they do, they pick the right type for the right moment.

The Four Types of Padel Smash

1. Flat Smash (Remate Plano)

The classic power shot. You hit the ball flat with maximum force, aiming to end the point before the ball reaches the glass.

When to use it: You're at the net, the ball is high, and both opponents are on the same side or deep in the court.

Target: Aim straight down the line (parallel). The short distance gives opponents the least reaction time.

Technique: Continental grip, contact at full extension, wrist snaps forward and through. The ball should bounce twice before the glass, or hit so hard it stays low after the rebound.

2. Topspin Smash (Remate con Efecto)

Instead of ending the point outright, you hit with heavy topspin. The ball kicks upward off the glass, making it hard to play off the rebound.

When to use it: You're at mid-court and want to keep pressure without risking an error. The topspin gives you margin.

Target: Aim toward the back glass. The topspin makes the ball bounce high and unpredictable after the rebound.

Technique: Eastern grip, contact slightly in front of the body. Roll the wrist over the ball to create forward spin. Think of brushing the top of the ball, not punching through it.

3. The X3 Smash

This is the crowd-pleaser. An x3 smash hits the back glass (or side glass), and the topspin carries the ball up and over the 3-meter side fence. The point is over — opponents cannot leave the court to play it.

When to use it: Mid-court position, high ball, and room to generate spin. You need both technique and power.

How it works: The heavy topspin makes the ball bite the glass and jump upward. It clears the wire mesh on the side (3 meters high) and exits the court.

Why it's hard: You need to combine the right spin direction, enough power, and precise placement on the glass. Miss the angle, and the ball stays in play with you stuck mid-court.

4. The X4 Smash

The x4 is pure aggression. Hit from close to the net, the ball hammers into the floor, bounces into the back glass, and flies out over the 4-meter back wall.

When to use it: Close to the net, high ball, and you want to end the rally.

How it works: The steep downward angle creates a fast floor bounce. The ball hits the glass with so much speed it clears the 4-meter wall behind the court.

Key detail: This shot requires an explosive wrist snap directed downward. The power comes from your hand, not your shoulder.

The Traffic Light Rule: When to Smash

Spanish padel coaches use a "traffic light" system to decide shot selection:

Green zone (net to service line): Smash freely. You have time, angle, and position. Flat or x4 work best here.

Amber zone (service line to mid-court): Smash only if the ball is high and you're balanced. Topspin or x3 are safer bets. A bandeja might be smarter.

Red zone (behind mid-court): Do not smash. Play a bandeja or vibora. Forcing a smash from deep is how you gift points to your opponents.

Three Common Smash Mistakes

1. Smashing off-balance. If you're leaning backward or reaching above your head while moving, the ball goes long or into the glass at a bad angle. Set your feet first.

2. Going full power every time. A controlled smash at 70–80% effort with good placement beats a 100% swing that lands in no-man's land. Accuracy wins.

3. Not recovering after the smash. You hit a topspin smash and admire it. The ball rebounds off the glass, your opponents scoop it up, and you're stuck behind the service line. Always push back to the net after contact.

Flat vs. Topspin: Which to Practice First?

Start with topspin. Counter-intuitive, but topspin smashes have a higher margin for error. The spin keeps the ball in play even when your placement is off.

Flat smashes demand precise power and angle. One degree off, and the ball sails out or rebounds to a perfect counter. Save flat smashes for when your topspin is consistent.

Professional padel bears this out. Watch Agustin Tapia on Premier Padel — he uses topspin smashes to build pressure and reserves the flat finish for clear-cut chances.

Padel balls and tennis balls look almost identical, but they're built for different games. Padel balls run at 10–11 PSI internal pressure compared to 14 PSI in tennis balls. That 30% pressure gap means padel balls bounce lower and travel slower — exactly what you need on a 20×10-meter court with glass walls. The size difference is minimal (padel balls are up to 8% smaller), but the feel on court is night and day.

Last updated: April 2026 · Prices and availability verified at time of writing.

The Specs, Side by Side

Both balls are rubber spheres covered in felt. Both weigh 56–59.4 grams. From a distance, you'd never tell them apart. Up close, three things separate them.

