I’ve never even heard of this sport before but suddenly I see a few reels on Instagram about this sport and the facilities that offer you space to play it.

Padel is a racket sport that combines elements of tennis, squash, and badminton. It’s played in doubles on a court that’s smaller than a tennis court. The court is surrounded by walls that players can use during rallies. As of 2023, according to the International Padel Federation (FIP) there are more than 25 million active players in more than 90 countries. Padel is worth about €2bn a year and growing fast. Padel set foot in Kerala in August 2024 and the State’s first court ‘Padel High’ was inaugurated in Kochi, at Chilavannur near Kadavanthra.

Features

• The court is enclosed by glass walls or metallic mesh
• The ball can bounce off the walls
• The ball can only hit the turf once before being returned
• Points are scored when the ball bounces twice in the competitors’ field
• The service is made underarm
• Shots are played either before or after the ball bounces off the walls

Equipment

• Padel rackets are made of composite materials with a perforated surface
• They don’t have strings
• Lighter rackets are easier to handle while heavier ones allow for more powerful shots
• The ball is a low compression tennis ball