The Padel Brief

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Guides, analysis, and deep dives into the world of padel.

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Stylized illustration of a coach demonstrating to padel players holding rackets
Culture
6 min read

The Most Famous Padel Coaches in 2026: Who Trains the World's Top 10

Meet the coaches behind the world's best padel players in 2026: Gustavo Pratto, Jorge Martínez, Agustín Gómez Silingo, Carlos Pozzoni and Rodri Ovide.

padelcoachesFIPGustavo Pratto
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Stylized illustration of three padel courts under a split sky with pound, dollar and euro price tags
Gear
5 min read

How Much Does Padel Cost Per Month? UK vs US vs Spain Compared

Real monthly padel budgets for playing twice a week in the UK, US and Spain, with court rates, memberships, balls and gear costs compared.

costspricesukusa
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Stylized illustration of four padel players meeting at the net to tap rackets after a match, with another game visible behind the glass
Culture
5 min read

Padel Etiquette: The Unwritten Rules Every Player Should Know

The unwritten rules of padel: when to switch sides, tapping palas, fetching balls from the next court, net cord apologies, and the amateur smash code.

etiquettebeginnersclub-padelculture
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Stylized illustration of a fan watching a padel match at home on a TV, laptop, and phone, all showing the same glass court
Tournaments
4 min read

How to Watch Premier Padel: Streaming Guide 2026

Where to watch every Premier Padel match in 2026: free options, country-by-country broadcasters, and which rounds stream where.

premier-padelhow-to-watchstreamingred-bull-tv
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Stylized illustration of two padel players walking away from each other on a court, a broken heart cracked on the floor between them
Culture
5 min read

Why Do Padel Pairs Break Up So Often?

Why pro padel pairs split constantly: individual ranking points, zero contracts, a brutal calendar — and the famous divorces that prove it.

playerspremier-padelrankingspairs
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Flat illustration of two padel rackets on a court, one pristine and one with a cracked frame
Gear
7 min read

How Long Does a Padel Racket Last? Signs It's Time to Replace

A padel racket lasts 12-24 months of casual play, but as little as 4-9 months if you play five times a week. How to spot a dead core before you buy.

padel racketracket careequipment guideEVA core
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Stylized aerial illustration of an enclosed glass padel court with four players mid-rally, palm trees and a city skyline behind
Culture
5 min read

What Is Padel? The Sport Everyone Is Playing, Explained

Padel explained in plain language: how it works, why the walls matter, what you need to play, and why 35 million people are hooked.

basicsbeginnersrulespadel-explained
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Stylized illustration of a tall padel player posing with his racket on a glass court, a golden crown floating above his head
Culture
4 min read

Who Is Arturo Coello? Padel's Youngest World No. 1, Explained

Arturo Coello's story: from Mojados to youngest world No. 1 in padel history — his records, his partnership with Tapia, and how he plays.

playersarturo-coellopremier-padelworld-number-one
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Illustration of padel balls in a can and scattered on court in teal and navy tones
Gear
7 min read

The Most Popular Padel Balls of 2026

The padel balls people actually play with in 2026 — the tour ball, the club favorites, and the budget pick — with what each one is best for.

gearpadel ballsbuying-guidewilson
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Stylized teal and navy illustration of padel gifts — a mug, a racket, a ball and a wrapped gift box on a table
Gear
6 min read

Best Padel Gifts in 2026: 10 Ideas for Players and Superfans

The best padel gifts in 2026 for every budget — from affordable padel mugs and stocking fillers to rackets, bags, and shoes. Honest picks for the padel obsessive in your life.

giftsgearmugsrecommendations
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Stylized aerial illustration of a padel glass court with the service line highlighted and a player holding one racket
Rules
4 min read

What's New in Padel for 2026? Every FIP Rule Change Explained

The FIP's 2026 rulebook brings the Star Point, a stricter serve, a safety-cord penalty, new racket holes, and a faster clock. Here's every change.

