Racquet Sport Report presented by All Racquet Sports

Racquet SportReport presented by All Racquet Sports

What Is Padel?

Padel is referred to as the “swiss army knife of Racquet Sports”, combining elements of platform, racquetball, squash and tennis to create a unique and easy-to-learn game. Padel is played on a court which is roughly one-third the size of a tennis court, and is surrounded by glass on the back and parts of the sides. The middle of the sides of the court have a metal mesh fencing with two side doors that open up.

The scoring, and most of the rules, are similar to tennis, with the main differences being that you can play the ball off the walls, and the serving is done underhanded. Padel is almost always played doubles, men’s, women’s and mixed, and the racquet is made of an EVA foam core that is 17 inches long and has holes in it. The racquet comes with a strap, and is covered by either fiberglass or carbon fibers on the outside. The ball is a bit heavier than a regular tennis ball, but has less compression, helping to sustain longer rallies and allowing it to bounce better off the walls.

Where to play Padel?

The first ever Padel Club will open in New York City in 2022. Housed in a 30,000 square-foot Williamsburg, Brooklyn warehouse, one of the fastest growing sports in the country will have a new home in New York City.

The Williamsburg club will be called Padel Haus, and is the brainchild of Santiago Gomez, a Mexican restaurateur. Padel Haus will include one of Gomez’s restaurants, Cosme, in the facility. Combining Padel courts with a restaurant is indicative of the fun and social atmosphere associated with Padel.

Right now though, the best and closest place for people to play in the Northeast is “Padelphia”, the unique pop-up location in Philadelphia, Pa. Earlier this year, the pop-up club was open for six weeks, and more than 500 players came out to try the sport, including 50 kids. There was an “Intro to Padel” program that was taught to dozens of racquet sports professionals, and even an eight-club, inter-city Padel Challenge Club tournament.

The success of the pop-up club is a sign of things to come, as the sport’s continued growth will lead to more courts being opened and available, and new players joining each day. As a result, there is a new indoor, state-of-the-art, threecourt Padel club opening up at the beginning of 2022 in Bala Cynwyd, Pa., the first of its kind in the Northeast.

You can visit Padelphia.com to learn more.

2022 World Padel Tour Begins in Miami

For the second time in the last five years, the World Padel tour will bring an event to the United States, as the Miami Padel Open will kick off the tour’s 2022 season at the Florida Gardens Club & Marina from February 22-27.

Racquet sports continue to gain momentum and increased popularity, and Padel is helping to lead that charge. Padel combines the best parts of many of the games players already love, and could be coming to a place near you real soon.

Marcos del Pilar, a USPTA Elite Professional and MASTER Padel Professional said:

“It is a great workout for all levels and ages. Padel is a sport for the entire family. On top of that, it’s extremely social and you not only enjoy while playing, but also just hanging out watching other matches with your friends. Padel is the perfect addition to any sports facility and an incredible way to attract new members with no previous experience in racquet sports.”

Just Minutes from Manhattan Near Yankee Stadium

•We offer a full-range of junior and adult programs for recreational and tournament players in partnership with

Gotham Tennis Academy, a leader in developing and operating tennis programs in New York City and the Hamptons. •Our professional tennis staff has some of the most talented, personable and engaging tennis professionals in NYC. For more information about our pros, please visit

www.stadiumtennisnyc.com

•Sign up now for our popular Junior Programs, Adult Clinics,

Private Lessons, and Seasonal Courts. •Sixteen US Open style deco turf tennis courts with spacious backcourts. Twelve courts are indoors from October through

April. •For the convenience of our regular players and their families, the Tennis Center offers complimentary on-site parking and

Transportation referrals. •An adjacent clubhouse features a pro shop, light snacks and beverages, complimentary Wi-Fi, and workspaces for schoolwork. •In light of the pandemic, please see our Safe Play Procedures summarized at www.stadiumtennisnyc.com