Padel is an exciting new racquet sport sweeping the world.
Combining elements of tennis and squash, it is a game that’s quick, sociable and easy to learn.
Welcome to the fastest growing sport in the world
Padel is quickly becoming one of the most popular sports in the world. In Spain, it is the nation’s second favourite sport behind football.
Andy Murray loves it. The Liverpool Football team are fans. Lionel Messi even has a court in his garden.
So, you’re probably asking: “Is there a tennis club near me to play padel?”.
The answer is St. George’s Hill Lawn Tennis Club. The popular Weybridge health club is excited to announce the opening of its first ever padel court.
Fast, fun and great for fitness
One of the reasons for the popularity of padel is it can be enjoyed by all ages and abilities together.
The game is not reliant on power and there is more emphasis on strategy and guile.
“Padel is something that can be played by everyone,” says David Collins, Head Tennis Professional at St. George’s Hill Lawn Tennis Club.
“Most people, whether they’re beginners or experienced tennis players, can learn the basics in 30 minutes. And from there they are set for a whole world of fun.”
Because it is so easy to play and encourages the take-up of racquet sports, the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) has officially taken on British padel.
Top things to know about padel
The game is played on a court about one third the size of a tennis court surrounded by glass walls and a metal mesh.
Rallies can last for over 50 shots and pro-players even dash out of the gap in the court to return balls – check out some of the best rallies from the world of padel.
On average the ball is in play for 50 minutes in an hour compared to about 15 minutes in tennis, so you can easily burn 400 to 700 calories a game.
The rules and scoring are similar to tennis:
- played in doubles using short-handled bats without strings
- both serves are underarm and have to hit the service box diagonally as in tennis
- in rallies the ball has to hit the court first to be ‘in’ and can then bounce off any wall and still be in play
Play padel at Surrey’s leading health club
The new padel court at St. George’s Hill Lawn Tennis Club has been installed in partnership with the UK’s leading padel brand, Game4Padel.
“The fantastic padel facilities at St. George’s Hill Lawn Tennis Club are the perfect complement to the Club’s international standard tennis and squash courts,” says Michael Gradon, CEO of Game4Padel.
“The new court offers an opportunity to play one of the most fun and exciting sports around. I’m sure the members will be hooked in no time.”
If you’ve never played a racquet sport before or are not sure about the rules of padel, don’t worry.
You can book an introduction with one of the Club’s professionals. Club coaches are also on hand to help with rules and tactics.
Courts can be booked online, via the app or at reception. The Club can loan rackets and balls for a game or can be purchased from the Club shop.
Padel is currently available to Full, Racquets and Health & Fitness members.
Find out more about membership now.