rulesstar-pointserveequipment
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Stylized illustration of a hand holding a phone showing a padel newsletter, surrounded by floating envelopes with a padel racket and ball, against a faint padel court
Culture
5 min read

Best Padel Newsletters in 2026: 7 Worth Subscribing To

The best padel newsletters in 2026, picked by what you want: overall news, business, gear, coaching, US padel, and the best free bilingual (EN/ES) option.

newslettersmediacommunityrecommendations
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Stylized illustration of a champions lineup of elite male and female padel players holding rackets on a glass court, with a leaderboard and podium motif behind them
Tournaments
6 min read

Best Padel Players in 2026: The Top 10 Men's and Women's World Rankings

The FIP top 10 padel players for 2026 — men's and women's. Who's number one, the points, the partnerships, and the rising stars, updated June 2026.

rankingsplayersfippremier-padel
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Stylized illustration of three padel rackets — round, teardrop and diamond shaped — fanned out in teal and navy
Gear
6 min read

Best Padel Rackets for Intermediate Players in 2026

The best intermediate padel rackets of 2026 by use case: all-round control, power, spin, sweet spot, budget, and a premium frame that grows with you.

gearracketsintermediatebuying-guide
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Stylized illustration of an athletic padel player lunging for a low ball amid sweat droplets and heart-rate pulse lines
Culture
6 min read

Is Padel a Good Workout? Calories, Heart Rate, and the Muscles It Trains

Padel keeps you at 70-80% of max heart rate and burns roughly 400-700 calories an hour. Here's the science on the workout you actually get.

healthfitnesstrainingcalories
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Split illustration comparing a padel court enclosed in glass walls with a player rallying inside the cage, against an open pickleball court with two players at the no-volley line
Rules
7 min read

Padel vs Pickleball: What's the Actual Difference?

Padel and pickleball are not the same sport. Court size, ball, walls, scoring, and player numbers all differ — here's a side-by-side breakdown.

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Flat illustration of three padel players greeting each other on court — two fist-bumping while a third walks in with racket and bag
Culture
5 min read

How to Find Someone to Play Padel With (When You're New)

How to find padel partners as a beginner — apps, clubs, americanas, lessons, and the etiquette that gets you re-invited.

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Stylized illustration of a padel player with glowing markers on the elbow, shoulder, lower back, knee, and calf — the most common injury hotspots
Strategy
5 min read

The 7 Most Common Padel Injuries (And How to Prevent Them)

85% of padel players get injured. Tennis elbow leads the list, followed by calf tears and rotator cuff. Here's what hurts most, why, and how to prevent it.

injuriespreventionhealthtennis-elbow
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Stylized illustration of a padel player hitting a lob shot over opponents at the net
Strategy
5 min read

How to Hit the Lob (Globo) in Padel: The Shot That Steals the Net

The lob (globo) pushes opponents off the net and flips the point. Learn when to lob, where to aim, and how to execute flat and topspin lobs.

strategytechniquelobglobo
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Stylized illustration of a padel court at deuce with scoreboard showing 40-40
Rules
5 min read

How Does Padel Scoring Work? Points, Games, Sets, and Tiebreaks Explained

Padel scoring uses 15-30-40-game points inside best-of-3 sets with tiebreaks, golden point, and the 2026 star point rule.

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Stylized illustration of a padel player sprinting through the court door to return a ball arcing over the back fence
Rules
6 min read

Can You Leave the Court in Padel? Out-of-Court Play Explained

Yes — padel players can sprint through the doors and return the ball from outside the cage. Here are the official FIP rules for out-of-court play.

rulesout-of-courtsalida-de-pistabeginners
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Stylized illustration of padel rackets on weighing scales showing different gram weights
Gear
7 min read

How Heavy Should a Padel Racket Be? Weight Guide by Level

Padel rackets weigh 340-385g. Lighter means faster hands; heavier means more power. Here's how to pick the right weight for your level and playing style.

