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 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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Stylized illustration of a professional padel arena with floodlights, packed stadium, and golden trophy
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.

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Stylized illustration of padel players on a court with business growth charts and upward arrows
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.

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Stylized illustration of padel rackets in teal and navy brand colors
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.

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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.

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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.

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