10 Padel Facts
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We at Active Mile are loving the popularity of Padel across the UAE, so we are providing you with some fast, fun facts to impress your friends with!
#1) Padel is gaining popularity
... and celebs just love it! Lionel Messi, Jurgen Klopp, David Beckham are just some of the celebrities getting Padel fever.
Sheikh Hamdan plays padel and was the catalyst behind the padel movement in the UAE. Many celebrities play padel such as Lionel messi and Jurgen Klopp.
#2) Padel is more popular than Tennis
Well…It is in Spain! And its rapidly becoming a firm favourite in other parts of the world too.
#3) You can only play Padel as a pair
Yup! This is a doubles only sport. The speed of the game, along with the size of the court and the size of the padel, make this a very difficult sport to play as a single.
#4) The sport of Padel was invented in Mexico in the 1960s
Mexican businessman Enrique Corcuera set up the first-ever padel court at his holiday home in Acapulco.
#5) Padel balls are smaller than tennis balls
At a glance they look the same, but Padel balls are slightly smaller.
#6) 20 million players worldwide (and growing)
With a population of 47 million, Spain has 20% of the world’s players! The bulk of the numbers are now spread all over the world, with the majority in:
- Spain
- Argentina
- Brazil
- France
- Netherlands
- Sweden
- United Arab Emirates (here at home)
#7) The sport of Padel is played with bats not rackets
Padel bats are not stringed and are smaller than tennis rackets.
#8) Padel is not an Olympic sport…yet!
At the time of writing Padel is played in 57 countries, in order for a sport to qualify as an Olympic sport, it must be played in at least 75 countries.
#9) You can run out the court and play it back in
One of the craziest padel tennis facts, this one you kind of need to see it to believe it you will see players running out the court and playing it back in. It is called “saca por tres” – “out by three”.
#10) Rallies last approx. 65% longer than tennis rallies
This is helped because you can use the walls in padel and of course there are four players.