padel racketracket weightequipment guidebeginner gear
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Stylized illustration of four padel players on a court showing doubles positioning with movement arrows in teal and navy
Strategy
8 min read

Where to Stand in Padel Doubles: The Complete Positioning Guide

Master padel doubles positioning — net zones, defensive depth, unit movement, and the three court zones that decide 80% of points.

strategypositioningdoublesbeginners
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Flat illustration of a padel player at the net in textbook volley stance — paddle up at chest height, eyes on an incoming ball just above the net cord, with a doubles partner silhouette deeper in the court
Rules
8 min read

Can You Volley in Padel? Rules, Exceptions, and Net Technique

Yes, you can volley in padel — except on the serve return. Learn the volley rules, the one big exception, and how pros win 70-80% of points from the net.

rulesvolleybeginnerstechnique
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Stylized illustration of a padel court with a stopwatch showing match duration
Rules
4 min read

How Long Does a Padel Match Last?

Padel matches last 60-90 minutes on average — here's what determines whether yours wraps up fast or drags into a third set.

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Stylized illustration of padel players on court with trophy and stacked coins in teal and navy
Tournaments
5 min read

How Much Do Pro Padel Players Earn? Prize Money, Sponsorships, and the Reality

Breakdown of professional padel player earnings in 2026 — prize money by ranking tier, sponsorship deals, and the real cost of going pro.

prize-moneyprofessional-padelplayer-earningspremier-padel
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Stylized illustration of a padel player hitting a powerful overhead smash with motion lines on a teal court
Strategy
5 min read

How to Smash in Padel: Flat, Topspin, X3, and X4 Explained

Learn the four types of padel smash — flat, topspin, x3, and x4. When to use each, technique breakdown, and common mistakes.

strategytechniquesmashoverhead-shots
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Illustration comparing a padel ball and a tennis ball side by side with technical specs
Gear
4 min read

Padel Balls vs Tennis Balls: What's the Difference?

Padel balls look like tennis balls but play differently — lower pressure, less bounce, and built for walls.

padel ballstennis ballsequipmentbeginners
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Stylized illustration of a padel court under construction with crane, steel beams, and growth charts
Business
5 min read

How Much Does It Cost to Build a Pádel Court?

A single padel court costs €20,000–€90,000 to build. Here's the full cost breakdown by component, indoor vs outdoor, and what drives the price.

padel-court-costbusinessinfrastructureinvestment
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Stylized illustration of a padel player mid-serve on a teal and navy court with ball trajectory
Strategy
7 min read

How to Serve in Padel: Rules, Technique, and 2026 Changes

Master the padel serve — underhand technique, placement tactics, slice vs flat, and the new 2026 FIP serve rules explained.

strategytechniqueservebeginners
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Stylized illustration of a padel player hitting a ball rebounding off glass back wall on a teal and navy court
Strategy
8 min read

How to Play Off the Walls in Padel: Glass, Mesh, and Rebound Technique

Learn how to read and play off the back glass, side walls, and mesh in padel. Positioning, timing, and rebound technique for every level.

strategytechniquebeginnerswalls
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Stylized illustration of a pádel player hitting a soft chiquita shot low over the net
Strategy
3 min read

What Is the Chiquita in Pádel? The Shot That Wins You the Net

The chiquita is a soft, low shot aimed at the net player's feet — and it's how you take the net from the back of the court. Here's how to hit it.

strategytechniquechiquitashots
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Stylized illustration of global padel growth with upward arrows and world map
Business
4 min read

Why Is Pádel the Fastest Growing Sport in the World?

