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Padel Tennis: The Beginners’ Essential Guide
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Padel Tennis is one of the fastest-growing sports in the world. One of more than 30 racket sports played at clubs and courts from Dubai to Detroit, it is threatening to catch up in popularity with established favourites such as tennis and badminton.
The speed, energy, and excitement padel offers makes it a great game for everyone, no what matter your age!
Conceived in 1969 by Enrique Corcuera, padel tennis shares a lot of similarities with the traditional game. The people of Acapulco, Mexico, were the first to play the sport, and then it swiftly caught on throughout the rest of Latin America. Today, it is a global phenomenon, and nowhere more so than in the UAE.
HOW DO YOU PLAY PADEL TENNIS?
Padel is tactical, thrilling, demanding, and extremely addictive. It’s a low-impact, highintensity cardio workout that both singles and doubles can benefit from. Tennis and padel have rules that are fairly similar and are simple to master. However, the distinctions are instantly apparent once you start playing.
The court is the first thing to mention; it is half the size of a typical tennis court. The enclosure is the next component and is framed by either wire or perspex. This framing is then employed, as in squash, to strike the ball against the rear or sides of the court, in attack or while returning. Then there are the padels themselves. They resemble enormous table tennis bats and are made of plastic and foam. They can deliver tremendous force. There are no limits on how you strike the ball, but only underarm serves are permitted. The balls have been modified too, to lessen the pressure. In actuality, it is not unusual for players to use regular tennis balls that have been depressurized with the aid of a needle.
Padel is a faster game to play than tennis for several reasons, including the smaller playing area and, like squash, the fact that back and side walls can be used as part of the game. Imagine a squash court that is three-quarters the size of a tennis court, enclosed within a four-wall box. Then, imagine adding a large stringless bat, and you start to get the idea.
WHERE TO PLAY?
The speed, energy, and excitement padel offers makes it a great game for everyone, no what matter your age! So it’s no surprise that padel facilities are springing up all over the place, with some of the best being in the UAE.
DUBAI
Central Padel Dubai
Seven courts are available for players to get active on at Central Paddle, with two of the world’s best players, Juan Lebrón and Agustín Tapia, the first to test them out at the launch. There is coaching for all ages and abilities, as well as sessions for ladies, children and beginners. There is also a club shop to allow you to acquire essential kit.
Dubai Golf
Emirates Golf Club, Dubai Creek Golf Club, Jumeirah Golf Estates, and the Dusit Thani Dubai all have courts that are managed by Dubai Golf. For members, a tournament schedule is maintained, and visitors can play for a fee.
Just Padel
The largest provider in the Middle East with 34 courts spread out around the city. A number of them are in schools, while others are at places such as Kite Beach and Ripe Market. All courts at Just Padel are bookable.
Other facilities in Dubai include Padel Point, Matcha and Smash.
ABU DHABI
Al Forsan International Sports Resort
Al Forsan is one of the biggest and best sports complexes in Abu Dhabi and ideal if you want to play padel. The ride out to Khalifa City might be a little bit of a drive, but the exceptional facilities and artificial lake make it worth the trip.
Let’s Padel Academy
Let’s Padel Academy is located out in Mussafah and is an impressive indoor padel facility that includes four courts. Qualified training is available for all ages and levels.
Marina Padel
If you’re looking to play padel in Abu Dhabi on Yas Island, look no further than Marina Padel at Yas Marina. And if you’re if not a ‘pro’ padel player, there is access to professional coaches. There are also events and competitions.
Other facilities in Abu Dhabi include Beach Club at Beach Rotana, Yas Acres Golf and Country Club and Zayed Sports City.
SHARJAH
Sharjah Beach Club
Sharjah Beach Club has everything you need to play padel tennis, including rackets, balls, refreshments, and of course some of the finest courts in the emirate.
The Basic Rules
The rules of the game are fairly straightforward. Unlike in tennis, the ball remains playable if, after being hit on the ground, it then hits the walls. The scoring is the same as in tennis.
When serving, the ball must bounce once on the floor. Players can reach over the net with an arm or racket when hitting a ball but if the racket hits the net (or if the ball hits the wall or fencing before it hits the floor) it is a foul. Once the ball hits the ground, it may strike the wall or fencing before it is returned. Out-of-court plays are allowed, leading to some thrilling rallies.
