What is padel?

The short version

Padel is a racket sport played on a court about a third of the size of a tennis court, surrounded by glass walls and wire mesh. Like tennis there's a net in the middle and the scoring is the same, but like squash the ball can bounce off the walls and stay in play. That mix makes rallies longer and the game easier to pick up than most racket sports.

Why so many people are taking it up

• It's quick to learn. The underarm serve and the smaller court mean beginners are rallying within their first session.
• It's sociable. Four people on a court, chatting between points, often followed by a drink afterwards.
• Different levels can play together. Power matters less than placement, so mixed groups still get good games.
• It's great exercise without feeling like it. Lots of short sprints and changes of direction, broken up by plenty of laughs.

The kit

Padel rackets are solid, with no strings, and have small holes across the face. They're shorter than tennis rackets, which makes them easy to control. The balls look like tennis balls but have slightly less pressure, so they bounce a little lower and slower. Most venues hire out rackets and sell balls, so you don't need to buy anything to try it.

How it differs from tennis

• The serve is underarm and hit at or below waist height.
• The walls are part of the game: you can play the ball after it bounces off them.
• It's almost always doubles, so you're working with a partner the whole time.
• The court is much smaller, so there's less running to cover and more time at the net.