Attention: Please take a moment to consider our terms and conditions before posting.
Padel
ProperCharlton
Posts: 2,374
I've been playing for just over a year and love it. Anyone else given it a go?
1
Comments
-
Tried it in Vilamoura recently and can understand why people get hooked. Will defo be up for going again more regularly.0
-
I'd never heard of it til i saw the one being built in Eltham.
Seems very busy whenever i go past.0 -
Play once a week. Enjoy it a lot and love that it's a great leveller and super easy to pick up.0
-
Lots of courts now at Bexley and Bromley Cricket clubs.0
-
It's certainly the sport of the moment, and I think we will see courts go up independently (tennis equivalent of Goals) and as part of a re-engineering of tennis clubs and sports centres everywhere.
Having said that, never played myself...0 -
Been playing for over a year however tailed off last few months, have a great club where I live but its very expensive here compared to playing in Europe0
-
My tennis coach tells me it's for people who aren't skilled enough to play tennis6
-
And in a way that's right...and the beauty of padel. You can have a great game without 'perfect' technique... if you have reasonably decent hand-eye coordination and movement. You don't routinely hit it into the net or stand there watching fast serves whizz by.DoctorCharlton said:My tennis coach tells me it's for people who aren't skilled enough to play tennis
Of course if you DO have good technique then you will easily beat lesser players. But football is enjoyable to play whether you are pub league or Champions League, and padel is the same- just find your level.
Play 2-3 times a week and love it.8 -
Going to the inaugural padel championships in Olympia in August. But never played! It does look fun0
-
I've been secretly playing for a while, I say secretly because anytime I've mentioned the word padel to anyone I've been labelled a bad homosexual or an active sex offender
Tennis players will maybe fairly look down their nose at the padel court going up at their tennis club but the owners of the tennis club will like seeing new people come to the place, spend some money, be included. I saw this coming a few years ago, any open or available space I was eying up to open a padel court and now the people with the means to do that have caught on.
Anything that gets blokes (or anyone) in their middle forties doing some cardio, getting off the sofa, firing social interaction up is good and I'm all for it.
Its a catch all for people who can't do 5 a side anymore, who never played golf etc to get involved. Loads of apps to find someone for a game, assuming they turn up and are honest about their rating and not Pete Sampras entering their padel level as "novice"
12 -
Sponsored links:
-
Class game - I’ve given up my golf membership to fully immerse myself in padel!1
-
Your tennis coach is spot onDoctorCharlton said:My tennis coach tells me it's for people who aren't skilled enough to play tennis
1 -
I played there tooO-Randy-Hunt said:Tried it in Vilamoura recently and can understand why people get hooked. Will defo be up for going again more regularly.0 -
See the title and thought @DamoNorthStand 's gazumper had been at it again4
-
If a game if padel acts as we are told the 100 will, and is a way into racket sports then great. Everyone wins. I played squash competitively for years when I was a boy and young man and it was impossible to get anyone to just come and have a game who hadn't played before. Tennis is the same unfortunately. Padel, lets be honest, a chimp could have a go from a cold start. Bit like footballLeeds_Addick said:
Your tennis coach is spot onDoctorCharlton said:My tennis coach tells me it's for people who aren't skilled enough to play tennis
Sport snobbery in my opinion is the biggest reason we have such a small talent pool in cricket and rugby as both sports are inherently elitist, played at posh schools by posh boys. My rugby club was infected by these poshos and had to work so hard to get kids in and involved and harder to keep them involved. Tennis and squash are the same, memberships, lessons, equipment, travel all limit participation for kids. Padel and soon pickleball will change that I hope7 -
Played it a few times but currently taking a break due to ankle operation. My wife plays more regularly so looking forward to playing mixed doubles again when I recover.
The big plus for me is that serving at padel is so much easier than tennis.0 -
Tried it, was told I should go professional, said I earned too much money doing what I'm doing now5
-
Costs £15 an hour here, whilst tennis is £40 a year. Would like to play more but can’t justify it. It is much easier to find a random game of padel though0
-
Yeah I agree, tennis is ridiculously inaccessible in this country which is in part the problem I have with padel.Carter said:
If a game if padel acts as we are told the 100 will, and is a way into racket sports then great. Everyone wins. I played squash competitively for years when I was a boy and young man and it was impossible to get anyone to just come and have a game who hadn't played before. Tennis is the same unfortunately. Padel, lets be honest, a chimp could have a go from a cold start. Bit like footballLeeds_Addick said:
Your tennis coach is spot onDoctorCharlton said:My tennis coach tells me it's for people who aren't skilled enough to play tennis
Sport snobbery in my opinion is the biggest reason we have such a small talent pool in cricket and rugby as both sports are inherently elitist, played at posh schools by posh boys. My rugby club was infected by these poshos and had to work so hard to get kids in and involved and harder to keep them involved. Tennis and squash are the same, memberships, lessons, equipment, travel all limit participation for kids. Padel and soon pickleball will change that I hope
Tennis lessons are expensive and clubs are even more and in my experience they're also stuffy and elitist. But I picked it up in my late 20s and love it but still wish everything around it was more accessible. My serve is still awful but it's my favourite thing to be doing, I'd probably play 9-5 if I could.
If padel leads more people into playing tennis then great but I fear courts up and down the country are being converted into £30 an hour padel courts that will be nothing but a fad for a few years whilst tennis suffers as a result. I regret that all this investment hasn't gone directly into tennis, it's not that had to rally if you have a few lessons with a good teacher.0 -
First and only time I've it played it was on Gili Trawangan - loved it.
