Padel: an easy way into your new favorite sport

Padel is already quite visible in Estonia: new courts keep appearing, friends invite you to play, and training no longer feels like only the gym or a run. Here is a quick, clear overview of what the game is, why it hooks people so easily and how to step onto the court for the first time.

Why padel is growing so fast in Estonia

If tennis feels too technical and squash too enclosed, padel sits right between them. The court is smaller than in tennis, the walls are part of the game and the ball stays in play longer. That means a beginner doesn’t spend half an hour chasing balls, but gets to play for real points from the very first session.

Padel’s story began in Mexico in 1969, when Enrique Corcuera built a small walled tennis court in his backyard. The game later reached Spain and South America, where it grew very quickly. Today padel is one of the best-known recreational sports in Spain, and there are tens of millions of players worldwide.

In Estonia, it fits our rhythm well. In winter you want to move in a warm indoor hall, and in spring and summer the urge to do something active with friends returns. Padel gives you an option for both. It is a workout, but it doesn’t always feel like one. It’s more like a game where you only notice later that your shirt is wet and your legs have been working hard.

How padel actually works

Padel is usually played in fours: two against two. The court is 10 x 20 meters and surrounded by walls of glass and metal mesh. The racket is shorter and has no strings, and the ball looks like a tennis ball. The serve is underhand, not overhead, which makes getting started much easier.

The walls are what make the game interesting. After it bounces, the ball can come back off the glass and play continues. It feels a bit strange at first, but that is exactly what makes padel fun. You don’t have to rely on hitting hard. Often the winning pair is the one that moves smartly, communicates well and puts the ball in an awkward spot.

Scoring works like tennis: 15, 30, 40 and game. If you know the system, you can join in quickly. If you don’t, you’ll learn it in a single match. Honestly, at the start it matters more to simply keep the ball in play and agree with your partner on who takes which ball.

What your body does during a game

Padel puts particular load on the legs, core and shoulder girdle. You make short accelerations, stops, turns and low stances. This develops coordination, reaction speed and endurance. Because the court is small and the movements are shorter, many people find the game friendlier on their knees and joints than a long tennis match.

That doesn’t mean you can skip the warm-up. A couple of minutes of light movement, shoulder circles, hip openers and a few easy shots make the game much more enjoyable. This is especially true if you’ve come straight from an office desk.

What to check before your first game

You don’t need to buy a racket for your first time. Many clubs offer equipment rental, so you can try it out at your own pace and see whether you like the game at all. That’s more sensible than buying an expensive racket and discovering later that a different weight or shape suits you better.

Footwear matters more than you might think at first. Choose a shoe that supports your foot from the side. A regular running shoe may be comfortable on a straight road, but in padel you move sideways a lot. If your foot swims in the shoe, braking becomes unsteady.

Your clothing should be simple and allow free movement. You don’t need any special kit. A T-shirt, shorts or leggings and a bottle of water will do the job. If you’re playing in an indoor hall, keep in mind that the pace picks up quickly. In winter it’s a good idea to bring a dry shirt, since the cold can otherwise hit unpleasantly when you head outside.

If you’re going for the first time, pick companions who don’t make a drama out of every mistake. Padel is a social game. A good partner tells you where they’re moving, laughs off a poor shot and tries to handle the next ball better. That’s how you end up wanting to come back.

Padel for beginners: practical tips

A simple truth: don’t start with brute strength. The biggest beginner mistake is wanting to blast the ball through the net right away. It’s better to hit more calmly, keep the ball low and make your opponent move. When the ball stays in play, you learn faster.

The second important thing is your stance. Stay slightly low in the knees and keep the racket ready in front of your body. If you wait for the ball with a straight back and the racket hanging down, you’ll be late. A little readiness makes your shots more secure.

Third, talk to your partner. Say “mine”, “yours” or “leave it”. It sounds simple, but on court it saves a lot of points. A silent pair often runs for the same ball or lets an easy ball go because neither of them takes it.

And finally: give yourself a few games’ time. The first time, the wall bounces get muddled, the serve may come out too high and your positioning falls apart. That’s normal. By the third or fourth time you’ll start to understand when to attack, when to defend and when to simply put the ball back smartly.

FAQ: padel for beginners

Is padel suitable for complete beginners?

Yes. That is exactly why padel is so popular: the rules are simple, the serve is underhand and thanks to the walls the ball stays in play longer.

Is padel a good workout?

It is. It trains your legs, core, coordination and endurance. At the same time, the training load feels more playful than a regular interval workout.

Do I need my own racket?

Not for the first few times. With a rental racket you can try the game and decide later which racket suits your hand.

Come and train! ArtGym