Padel tennis is fast and furious, great fun and exercises almost every muscle you know of ... and quite a few that you don’t! So, get involved today; one of the world’s fastestgrowing sports is on your doorstep.
Padel is tactical, thrilling, demanding, and extremely addictive
BESPOKE SPORTS CLOTHING FOR EVERYONE!
You may not think it’s an economic option for a small local sports club or school to have a sportswear factory manufacture a unique bespoke club kit. But you’d be wrong. OG Classic supplies customised sportswear clothing to a broad range of customers in the UAE, currently 15 schools and over 20 sports clubs, including teams competing in the 2022 Dubai 7s, the longest-running annual sports event in the Middle East.
Gwillym Poole, the founder of OG Classic has been in the Middle East for almost 10 years, having worked his way up to GM with another sportswear clothing brand, running the operation in the UAE. OG Classic was born to provide a superior product and service to the sector. W hen a design is truly bespoke, it allows schools and sports clubs to become genuinely distinct, with Gwillym Poole, CEO at OG Classic, commenting: “One of the international invitation teams for this year’s Dubai 7s took its kit design to another level, and it was very impressive. What they are doing for the youngsters what they are doing for the youngsters is extraordinary and inspiring. ‘It’s for the Kids’ is a saying you should see quite often.
“Then we have one of the most famous schools in Dubai, which has chosen a design that really sets them apart from everyone else. Whatever the challenge, though, Adil, our lead designer, has nailed the designs for everyone this year.”
Of course, schools and sports clubs do not need to have a ready-made design when contacting OG Classic. It’s unusual if they do, although the company enjoys seeing new ideas from its customers. “Our in-house design team can create anything a customer desires, and I think only once has someone said, “sorry, I don’t like it.” So that is a 99.9% success rate of getting it right, which we’re quite happy with!”
100% RECYCLED CLOTHING
However, with OG Classic, it’s not just about the fabulous design and quality of the product. The company is also very keen on sustainability and environmental awareness, as Gwillym explains: “I think our offering has something for everyone. The recent deliveries of our 100% recycled clothing have really impressed people, not least how the modern feel and comfort of the products are, once again, next level. Most will not know how much of a difference they are making. But they are. Long may it continue.”
Leading-edge Corporate Social Responsibility is high on the list of objectives at OG Classic too. Essentially, whatever the company does, it is committed to having a positive effect on the community. As Gwillym puts it: “Being there for others whilst striving to be the best we can be.” Furthermore, the company’s office/showroom is a meeting hub where people and employees want to be - a welcoming place with welcoming people. And this fuels superlative customer service.
“The recent deliveries of our 100% recycled items have really impressed people”
“Our in-house design team can create anything a customer desires”
THE ’WOW!’ FACTOR
“Relationships are key, Gwillym explains. “In tandem with our suppliers and partners, we do everything we can for our customers, understanding their expectations and responding with solutions that include delivery within just eight weeks of the order being placed, which is way ahead of most of our competitors in the industry. We believe that there is a way if you have the will to do it. Naturally, not everything goes to plan, but it’s how we react that is key. Everyone at OG Classic is proud of their ability to consistently go beyond the extra mile.”
It will come as no surprise, therefore, that OG Classic is pushing boundaries not only in design, production, customer service, and delivery, but also geographically. “We are currently growing as organically as we can,” Gwillym says. “We are servicing our existing customer base in the UAE while pushing deeper into the region day by day. We have delivered all over the world, but we anticipate having a much wider reach in the GCC and beyond in the coming years.
It is not all hard work either; OG Classic likes to get to know its customers, becoming good friends with many of them. Recently, for instance, the UAE’s largest sports club, Dubai Hurricanes, took delivery of its amazing 100% recycled kits.
“We had the pleasure of welcoming every age, size, shape, and sport into our showroom for a photo shoot, where I got to have my children (Owen and Grace, hence OG) model for it. A real ‘wow!’ factor for me personally and I know the team loved the experience!” concludes Gwillym.
OG CLASSIC
+971 56 199 8104