I win.0 -
Sponsored links:
-
Padel clubs definitely less stuffy and cliquey, but I agree that there is a lack of public access, esp for teens. Public parks can often still offer a tennis court for an affordable price, but there is little equivalent with padel. Shame as there's no doubt that it's a lot easier for 4 teenage mates to play an enjoyable padel game without them all having had coaching etc.Leeds_Addick said:
Yeah I agree, tennis is ridiculously inaccessible in this country which is in part the problem I have with padel.Carter said:
If a game if padel acts as we are told the 100 will, and is a way into racket sports then great. Everyone wins. I played squash competitively for years when I was a boy and young man and it was impossible to get anyone to just come and have a game who hadn't played before. Tennis is the same unfortunately. Padel, lets be honest, a chimp could have a go from a cold start. Bit like footballLeeds_Addick said:
Your tennis coach is spot onDoctorCharlton said:My tennis coach tells me it's for people who aren't skilled enough to play tennis
Sport snobbery in my opinion is the biggest reason we have such a small talent pool in cricket and rugby as both sports are inherently elitist, played at posh schools by posh boys. My rugby club was infected by these poshos and had to work so hard to get kids in and involved and harder to keep them involved. Tennis and squash are the same, memberships, lessons, equipment, travel all limit participation for kids. Padel and soon pickleball will change that I hope
Tennis lessons are expensive and clubs are even more and in my experience they're also stuffy and elitist. But I picked it up in my late 20s and love it but still wish everything around it was more accessible. My serve is still awful but it's my favourite thing to be doing, I'd probably play 9-5 if I could.
If padel leads more people into playing tennis then great but I fear courts up and down the country are being converted into £30 an hour padel courts that will be nothing but a fad for a few years whilst tennis suffers as a result. I regret that all this investment hasn't gone directly into tennis, it's not that had to rally if you have a few lessons with a good teacher.
Padel might be a fad but that's just speculation. Not much evidence that current players are getting bored with it1 -
A new Padel complex has opened locally having 7 doubles courts the town is awash with new players currently
Play 2 times a week love it and as others have said all levels can participate.
0 -
I don't disagree, and who is to say padel won't become the same. At the moment though I think its landing about right, its so easy to pick up and be relatively competetive quickly at. Tennis, yeah serving is an art and then playing and having public courts comes down to an overall lack of participation. Tennis rackets for beginners aren't expensive, and even beginner cricket gear is very easy to get now as opposed to when I started as a kid using all my dad and his mates hand me downs. Cricket, like Tennis have sealed their own downfall by being stuffy and exclusionary to kids who watch the ashes, Wimbledon and think they would like to have a go, can't.Leeds_Addick said:
Yeah I agree, tennis is ridiculously inaccessible in this country which is in part the problem I have with padel.Carter said:
If a game if padel acts as we are told the 100 will, and is a way into racket sports then great. Everyone wins. I played squash competitively for years when I was a boy and young man and it was impossible to get anyone to just come and have a game who hadn't played before. Tennis is the same unfortunately. Padel, lets be honest, a chimp could have a go from a cold start. Bit like footballLeeds_Addick said:
Your tennis coach is spot onDoctorCharlton said:My tennis coach tells me it's for people who aren't skilled enough to play tennis
Sport snobbery in my opinion is the biggest reason we have such a small talent pool in cricket and rugby as both sports are inherently elitist, played at posh schools by posh boys. My rugby club was infected by these poshos and had to work so hard to get kids in and involved and harder to keep them involved. Tennis and squash are the same, memberships, lessons, equipment, travel all limit participation for kids. Padel and soon pickleball will change that I hope
Tennis lessons are expensive and clubs are even more and in my experience they're also stuffy and elitist. But I picked it up in my late 20s and love it but still wish everything around it was more accessible. My serve is still awful but it's my favourite thing to be doing, I'd probably play 9-5 if I could.
If padel leads more people into playing tennis then great but I fear courts up and down the country are being converted into £30 an hour padel courts that will be nothing but a fad for a few years whilst tennis suffers as a result. I regret that all this investment hasn't gone directly into tennis, it's not that had to rally if you have a few lessons with a good teacher.
The squash club I used to play at is long gone, the courts one by one got taken and used for other things by the gym the squash club became until everyone was squeezed out, maybe by design. But squash courts are the first thing to go when space is wanted or bills need to be cut.
1 -
If you've got the money, it doesn't seem a bad investment setting a court up.
0 -
I noticed that Eltham one is £38 for an hours Padel. Seems ridiculously expensive.
Me and the family have played it on holiday and loved it, but not paying those prices for an hour.
Just noticed that Bexley lawn tennis club is £24 for 90 mins which is much more reasonable
Also some at flamingo park, but they are an eye watering £40 per hour.....0 -
As a family I can see it as looking expensive.
We play doubles for an hour and half for £15.00 each which I see as good value. Its certainly a lot more reasonable than my other hobby the pub1 -
Thats how I see it, between at least 4 of you its good value for an hour.
And brings me back to the point with padel, its easy to pick up whereas tennis less so1 -
We play once or twice a week and it costs £60 between four of us to book a court for an hour and a half. £15 each seems a fair enough price for the standard of facilities0
-
Or he’s worried about his future income stream ! 😀Leeds_Addick said:
Your tennis coach is spot onDoctorCharlton said:My tennis coach tells me it's for people who aren't skilled enough to play tennis0 -
It’s very popular at my DL Club0
