I wondered if anyone here played padel at all? Im thinking of giving it a go. I played decent relatively high club tennis (Yorkshire and Middlesex league to around 2nd or 3rd division) and squash (county junior under 16) but stopped playing it at all around 25 years ago and havent picked up a racket of any variety since then; Im now 58 and fancied giving it a go (padel) although Im a little nervous.
we have 3 places with courts here - theres a big surge indoor facility which looks good but I worry it will be uber players and not much of a social club atmosphere. Harrogate Spa tennis club has 2 courts and is a decent well run club and Harrogate squash and fitness centre also has a couple of courts and is close to our house.
I dont have anyone I know who plays it so would need to go on scratch and find somewhere that welcomes waifs and strays who is Billy no mates, haha.
anyway, I wondered if anyone played it and what they though of it really?
thanks!
-- Edited by JonH comes home on Tuesday 2nd of April 2024 09:34:59 PM
I haven't but my Son has and absolutely loves it so give it a go. He'd switch to Padel completely I think but there is only 1 club round our way with a Padel court.
ETA My Dad is keen to give it a go as well and he's 74. As soon there is an easily accessible court nearby he's taking on my Son.
-- Edited by emmsie69 on Wednesday 3rd of April 2024 07:52:08 AM
I haven't but my Son has and absolutely loves it so give it a go. He'd switch to Padel completely I think but there is only 1 club round our way with a Padel court.
ETA My Dad is keen to give it a go as well and he's 74. As soon there is an easily accessible court nearby he's taking on my Son.
-- Edited by emmsie69 on Wednesday 3rd of April 2024 07:52:08 AM
Good stuff - part of me would love to give tennis a go again, but I fear I will not live up to my own belief in my standards () and my serve and fitness will let me down, big time! Padel feels like a much more accessible way for a middle aged bloke to start doing racquet sports again!
I emailed all 3 local places last night and will pop down and try them out and see which feels best for me. Let's see!!
I was all set to give it a try with friends in January, then two of them got injured playing tennis and have been out of action since A few people I know whove tried said they enjoyed playing, but not as much as tennis
I play a bit - it's good fun. Sort of more social than tennis, since there's 4 of you in a smaller area. Less time spent picking up the 3 balls.
Very accessible - similar to tennis, but much easier to grasp if you haven't played before. All shots done in a chopper grip, with underarm serving and scoring as per tennis. Lobs and smashes definitely feature too.
You can play it like tennis, but the good players tend to take a lot of balls off the walls & work the angles and corners - presume this is squash like, altho I haven't done much squash.
I play a bit - it's good fun. Sort of more social than tennis, since there's 4 of you in a smaller area. Less time spent picking up the 3 balls. Very accessible - similar to tennis, but much easier to grasp if you haven't played before. All shots done in a chopper grip, with underarm serving and scoring as per tennis. Lobs and smashes definitely feature too. You can play it like tennis, but the good players tend to take a lot of balls off the walls & work the angles and corners - presume this is squash like, altho I haven't done much squash.
See this is why I prefer playing Squash, even when the ball goes out it stays 'in'. Can't be doing with trekking to the net or waiting for the court next door to finish their point to retrieve my ball.
Thanks all - Ive booked a trial session at a local club for Tuesday after next, Im away with work next week and they have a newbies session each Tuesday. Looking forward to it - they have two covered courts so even if raining , it should be fine.
) and my serve and fitness will let me down, big time! Padel feels like a much more accessible way for a middle aged bloke to start doing racquet sports again! 
A few people I know whove tried said they enjoyed playing, but not as much as tennis
