English
TENNIS AND PADEL ON ONE SET OF POSTS AND NET
2022-10-03
Can the tennis court and its equipment be used for other sports? By all means! One such sport is padel, a great game that combines features of tennis and squash. Played in two pairs, it provides plenty of entertainment and healthy exercise. How to play both tennis and padel on one set of posts and net? We will explain!
WHAT IS A PADEL?
Have you never heard of such a game as padel? However, you certainly know tennis or squash. Padel derives from both disciplines and combines their features, making the gameplay dynamic and full of fun. Points are scored on the same principle as in tennis. However, the court is closed, as in squash.
The padel is played with a ball very similar to a tennis ball and racquets, which are, however, different from those designed for tennis or squash. They are lightweight (350-400 g) and rather small. They have fairly short handles and a rounded shape. Professional padel racquets are made of carbon fiber. Amateurs, however, are more likely to go for those made of fiberglass or foam, which are cheaper. The surface of the rocket is also significant. The hard one gives more control over the ball with less speed. The soft one, on the other hand, allows you to send faster balls, but requires the player to be more skilled in directing them.
The design of the racquets makes the game of padel slower than in tennis or squash. The characteristics of the balls also contribute to this. In appearance, they resemble tennis balls, but the air inside them has much less pressure, making them move more slowly. This allows even beginners to play long exchanges. Because it is played in a doubles arrangement (in two teams of two), padel is a great social sport.
WHAT DOES A PADEL COURT LOOK LIKE?
The padel court is 10 meters wide and 20 meters long, which is slightly smaller than a tennis court. Like the tennis court, however, it is divided in half by a the net. One of the biggest differences is the fencing of the court. At its both ends (behind the players' backs) are 3 meters high walls covering also the corners of the court and 2 meters of its longer edge on each side. In contrast, walls 2 meters high are used on the next 2 meters of the longer edge of the court. They are made of concrete or tempered glass. The latter is now the most common solution, as it allows the public to admire the games. The remaining space is protected by a well-tensioned 4 meters high wire mesh. Sometimes courts are also built entirely surrounded by tempered glass.
The fence and walls take part in the game, since the ball, after bouncing off the court surface, can also bounce off them. The receiver can both punch the ball directly to the other side of the court and bounce it off the wall (side or back). The exchange ends if the ball hits the net dividing the court, falls outside the playing field and touches the ground, or bounces on either side more than once.
PADEL NET VS. TENNIS NET
Padel differs from tennis in the appearance and dimensions of the court, as well as the racquets and balls used. Net size requirements are also slightly different. In case of padel it must be suspended at a height of 92 cm at the posts and 88 cm in the middle. In tennis, it is placed slightly higher (106 cm at the posts and 91.5 cm in the middle of the field). The tennis net also needs to be slightly longer. Its other parameters, however, are very similar. Nowadays, nets are made of plastic, such as polyester, polyethylene or polypropylene, with strings about 2.5-4 mm thick. The net can have a knotted or knotless design. Most often they have a mesh size of 42 x 42 mm or 45 x 45 mm. The top edge must be covered with a white tape 5 to 6.5 cm wide.
PADEL POSTS - ARE THEY DIFFERENT FROM TENNIS POSTS?
The paddle net, like in tennis, is attached to posts that ensure its stable position and proper tension. With both disciplines, the same properties of the posts are crucial - they must be solid, durable, resistant to mechanical damage. It is very important to be able to conveniently adjust the tension of the net. The posts must also be stable. They are fixed to the ground in special sleeves or placed on weighted stands.
CAN THE TENNIS NET BE USED TO PLAY PADEL?
In theory, a tennis net and a padel net are different. However, in practice, they are sometimes used interchangeably. A tennis net can be used in amateur padel play. Just make sure it will be hung at the right height. Thus, posts with adjustable net height are necessary.
To use the same tennis and padel equipment, it is worth choosing portable poles. They have weighted bases that allow them to be set up stably without being permanently attached to the ground. Such a set with a net will be great for training in both sports.