Pressure. FIP regulations set padel ball pressure at 4.6–5.2 kg/cm² (roughly 10–11 PSI). ITF tennis balls sit at about 14 PSI. Pick up a padel ball and squeeze it — it gives more than a tennis ball does.

Size. Padel balls measure 6.35–6.77 cm in diameter (FIP rules, updated January 2026). Tennis balls span 6.54–6.86 cm. There's overlap in the middle, but a padel ball at the small end is noticeably compact.

Bounce. Drop both from 2.54 meters onto a hard surface. A padel ball bounces 135–145 cm. A tennis ball bounces 135–147 cm. The ranges overlap on paper, but combine lower pressure with the smaller size and padel balls consistently sit at the low end.

Why the Pressure Gap Matters

Padel courts are enclosed. Glass walls, metal mesh, and a net — all inside a space one-third the size of a tennis court. A high-bounce, high-pressure ball on that court creates chaos. Balls fly off walls at sharp angles, rallies end in two shots, and control disappears.

Lower pressure fixes that. At 10–11 PSI, the ball stays predictable off glass. Wall rebounds are readable. Players have time to set up, move into position, and play the tactical game padel rewards.

Pro players at Premier Padel events use Wilson Premier Padel Balls — tuned with Dura-Weave felt and a core designed for consistent response on glass-walled courts. At the recreational level, Head Padel Pro and Bullpadel Next Pro are popular FIP-approved options. A can of three runs €5–8 depending on the brand.

Can You Use Tennis Balls for Padel?

Technically, yes. The ball will bounce and you can play points. But the experience suffers fast.

Tennis balls bounce too high off the glass. Lobs become unplayable when the ball rockets off the back wall. The extra speed compresses reaction time on a court that's already small. And the faster wear pattern on enclosed-court felt means tennis balls lose their fuzz quicker than padel balls do.

Every padel club, school, and federation recommends using actual padel balls. At €5–8 per can, the cost difference from tennis balls is negligible.

How Long Do Padel Balls Last?

Padel balls lose pressure from the moment you open the can. How fast depends on how hard you play.

Recreational players get 3–4 matches from one set of balls. The felt holds up and the bounce stays playable for about 4–6 hours of court time.

Competitive and tournament play burns through a set in 1–2 matches. Pros at Premier Padel events swap balls every few games.

Pressurizer tubes extend ball life. These sealed containers maintain internal pressure when you're not playing. Brands like Pascal Box and Head sell pressurizers for €15–25. They won't restore dead felt, but they keep the bounce consistent between sessions.

The quick test: hold the ball at shoulder height and drop it. If it bounces below your knee, open a new can.

What Ball Should You Buy?

For most recreational players, any FIP-approved ball works fine. Three popular options in 2026:

• Wilson Premier Padel — the tour ball, consistent bounce, premium price (~€7–8 per can)
• Head Padel Pro — widely available, solid all-rounder (~€5–6 per can)
• Bullpadel Next Pro — good durability, slightly slower pace (~€5–6 per can)

If you play in cold weather or on slow surfaces, Wilson also makes a Premier Padel Speed Ball with higher rebound for those conditions.

One tip: buy in bulk. Most retailers discount packs of 12–24 cans. For a group that plays twice a week, a 24-can box lasts roughly two months and costs 15–20% less per can.

Building a single padel court costs between €20,000 and €90,000. The biggest cost variable is the foundation — an existing concrete slab saves up to €35,000. The steel-and-glass court structure runs €16,500–€35,000, artificial turf adds €1,000–€5,000, and lighting costs €1,800–€8,000. Indoor courts cost more upfront but generate revenue year-round.

Last updated: March 2026 · Prices verified from multiple court manufacturers and industry sources.

Cost Breakdown by Component

Here's where the money goes, per court:

Foundation is the wildcard. If you're converting an existing tennis club with a solid concrete base, you might skip this entirely. Building from scratch on raw land? Budget €20,000–€35,000 for earthworks, drainage, and a reinforced slab.

