Getting to Know Padel Sports, from History to Its Rules of Play

Have you ever imagined what it would be like if tennis could be played on a smaller court but offered a higher intensity? padel is the answer to that. Popular for some time now, this racket sport actually has many health benefits!

Padel itself is a new branch of sport played similarly to tennis and squash. However, padel can only be played in a doubles format and not in a singles format. This is one of the main differences between padel and tennis.

Although it has only become popular recently, this sport has been played since 1969 in South America, specifically in Mexico. It was Enrique Corcuera who wanted to play tennis but used the squash padel available around his house. From what he had, he created a sport that was initially called Padel Corcuera. Over time, on July 12, 1991, after this sport was further developed, more people became interested in it and the Federation International de padel was established in Madrid, Spain.

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Getting to Know More About Padel

Created by accident by Enrique Corcuera, this sport is recorded as the fastest growing sport in the world. According to an article on tempo.co, in Sweden, 450 padel courts were built in just one year in 2020, with over a million bookings.

This trend continues to spread to France, the Netherlands, Arab countries, the United States, and now to Indonesia. It is no surprise that in big cities, many padel courts are being built and operated, always crowded with players regardless of the day.

The use of rackets makes padel have many similarities with tennis or other 'related' sports. Initially, the rackets used were made of wood, and this game can be played by taking advantage of the rebound from the walls. This is one of the factors that adds to the excitement of padel when played.

A little hint about starting the game, padel players are only allowed to serve underarm in order to have full control over the direction, speed, spin of the ball, and the possibility of using the rebound from the tempered glass walls that are present.

How to Play, Equipment, and the Differences with Tennis

Actually, it is not difficult to play padel in a fun way. The level of difficulty will certainly be different when you play competitively to achieve accomplishments. However, playing for fun can also bring health benefits to the body, so it is not necessary to play at a higher level, although in reality it would also be better if you want to pursue this sport.

You can find explanations regarding how to play, the necessary equipment, and the differences between padel and tennis in this section.

1. How to Play Padel Fundamentally

A padel match is played on a specialized court measuring 20 x 10 meters, surrounded by glass walls and separated by a net. First, you can serve by standing behind the service line and hitting the ball with an underarm technique, bouncing the ball before hitting it diagonally into the opponent's service box.

After the serve is carried out, the opponent must return the ball by hitting it once before the ball bounces on the floor for the second time. Remember, the ball can also be hit after bouncing off the wall. The scoring is similar to the system used in tennis, with scores of 15, 30, 40, and game. If the score is 40 - 40, then it is deuce, and the team must win two consecutive points to win the game.

Each set will be completed once one of the teams wins 6 games with a margin of 2 games. If the score is tied at 6 - 6, a tiebreak will be played to determine the winner of that set. A match consists of a total of 3 sets.

2. Tools Needed in the Game

There are several main tools required in the game of padel. Among them are as follows:

  • Padel racket, mandatory
  • Padel ball, mandatory
  • Padel court complete with its net, mandatory
  • Padel shoes

Additional equipment that can be brought includes a padel bag and over grip used to absorb sweat or to provide comfort when holding the racket. Remember, each of the above equipment comes with specific padel criteria. So as much as possible, use padel-specific equipment for maximum comfort and enjoyment of this sport.

3. The difference between Padel and Tennis

When compared to tennis, there are several fundamental differences that can be observed.

  • The court, the size and shape of a padel court is smaller than that of a tennis court. Additionally, the padel court is surrounded by glass walls.
  • Game rules, in padel the ball can bounce off the walls, whereas in tennis it is not allowed at all.
  • The equipment used, clearly, each of these sports has different gear that is developed to meet the needs of its players. For example, tennis rackets use strings with a certain tension, while padel rackets use denser material and are smaller in size.
  • In terms of gameplay style, padel is easier to learn due to its dynamic and fast nature. In tennis, you need strength and precise shots, which makes the strategy more complex than it appears.
  • Popularity of the sport. Tennis certainly has a loyal fan base that continues to grow over time. However, the popularity of padel cannot be denied to have surged rapidly in recent years or months. You can see for yourself that many new padel facilities are being built in various big cities in response to this trend.

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Average Rental Prices of Courts and Equipment Used

Essentially, the price of a padel court is not only determined by the popularity of the sport itself. However, the capital needed to build a court is also substantial, as it requires space, facilities, and a structure that meets the standards.

Several other factors that also influence the rental price of the court include location, the facilities provided, and the rental time, which can significantly affect the price per hour or per session of the game.

For example, in the South Jakarta area, where this sport is popular among its residents. The price of the courts ranges from around Rp200,000 to Rp500,000 per session with the following details:

1. Tangkas Padel, West Jakarta

  • Regular Package Rp400,000 per hour from Monday to Friday, 4:00 PM - 10:00 PM and Saturday to Sunday from 6:00 AM - 10:00 PM
  • Happy Hour Package Rp375,000 per hour from Monday to Friday, 6:00 AM - 3:00 PM
  • Tangkas Padel also offers racket rentals starting from just Rp50,000.

2. Star Padel Pulomas, East Jakarta.

  • Rental prices for the courts start at Rp270,000 per hour for regular times.

3. Basic Padel Reserve, South Jakarta.

  • Rental prices for the courts start at Rp340,000 per hour for regular times.

Of course, there are many more courts that can be preferences and considerations. You can easily see the price range and facilities of the courts in sports applications like AYO Indonesia or ROVO directly.

Benefits of Padel for Health

If done regularly, there are quite a few benefits to be gained from playing padel. Of course, you must warm up beforehand to reduce the risk of injury. Some of the benefits include:

  • Improving fitness and serving as a good cardio workout
  • Burning calories
  • Training coordination and reflexes
  • Increasing muscle strength
  • Reducing stress levels
  • Improving bone and muscle health
  • Building a social network with other players

Before joining or holding a padel session, it is best to carefully consider the level of play available. Match it with your goals for playing, whether you want to just play for fun, or play more intensively and competitively.

Also Read: These Are the Important Reasons Why It Is Important to Have Health Insurance for Your Family

Padel sports can be one of the ways and efforts to maintain optimal health. If practiced regularly and with the correct technique, there are many health benefits you can gain, helping to prevent diseases in the future.

Of course, besides taking preventive measures like this, it's also good to have a 'safety net' to prepare for the worst conditions. Reliable Health Insurance can be used as a step to avoid significant financial losses.

It is PT AXA Insurance Indonesia that offers reliable and trusted Domestic SmartMedicare Insurance. The benefits of this insurance can help you in undesirable situations due to illness or other health conditions. At least the preventive efforts you take will also be met with the appropriate mitigation steps provided by this insurance. Contact us now and get reliable insurance from PT AXA Insurance Indonesia for all your needs!

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