Virgin Active blog
What is Padel?
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Padel has been creating a little bit of a racket over the past few years and if you’ve ever tried a rally on court, then you’ll understand why. And, if you haven’t, we want to show you. The Virgin Active Padel Club is now serving at Chiswick Riverside and Clearview.
With 3 brand-new double Padel courts plus a singles Padel court in each club, as a member of Virgin Active, we’ve now packed even more into your membership. You can book a Padel court on our app, sign up for Padel coaching or join a class to become part of a community as well.
What is Padel?
Simply put, it’s tennis meets squash.
Padel, sometimes also known as paddle tennis, was created in Mexico in the 1960s. It’s now the fastest growing sport in the world with around 25 million players - and one more once you get involved.
Even if you don’t know your underarm from your overarm serve, Padel is pretty easy to get the hang of. It can be played in singles or pairs on a 20 x 10 metre astroturf court, surrounded by glass panels. Padel’s scoring system and balls are inspired by tennis while the racket and four-walled court are borrowed from squash.
Why play Padel?
Tried your hand at tennis but not quite got it? Need a new sport to add to your routine? This is where Padel comes in.
Not only is it a great alternative cardio workout but Padel is a fast-paced game of both tactics and skill that requires you to stay one step ahead of your opponents. Perfect for dusting off those cobwebs.
And while that boxed in court allows for plenty of social time without the need to shout, it also means you can get a lot of power from just a little force. So even if you’re working on your upper arm strength, there’s still a game for you.
Players love it because it’s:
✅ Easy to learn
✅ Fast-paced
✅ Great for social play
✅ Played with 2 - 4 people
✅ Perfect for all ages, including kids
Is Padel a good workout?
Absolutely, both mentally and physically. It’s not surprising to leave the court a little sweaty.
With plenty of quick-fire moves and running around, Padel is great for keeping your heart, lungs and stamina up to scratch. But it can also help with building strength in your hips, legs and core with all of the lateral movements and twisting to hit your shots.
And speaking of hitting those shots, you can also expect your hand-eye coordination, reaction time and spatial awareness to improve too.
Yes, and typically players pick it up a lot quicker than tennis or squash.
The aim of the game is to score points and win sets with strategy and speed. Points are given in the same way as tennis: 15, 30, 40, game.
You’ll keep going until one player wins six games. That’s called a set. In Padel, it’s usually best to 3 sets before you’re declared the overall winner.
You score your points if:
the ball bounces twice on your opponent’s side
the ball goes out of bounds in your opponent’s court
your opponent’s shot hits the net without bouncing
the ball directly hits your opponent’s body
your opponent touches the ball more than once
The key is control. To get started, simply hit the ball over the net to get it out of your side of the court. Keep your shots steady and as precise as you can make them. And remember, the walls are your friends.
Need some help? We know just the team. At our Padel Clubs, we’ve got coaches to give you 1-1 tips to fine tune your game, plus group coaching sessions for when you feel like you want to put your skills to the test.
Whether you’ve got your Padel squad assembled already or you want to find new Padel pals to play with, head to our app to book your court or session. The ball is in your court.
Ready for your next workout? Check out all the group exercise classes available at Virgin Active.
Not yet a member? Find your nearest club and start your membership today.
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