The court structure itself is a steel frame with glass walls. Panoramic courts — the ones used on the Premier Padel tour with no metal beams blocking the glass — cost more because they require thicker, precision-fit glass panels.

Indoor vs Outdoor: What's the Real Difference?

The court structure costs roughly the same either way. The gap comes from everything around it.

Outdoor courts need weather-resistant materials, drainage systems, and wind protection. Budget €25,000–€50,000 per court all-in.

Indoor courts need a building. A warehouse conversion runs €15,000–€30,000 per court in structural adaptation. Purpose-built facilities cost significantly more. You also need 6 meters of minimum ceiling height (FIP regulation) and a full lighting system since there's no natural light.

The trade-off is straightforward: indoor courts cost 40–60% more to build, but they operate 12 months a year. In northern Europe or rainy climates, that's the difference between a viable business and a seasonal hobby.

The Foundation Problem

Tennis court slabs aren't strong enough. Padel court walls weigh roughly 3.6 tons, and they need a rigid base drilled into concrete.

Two common foundation types:

Ring beam strip foundation — concrete poured in an exterior ring to support the wall load. Cost-effective and works in most climates.

Reinforced concrete slab with slope — a full slab with built-in drainage. Not ideal in cold climates where frost can cause cracking.

A local contractor handles this part. It's separate from the court manufacturer's scope, and it's the component most likely to blow your budget if you don't get quotes early.

Real-World Example: 2 Courts

Here's what a two-court outdoor facility actually costs, based on industry data from Padel.fyi:

That's €41,900 per court. A solid mid-range benchmark for outdoor courts with quality turf and lighting.

What About Revenue?

Padel courts are doubles-only — 4 players per booking by design. That changes the math compared to tennis.

Court rental runs €30–€45 per hour across most European markets (€20–€30 off-peak, €30–€45+ peak hours). At roughly 5 hours of daily use, a single court generates €6,000–€7,000 per month gross — or roughly €72,000–€84,000 per year. Net profit after management costs sits at 20–30%, around €1,200–€2,000 per month per court.

Add coaching, leagues, and food-and-beverage on top, and the payback period for most clubs is 2–4 years.

That revenue density — 4 paying players on 200 sqm — is why clubs from Madrid to Miami are converting tennis courts to padel. A padel court produces roughly 6x more revenue per square meter than a tennis court in comparable conditions.

Hidden Costs to Budget For

Permits and planning. Many jurisdictions require planning permission for padel courts, especially for the glass walls and lighting poles. Budget 2–4 months for the process.

Anti-corrosion treatment. Coastal locations need galvanized or stainless steel frames. Saltwater exposure wrecks standard steel within 3–5 years.

Sand infill. Artificial turf needs silica sand — roughly 15kg per sqm. It settles over time and needs topping up every 6–12 months.

Insurance. Glass walls mean glass breakage risk. A single tempered glass panel replacement costs €500–€1,500 depending on size and type.

Turf Options and Cost

The surface affects both cost and playability.

Straight-fiber turf is the budget option at €5–€10 per sqm. It plays fast, drains well, and works for recreational facilities.

Curled-fiber turf (like MONDO, used on the Premier Padel tour) costs €12–€20 per sqm. It provides more cushioning, better ball response, and lasts longer under heavy use.

At 200 sqm per court, that's a €1,000–€4,000 difference. Worth the upgrade for any club planning serious play.

The Bottom Line

A bare-minimum outdoor padel court on an existing slab: €20,000–€25,000.

A quality outdoor court built from scratch with lighting: €40,000–€55,000.

A premium indoor court with panoramic glass and MONDO turf: €70,000–€90,000.

The sweet spot for most clubs is 2–4 outdoor courts at €35,000–€50,000 each. At that scale, shared foundation and transport costs bring the per-court price down, and you have enough courts to run leagues and events.

Alejandro Galán and Federico Chingotto beat Agustín Tapia and Arturo Coello 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 in the men's final. The opening set was tense — unforced errors on both sides, nerves on the biggest US padel stage ever. Chingotto won the cross-court battle against Coello to edge the first set.

