Padel: Mash Up of Tennis, Squash and Racquetball

This morning, I read an article in my local newspaper about new "padel" courts opening.  It wasn't tennis or pickleball but another racquet sport that is gaining popularity.

So, what is padel?

Padel is a racket sport played in doubles on an enclosed court with walls, combining elements of tennis and squash. Players use solid, stringless rackets to hit a ball that can bounce off the walls, adding a unique tactical layer to the game which uses standard tennis scoring. It is often described as easier to learn than tennis but offers deep strategic gameplay.

It is similar to what arena football is to outdoor football.  

Three padel courts can fit in one regulation-sized tennis court.

There are approximately 25 million active players in more than 90 countries according to the International Padel Federation.

The sport was invented in Acapulco, Mexico by Enrique Corcuera in 1969 when he modified his squash court to add in elements of tennis.  

Although some rules are different, the scoring system is the same as in tennis.

Take a look at this video explaining the sport:  https://youtu.be/rSIvS-Skg28?si=v7z3WXlM2TGmQTqm