Padel (not to be confused with Paddle) is the sport of the month in Miami as the city holds the first international Padel tournament in the USA, the World Padel Tour (WPT) Miami Master 2017. Padel, a sport not know by everybody is thought to be the little brother of tennis however, Padel brings excitement, speed and athletic performance as never before. This year the tournament is hold at Lummus Park in Miami Beach between the 26th -30th of April, headlining for the first time in the United States the Padel number one champions Fernando Belasteguin and Pablo Lima.
The sport was created in Acapulco – Mexico when Enrique Concuera decided to incorporate walls to an existing single walled court he had at his house in Las Brisas. The lower net and the set of rules developed in what was known at the time as ‘Padel Concuera’. Years later Padel Tennis became popular in Spain by the hand of Prince Alfonso de Hohenlohe by 1974. Later on it would be perfected by the Argentinians, holding today a peak record as one of the most practiced sport in the country.
The Court.
Padel is played in a smaller tennis court without doubles lines. A rectangle of 33 feet by 65.6 feet enclosed by 9.8 foot walls that cover the entire back of the field and a step type side wall. The net divides the court in two with a maximum height of 34.6 inches in the center, raising to 36.2 at sides.
The Gear.
The racquet is a solid foam racquet with holes to reduce weight and improve aerodynamic performance. The balls are the same as in tennis, except in competition where a less pressure ball is used. You can find here Padel racquets from all major Tennis brands.
Details.
- Padel scoring system is the same as in traditional tennis and it’s always played in pairs
- The ball can bounce off the walls as part of the game and bounce in any of the installations but can only hit the floor once.
- Serving balls must be underhand and below waist height.
If you still can’t figure it out, here are some of the best moments in Padel.
Find the best professional Padel equipment only at our stores in Miami, Orlando and Tampa. Tennis Plaza will be closer to you this Summer with the opening of two new stores, now serving the Miami, Midtown area and Fort Lauderdale in Broward County.
Midtown Miami
1607 NE 2nd Ave
33132.
Fort Lauderdale
1637 E Sunrise Blvd
33304
Tennis Plaza
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