Padel Development

In 1974 Alfonso de Hohenlohe travels to Mexico invited by his friend Enrique Corcuera. During his stay is interested in practicing a new sport that his friend had recently created, incorporating a pediment other opposite wall about 3 feet high, placing a net in the middle and closing the sides of the track with a wire mesh . It was played with wooden paddles and was called Paddle-Tennis.

His enthusiasm for this new sport was immediate, as Hohenlole Alfonso, on his return to Spain, and after studying and perfecting some details of the track and playing field, build the first two courts of Spain in the Marbella Club. Thus began promoting the paddle in his jet-set friends.

The paddle has spread to other countries like Brazil, Uruguay, Chile, Paraguay, and so on. with many fans. This influence has also reached North America. In Spain, the paddle begins to expand to major cities and sports clubs of Madrid, Barcelona, ​​Andalusia, Galicia and the Basque Country. On July 25, 1991, constitutes Madrid International Padel Federation whose president is on a Spanish Artiach Julio Alegria, who was commissioned to create a circuit of international meetings and to conclude an international playing rules. In May 1993, the paddle took a decisive step for consolidation: the Sports Council agreed to its recognition as a sport. A year later, approved the constitution of the Spanish Association Padel, registered in the Register of Associations Sports National Sports Council. At the regional level, is based on January 1992, the Madrid Association of Padel, now registered in the Register of Sports Associations for the Madrid General Directorate of Sports. This is not the only autonomous region where there have been initiatives of this kind: in Catalonia, Basque Country, Galicia, Andalusia and Extremadura Regional Chapters exist.

Since 1993, held in Spain (Madrid) International Championships of Spain in the facilities of the Club de Campo Villa de Madrid, in the presence of the best players in the world. This tournament has become the most important internationally, both for its quality and the amount of the awards. The paddle is spreading in different European countries, which have already formed their own associations, they are getting a great success in the number of federal and plant construction, France, Italy, Belgium, Britain and Austria. Spain in this regard has an important role in promoting the paddle in Europe. Today, for example, in almost all cities in Spain there is a paddle shop as a witness to an incredible success.

The Paddle is the only sport that combines the best elements of tennis, racquetball and squash. Is most often done on concrete surfaces, but there are courts with synthetic grass flooring and supreme court. The Paddle is played almost entirely on exclusive of the sport. There is only one golf club to 20 indoor courts complex (the courts can be covered or uncovered).

The Paddle was incorporated as a exhibition sport at the Panamerican Games '95 Mar del Plata, Argentina.

A paddle tennis court is 20 meters long and 10 meters wide, with walls in their funds and lateral (4 feet square) of 3 meters.

A mesh or chicken wire surrounds the rest of the perimeter. The net and the ball are similar to those used in tenis.as blade, 45 cm long and an average weight of 450 grams, are of various compounds (wood, rubber, graphite, etc..), With holes up to 12 mm . and a padded grip. It is played only in pairs, three sets (equal count in tennis). The service is crossed and must hit below the waist.