This sport is great for socialising and you can play it anywhere in the world. Find out more!

Paddle became popular in parks in the United States where it became known as “paddle tennis”, because it was played with small wooden bats.

Paddle is played on a fully enclosed 10 x 20 metre cement court. The ball bounces off some parts of the walls, while others are covered in mesh. There is a net in the middle of the rectangle. Each half is divided into two equal parts. You need a paddle and a ball to play.

Paddle tennis is a sport suitable for all ages and you won’t need any expensive equipment to play. All you need is a paddle and some trainers that support your feet and protect your ankles.

What are the benefits of paddle tennis?

• It’s fun and entertaining. No two games are the same and it will stimulate your competitive instinct.
• It is a way of socialising because you need a doubles partner. You can play with friends and be part of a group.
• It fosters fair play and empathy and helps you to set yourself goals and objectives.
• It will improve your level of attention and your power of concentration, because you need to be alert to each movement.
• It improves breathing capacity and oxygenates the tissues.
• It mobilises the blood, speeds up the heart rate and protects the cardiovascular system.
• It tones the leg, arm and trunk muscles.
• It improves coordination, because your movements must be precise and controlled.
• It improves the memory, because you need to learn rules and plays.
• It improves psychomotor development because you have to move short distances in all directions, which requires strength and skill.
• It burns calories and helps you to control your weight.
• It releases endorphins, giving you a feeling of wellbeing.

The game consists of hitting the ball with the paddle over the net so that it falls on the other side. Learn the basic rules:

• One player serves and the other returns.
• The ball must not hit the wall on a serve.
• If it hits the net but bounces on the other side, the player has two more serves.
• You cannot touch the net when the ball is in play.
• You can lean over the net with the paddle but you must hit the ball in your own box.
• The receiver must wait for the ball to bounce in his box and hit it before it bounces again.
• The ball can hit the walls provided that it bounces on the court first.
• Matches may be the best of 3 or 5 sets.
• It is scored in the same way as tennis.

Talk to a monitor to learn how to play correctly without injuring yourself and enjoy yourself playing this fun, healthy sport.

This post is also available in: Spanish