35 million players, 77,000+ courts, 150 countries — pádel is the fastest growing sport in the world. Here are the 5 reasons why.

businessgrowthmarketculture
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Stylized illustration of a pádel player making common mistakes on court
Strategy
3 min read

5 Pádel Mistakes Every Beginner Makes (And How to Fix Them)

Standing too far back, hitting too hard, ignoring the glass — these beginner pádel mistakes cost you points. Here's how to fix all five.

strategybeginnersmistakestips
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Stylized illustration of pádel shoes showing herringbone sole and lateral support features
Gear
3 min read

Pádel Shoes: What Makes Them Different? A Complete Guide

Pádel shoes have herringbone soles, reinforced lateral support, and are built for artificial grass — not hard courts. Here's what to look for.

gearshoesbeginnersequipment
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Stylized illustration of a pádel court from above showing dimensions and measurements
Rules
4 min read

Pádel Court Dimensions: Size, Measurements & Layout Explained

A pádel court is 20m long by 10m wide with 3-4m glass walls, an 88cm net, and service lines at 6.95m. Here are all the FIP-certified measurements.

rulescourt-dimensionsbeginnersfip
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Stylized illustration of hands holding a pádel racket demonstrating grip positions
Strategy
4 min read

Pádel Grip Guide: Continental vs Eastern — Which One Should You Use?

The continental grip is pádel's default — but the eastern adds power on forehands. Here's how to find each grip and when to switch.

strategytechniquegripbeginners
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Stylized illustration of three padel rackets side by side in teal and navy colors
Gear
6 min read

Padel Racket Shapes Explained: Round vs Diamond vs Teardrop

Round, teardrop, or diamond? The shape of your padel racket determines power, control, and sweet spot size. Here's how to pick the right one for your level.

padel racketequipment guidebeginner gearracket shapes
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Stylized illustration of a pádel player executing an aggressive vibora overhead with sidespin
Strategy
4 min read

What Is the Vibora in Pádel? Technique, Timing & Step-by-Step Guide

The vibora is pádel's most aggressive overhead — a sidespin shot that forces weak returns. Here's how it works and when to use it.

strategytechniqueviboraoverhead-shots
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Stylized illustration of a padel court with a scoreboard at deuce in teal and navy colors
Rules
5 min read

What Is the Star Point in Padel? The New 2026 Scoring Rule Explained

The Star Point system caps deuce games at 2 advantages before a sudden-death point. Here's how it works in 2026.

rulesscoringstar-pointgolden-point
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Tournaments
6 min read

What Is the Premier Padel Tour? 2026 Schedule, Format & Rankings Explained

Complete guide to the Premier Padel Tour 2026 — tournament tiers, full schedule, ranking system, and how to watch all 26 events.

premier-padeltournamentsschedulerankings
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Business
6 min read

How Big Is the Padel Market? Growth Statistics and Key Numbers in 2026

Padel market size, player numbers, court counts, and investment data for 2026 — sourced from FIP, Playtomic, and industry reports.

padel market sizepadel growth statisticspadel industrypadel investment
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Gear
5 min read

Best Padel Rackets for Beginners in 2026

Our picks for the best beginner padel rackets in 2026 — what to look for, what to avoid, and 5 rackets that'll get you started right.

gearbeginnersracketsbuying-guide
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Stylized illustration of a padel player executing an overhead bandeja shot with motion lines on a teal court
Strategy
7 min read

How to Do a Bandeja in Padel: Step-by-Step Technique Guide

Learn the bandeja shot in padel — grip, footwork, slice technique, and common mistakes. The complete step-by-step guide to padel's most important overhead.

strategytechniquebeginnershow-to-play
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Stylized illustration of a padel court from above showing court markings, glass walls, and ball trajectory
Rules
3 min read

Padel Rules for Beginners: Everything You Need to Know

The complete guide to padel rules — scoring, serving, walls, and everything a new player needs to step on court with confidence.

rulesbeginnershow-to-playscoring
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Split illustration comparing a padel court with glass walls to a tennis court, showing both sports side by side
Rules
5 min read

Padel vs Tennis: 9 Key Differences Every Player Should Know

Padel and tennis look similar but play completely differently — from court size and walls to scoring and rackets. Here are the 9 key differences.

padel-vs-tennisrulesbeginnershow-to-play
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