Tapia and Coello fought back aggressively in the second, taking it 6-3. Then Galán and Chingotto surged to 3-0 in the decider, absorbed a brief comeback, and Chingotto sealed it with an explosive bandeja. MVP of the final. Their second title of 2026.

A day earlier, they'd beaten García/Barahona 6-1, 6-0 in the quarters and Franco Stupaczuk/Fede Yanguas 6-2, 6-2 in the semis. This wasn't a one-match surge. It was a week of dominance.

The women's final was even more dramatic. Paula Josemaría and Beatriz González defeated Gemma Triay and Delfina Brea 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 in a near three-hour marathon.

Josemaría took home MVP. Her left-handed defense and pinpoint chiquitas tore Triay and Brea apart. They hadn't lost a match all season. That streak is over.

One week earlier in Cancún, Triay and Brea beat this exact pair 7-6, 6-1 in the final. The response from Josemaría and González? They came back sharper, tougher, and more composed under pressure. This rivalry is now real.

The race is wide open in both draws. Galán and Chingotto sit 3,570 points behind Tapia/Coello. The world number ones are skipping Newgiza next month — that gap is about to shrink. In the women's game, the aura of invincibility around Triay and Brea is gone. The 2026 season just got a lot more interesting.

Source: Canal 26 — Chingotto brilló junto a Galán, Marca — Josemaría y González campeonas

• Pro Padel League raises $15M — NBA governor leads the round — Charlotte Hornets co-chairman Rick Schnall led the Series A. Daddy Yankee and Frances Tiafoe are among the investors. The money goes toward a developmental circuit (PPL 2) and front-office expansion. CNBC, The Athletic, and Sports Business Journal all covered it. That's padel on the American business front page. (CNBC)

• WHOOP signs three-year deal as Premier Padel's Official Wearable Partner — Every tour player gets a WHOOP device for 24/7 health and performance tracking. WHOOP already works with F1, the NFL, and the PGA Tour. A three-year deal from a brand that tracks NFL and F1 athletes? Premier Padel is pulling real sponsors now. (Padel FIP)

• UK padel hits 860,000 players — 1 million is next — The Guardian reports 860,000 Britons played padel in 2025, up from 400,000 in 2024 and just 129,000 in 2023. Courts have nearly doubled: 1,553 across 559 venues. London hosts its first Premier Padel P1 in August. The timing is perfect. (The Guardian)

• Padel confirmed as medal sport at Istanbul 2027 European Games — The FIP called it "a fundamental step towards Olympic participation." The European Games feed directly into the Olympic pathway. Brisbane 2032 is the target. National federations now have a reason to fund padel programs. (Inside The Games)

• Carlos Tevez opens "Apache 32" padel club in Buenos Aires — The Argentine football legend launched a five-court indoor academy backed by Bullpadel. Named after his iconic nickname and shirt number. Football and padel crossover in Argentina keeps growing — and brands are paying for it. (Marketing Registrado)

Miami P1 — Miami Beach Convention Center, United States (March 22-30) Prize money: €479,068 | Venue: Indoor, Padel Galis courts, RealTurf surface

Men's Draw:

• Final: Galán/Chingotto (2) def. Tapia/Coello (1) — 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 🏆
• SF: Tapia/Coello (1) def. Lebrón/Augsburger (4) — 5-7, 6-3, 6-2
• SF: Galán/Chingotto (2) def. Stupaczuk/Yanguas (3) — 6-2, 6-2
• QF: Lebrón/Augsburger (4) def. Sanz/Nieto — 6-3, 7-5

Women's Draw:

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

Updated Rankings: Men: 1. Tapia/Coello (20,910 pts) · 2. Galán/Chingotto (17,340) · 3. Lebrón/Augsburger · 4. Stupaczuk/Yanguas Women: 1. Triay/Brea (17,300 pts) · 2. Josemaría/González (13,880/13,350)

Newgiza P2 — April 13-18, Giza, Egypt

Tapia and Coello are skipping it. Third year in a row. That makes Galán/Chingotto heavy favorites and gives them a real chance to close the 3,570-point RACE gap. Stupaczuk and Yanguas won Newgiza in 2024 — they know the conditions. Lebrón and Augsburger will want to convert their consistent semi-final runs into a title.

