Padel is a racket sport played in doubles on an enclosed court roughly a third the size of a tennis court, where the surrounding glass and mesh walls stay in play, allowing the ball to be returned off a bounce off the walls. Combining elements of tennis and squash, it has become one of the fastest-growing participation sports in Europe over the past decade.
Origin and history
Padel was invented in 1969 by Mexican businessman Enrique Corcuera, who built an enclosed court at his home in Acapulco after adapting the dimensions of his available space. The sport spread first to Spain and Argentina in the 1970s, where it took root strongly, and has since grown into a mainstream sport across Spain, Italy, Sweden and increasingly the rest of Europe and the Americas.
Rules
Matches are played in doubles on an enclosed court, using solid, stringless rackets with holes and a low-compression ball similar to a depressurised tennis ball. Scoring follows the same format as tennis, but the ball may be played off the surrounding walls after bouncing on the court, adding a strategic rebound element absent from tennis.
Equipment and arena
The court is enclosed by glass and metal-mesh walls of standardised height, with a net dividing the two halves at tennis-net height. Rackets are solid (not strung), perforated to reduce air resistance, distinct from both tennis and squash equipment.
Competitive landscape
The Premier Padel tour, backed by the International Padel Federation and Qatar Sports Investments, runs the sport’s top professional circuit, alongside strong grassroots participation across Spain, Italy and an expanding base in the UK, France, the Nordics and the Gulf region.
International status
Padel is governed by the International Padel Federation (FIP) and has been formally recognised by the International Olympic Committee, positioning it as a candidate for future Olympic inclusion, though it has not yet appeared on an Olympic programme.
Scientific perspective
Padel’s smaller court and wall-rebound mechanics produce shorter, higher-intensity rallies than tennis, with frequent changes of direction and reactive movement in a confined space. Sports-science interest in the sport has grown alongside its popularity, with studies examining its lower injury risk relative to tennis for recreational players and its suitability as an accessible entry point into racket sports across a wide age range.
Notable facts
Padel is frequently cited as the fastest-growing sport in Europe by participation numbers, with the number of courts in countries like Spain and Sweden multiplying rapidly over the past several years.
Sources
International Padel Federation (FIP) — padelfip.com
Premier Padel — premierpadel.com