The best recommendation that can be made to a newcomer to the sport is to warn that padel is very addictive. It is well known that people who venture to try padel end up quitting because they don't like it. Most of us get hooked and get carried away by all that this incredible sport has to offer.
Now you may ask, what comes first? GET EQUIPPED. And the must-have for your first time playing is a racket and a pair of shoes. As for the racket, we recommend a racket specially designed for beginner players that suits your needs and your pocket.
A racket for a beginner should be light and easy to handle. Made of flexible flexible materials that will help you to strengthen your arm without the risk of injury and that will help you to control the ball and improve your playing technique.
SELECTION OF BEGINNERS' RACKETS
We recommend that you start with a round-shaped racket, as these have the optimal hitting point in the centre of the racket, which will help you to better control the direction and speed of your shots.
In addition to the shape, it is important to consider the weight of the racket. A lighter racket is easier to handle and a heavier racket provides more power. Ideally, a starting weight of 350 - 370 grams is ideal. And as for the materials, both fibreglass and carbon fibre will bring you comfort and a good feeling when hitting the ball, which will be essential for your game to evolve favourably.
As for the shoes. What you are looking for is a sole that gives you a firm grip on the carpet and allows you to move around safely. The soles of padel shoes are generally herringbone, which provides stability when starting and braking, which is essential to feel comfortable and safe when playing.
You can see that there are no excuses, get ready for the next match with the best products.
How to achieve greater control when playing?
When we talk about padel, the word control undoubtedly comes to mind. For this, it is necessary to look for a racket that helps us or favours the game of control, knowing how to control the ball in terms of direction, power, effect, and, of course, the choice of strokes that we seek to make at each point. All of this is part of control. And, to be a good padel player, it is essential to know how to play in a controlled and orderly manner. But... how do we achieve this longed-for control?
Our first recommendation is to play with a racket that favours this style of play. A round-shaped racket with a wide and centred sweet spot that allows you to correct those shots that you have not positioned well will be good for you.
On the other hand, a good technique in both strokes and movements will be essential to achieve greater control of your game. Short movements, which use the transfer of the weight of the body from back to front, which means that the arm moves very little, will also help you to find more control in each of your shots.
When moving, it is best to move with short, quick steps that allow you to find the correct position for each shot. We usually look to place our body sideways before hitting the ball, so quick, short strides will allow you to find that combination of movements that will get you to each ball early so that you are comfortable hitting.
Don't forget to always return to your position on the court, especially on defensive shots. This will allow you to be well positioned for the next ball coming at you.
Playing at a fast lower body speed and slower upper body speed is the perfect combination for a controlled game. Don't forget to also play at a medium speed, without taking too many risks and of course you should be clear about how you are going to hit the ball (direction, speed and type of shot) before you hit. This will help you to play in an orderly fashion. Finally... for the game to make sense, the first thing is to get the ball into the court, so don't focus too much on making winning shots. A point missed by your opponent is worth the same as a winning shot and often slow, controlled play will help you win more points than winning shots.
We hope these tips will help you become a better padel player.
Which padel racquets to buy for control players?
- NOX ML10 PRO CUP ROUGH SURFACE EDITION 2022
- BULLPADEL VERTEX 03 COMFORT 2023 DI NENNO
- BULLPADEL VERTEX 03 COMFORT 2022 MARTIN DI NENNO
Measurements and dimensions of a padel court
The official measurements
The official rules of the International Padel Federation state that the standard size for a padel court is 10 metres wide by 20 metres long, which results in two symmetrical squares of 10 metres by 10 metres each. This gives a total of 200 square metres for the complete court. The distance from the wall to the service line should be 3 metres, and each line on the court should be 5 cm thick and clearly distinguishable from the court surface.
The walls
The court is surrounded by four walls, each with a minimum height of 3 metres. The side walls may have a rectangular shape of 3 metres in height and 4 metres in staggered length, according to the European standard. The back walls must have a minimum height of 4 metres and can be made of different materials, such as standard wall, glass or plastic. The regulation also allows for the possibility of the first metres being made of one material and the remaining metres of metal fencing.
The history of how the walls were set up in the early days of the sport is curious to say the least. Enrique Corcuera, the inventor of paddle tennis, got tired of the fact that when he played fronton on his court all his balls went far away. For this reason, he requested the construction of walls that have ended up being fundamental for the essence of this modality.
The surface
As for the surface of the court, three materials are usually used: synthetic grass, cement or carpet. However, according to the International Padel Federation, the surface of the court can be made of different materials, such as concrete, cement, wood, synthetic materials, artificial grass or any other material that allows the ball to bounce properly.
It is recommended that both the grass and the carpet have a small amount of special sand to facilitate movement on the court. The permitted colours for the surface are blue, green or earth-brown, according to the rules.
The net
The net of the padel court must be 10 metres long to cover the entire width of the court, and its height varies from 0.88 metres in the centre, the lowest part, to 0.92 metres on the sides, with a maximum tolerance of 0.005 metres.
The net is suspended by a metal cable with a maximum diameter of 0.01 metres and is attached to the two side posts, which may not exceed a maximum height of 1.05 metres. These posts must touch the side boundaries of the court, so no space is allowed between them. In addition, the posts must have rounded edges to prevent possible collisions, they can be circular or square.
The net tape must be white and have a width between 5 and 6.3 cm. It is also permitted to place an additional strip above the tape, usually for advertising purposes, but its width may not exceed 9 cm.