In the women's draw, Triay and Brea face immediate pressure to bounce back. Josemaría and González carry all the momentum from Miami.

Premier Padel cancelled the Qatar Major due to regional instability. Next after Newgiza: Brussels P2 (April 20-27), where Tapia/Coello return.

The Miami P1 was the most expensive padel event ever held in the United States — €479,068 in total prize money. For context, the entire 2023 US padel calendar across all events didn't match that figure. Three years ago, America had zero Premier Padel events. Now it has the biggest one outside Europe.

Federico Chingotto

Argentine, right-handed, world number three (with Galán). Chingotto is 28 and just claimed MVP at the biggest US padel event in history. Standing at 1.70m, he's one of the shorter players on the tour — and one of the most explosive. His signature move? The bandeja from impossible angles. He generates power that players 15cm taller struggle to match.

Chingotto started as a tennis kid in Buenos Aires before switching to padel at 14. He reached the Premier Padel top tier alongside Juan Tello before pairing with Galán at the start of 2025. The chemistry clicked immediately. Two titles already in 2026 and a three-set final win over the world number ones. The question now: can they sustain this and challenge for the year-end number one spot?

Tapia and Coello skipping Newgiza for the third year running is a competitive integrity problem Premier Padel needs to fix. The world number ones cherry-picking their schedule while sitting on a 3,500-point cushion is bad for the tour. Imagine Djokovic just not showing up to ATP 500s because he didn't feel like it.

P2 events should either carry mandatory attendance for top-four pairs or offer enough ranking points to punish skipping. Right now, the system rewards managing your calendar over competing. That's fine in individual sports with 50-week schedules. Padel doesn't have that luxury. The tour is still building credibility. Empty draws at P2s undermine it. Agree? Hit reply.

860,000 — People who played padel in the UK in 2025. That's up from 400,000 in 2024 and 129,000 in 2023. A 6.7x increase in two years. With London's first Premier Padel P1 coming in August, the one million mark could fall before the year is out.

Source: The Guardian

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© 2026 The Padel Brief | thepadelbrief.com

The padel serve is always underhand — you bounce the ball once and hit it at or below waist height. It must land in the diagonal service box. You get two attempts per point. In 2026, the FIP tightened the rules: the ball must now bounce inside your own service box and cannot cross any line (including imaginary extensions) before contact. The serve isn't about power — it's about placement, spin, and getting to the net fast.

Last updated: March 2026 · Rules verified against the FIP 2026 regulations effective January 1, 2026.

The Basic Rules of Serving in Padel

Padel's serve looks nothing like tennis. There's no ball toss, no overhead motion, no 200 km/h bombs. Here's what the FIP rulebook requires:

• Underhand only. Contact must happen at or below waist height.
• Bounce first. Drop the ball and let it bounce once before striking.
• Both feet behind the service line. At least one foot must stay on the ground until contact.
• Diagonal target. The ball must land in the opposite service box.
• Two attempts. First serve fault? You get another. Two faults? Point lost.

The serve alternates between partners each game, and you switch service boxes each point — just like tennis.

What Changed in the 2026 FIP Rules

The FIP updated Article 6 of its rulebook, effective January 1, 2026. The key change targets where the ball can bounce before you strike it.

The new rule: The ball must bounce within your corresponding service box. It cannot cross the service line or the center line — including their imaginary extensions — before you make contact.

Why it matters: Before 2026, some players bounced the ball slightly forward of the service line or past the center line "in the air." That's now a fault. The FIP wants cleaner, more standardized serves and easier calls for referees.

The catch: Enforcing imaginary lines is tricky. A referee in the center chair has a poor angle on whether the ball crossed an invisible boundary at match speed. Expect debates.

These rules apply across Premier Padel, CUPRA FIP Tour, FIP Promises, and FIP Beyond events in 2026.

Serve Technique: Step by Step

Grip: Continental

Use the continental grip — the same one you'd use for a bandeja or a volley. Place the V between your thumb and index finger on top of the handle. This gives you control on flat serves and enough wrist freedom for slice.

Stance: Sideways, Balanced

Stand behind the service line with your non-dominant shoulder facing the net. Feet shoulder-width apart, knees soft. Your front foot points toward the diagonal service box.

The Bounce

Drop the ball gently in front of your body. Let it bounce once — don't throw it, don't flick it. The bounce should land close to your body and slightly ahead of your lead foot.

Under the 2026 rules, keep the bounce well inside your service box. Give yourself a margin from the lines.

The Strike

Swing like a pendulum. Your racket starts behind your hip, swings forward, and makes contact at or below waist height. The motion is smooth and compact. Don't try to muscle the ball.

Contact point: slightly in front of your body, around belt-buckle height. Hit through the ball for flat serves. Brush across it for slice.

The Follow-Up

Serve and move. The instant you strike, take 2-3 quick steps toward the net. In doubles padel, the serving team starts at a disadvantage — you're at the baseline, your opponents own the net. Every serve should be followed by forward movement.

Three Serve Types Every Player Needs

1. Flat Serve — The Foundation

Hit with a neutral racket face, straight through the ball. Low spin, clean contact, predictable bounce.

Use it for: Consistency under pressure. Targeting corners with precision. Setting up your net approach.

2. Slice Serve — The Weapon

Brush the racket across the ball from high-right to low-left (right-handers). The sidespin makes the ball curve in flight and skip low after bouncing.

Use it for: Pulling receivers wide. Hitting the side glass for unpredictable bounces. Forcing defensive returns.

Pro players use slice on roughly 70% of their serves. It's the bread-and-butter serve at every level above beginner.

3. Body Serve — The Disruptor

Aim at the receiver's belt buckle — right between their forehand and backhand. It jams their swing and limits their return options.

Use it for: Breaking a returner's rhythm. Disrupting aggressive opponents who like to move early.

Placement Beats Power

In padel, a 60 km/h serve aimed at the right spot beats a 90 km/h serve aimed at nothing. Here's where to put it:

Deep to the back glass. A serve that bounces and carries into the back glass forces the receiver to play an awkward return off the glass. This is the most common placement at club level.

Wide to the side wall. Slice the serve wide with sidespin so it kicks off the side glass. The receiver has to handle two bounces — the floor and the wall — in quick succession.

Short in the service box. Drop the ball just over the net into the front of the box. The receiver has to rush forward, which pulls them out of position. High-risk, high-reward.

At the body. The body serve removes angles. The receiver can't extend their arm fully, which means weaker returns and more pop-ups.

Mix all four targets. Predictable servers get punished.

Common Mistakes (and How to Fix Them)

Bouncing too far forward. Under the 2026 rules, this is a fault. Keep the bounce well inside your service box. A good habit: bounce the ball directly below your non-dominant hand.

Hitting above the waist. The most common beginner fault. If you're not sure, aim lower. Drop the ball from a lower height so the bounce stays low.

Standing still after serving. The serve is just the start. If you serve and plant your feet, you're handing the net to your opponents. Serve, split-step, move forward.

Using only flat serves. A flat serve alone is readable. Add slice. Even a small amount of sidespin makes your serve harder to anticipate.

Aiming for power over placement. A hard serve that goes long or hits the fence is worse than a soft serve that lands on the T. Place it first. Add pace later.

What the Pros Do Differently

Watch Arturo Coello or Ale Galan serve. You'll notice three things:

They serve and sprint. The serve is a launching pad. By the time the ball crosses the net, they've already taken 3-4 steps forward.

They vary constantly. Slice, flat, body, wide, short, deep. The receiver never knows what's coming. Predictability is the enemy.

They aim for the glass. At the pro level, serves that catch the side glass wall generate the most uncomfortable returns. The ball changes direction off the glass, and the receiver has a split second to adjust.

The padel serve won't win you points by itself. But a bad serve hands free points to your opponents — and a smart serve gives your team the first move in every rally.