What is padel? Padel is a dynamic racket sport that combines elements of tennis, squash, and volleyball. In 2023, its popularity in Indonesia boomed, and it continues to grow today.
From luxurious clubs in Jakarta’s SCBD to community courts in Bandung, padel attracts thousands of players every month. While some people think padel is a “mini tennis”, it actually has its own identity, with an enclosed court surrounded by glass walls.
This article will provide a beginner-friendly explanation of the definition and history of padel, how to play the sport, its differences from tennis, and the benefits of playing padel.
This article is the foundation of the padel series. Also read the differences between Padel vs Tennis and the Basic Rules of Padel.
What is Padel?
Padel is a team-based racket game in an enclosed court, in which the ball is allowed to bounce off glass walls as part of a strategy. Created for fun and accessibility, padel is played in doubles (2 vs 2), though single padel matches exist for practice. Its key characteristics include slow underhand serves, long tactical rallies, and a compact space to make each hit matter.
Unlike tennis (open space and power-driven) or squash (full walls and small rackets), padel sets itself apart by combining solid racket control, off-the-wall bounces, and a volleyball net. In Indonesia, padel is officially acknowledged by the Indonesian Padel Association (PPSI) in 2024, with over 500 national courts as of 2025.
A Brief History of Padel
The history of padel began in 1969 in Acapulco, Mexico. This sport is invented by Enrique Corcuera who modified a tennis court with enclosed walls to play with friends. He combined tennis with squash walls, resulting in an addictive hybrid sport.
In the 1970s, padel spread in Spain through Corcuera’s friend, Prince Alfonso de Hohenlohe, founder of the Marbella Club—now the global center of padel.
Globally, Argentina is a padel powerhouse with 4 million players. Spain has hosted the World Padel Tour (WPT) since 2005. By the 2020s, padel exploded in Europe (with an over 500% court increase in France) and Asia.
In Indonesia, the padel trend began in 2022 through Spanish expats in Jakarta. In 2025, national padel tournaments were hosted, like the Indonesia Padel Open in Bali. FIP (International Padel Federation) acknowledges 50,000 global courts and projects 100,000 courts will be established by 2030, rivaling pickleball as the hottest racket sport.
How to Play Padel
You can learn padel in under 30 minutes, but to master it, teamwork is crucial.
Number of Players
The standard is 2 vs 2 (doubles), ideal for socialization. The player in front is in charge of smashes and volleys, while the one in the back performs lobs and groundstrokes. There is an option for single matches, but it is not optimal as the court is designed for doubles—the compact area demands teamwork and coordination.
Starting the Game
The game starts with a serve from the back of the right side, with each team taking turns. The serve must be underarm and is hit diagonally to the opponent’s side. The ball must first bounce off the floor before being returned. After that is a free rally: one bounce off the floor and the wall (optional), then strike. Just like tennis, the scoring is 15-30-40 with a best-of-three-sets system. Example: team A serves, B receives—rally until a fault occurs (out/invalid bounce).
Padel Court and Equipment
A padel court and gears are designed specifically for uniqueness.
Court
A padel court has a standard size of 20 meters wide and 10 meters long (200 m²), twice as small as a tennis court. The walls are 4 meters high and made of 10 m x 2 m tempered glass with mesh sides. The net is 88-92 centimeters high with a no-volley zone 3 meters from the net to prevent powerful smashes. A synthetic turf flooring (sand-filled) is popular in Indonesia because it provides good drainage in the tropical climate. Due to the walls, the ball can bounce back 70% of the time, extending a rally by about 12 hits.
Padel Racket and Ball
A padel racket is solid, composed of carbon or fiberglass, and covered with holes of 3-13 millimeters in width. Its shape varies, including round for control, teardrop for balance, and diamond for power. The maximum length is 45.5 centimeters and weighs around 345-380 grams, without strings like in tennis rackets. Beginners tend to gravitate towards a rounded and soft overgrip racket.
A padel ball is depressurized to about 50% of a tennis ball. It is 6.3-6.5 centimeters in diameter and weighs around 56-59.5 grams. This means a padel ball bounces lower (25-37 centimeters) than a tennis ball (up to 2 meters). Unlike the fast and high bounces in tennis, a padel ball slows down the pace of the match. Top padel ball brands include Head Evolution Pro and Bullpadel Premium, which can stand 2-3 hours in Jakarta’s turf courts.
Differences Between Padel and Tennis
Padel is often dubbed “tennis for all”, but it possesses substantial differences. For a more detailed explanation, read Differences Between Padel vs Tennis
- How to Play: Padel uses an underhand serve and a free volley after the serve. Meanwhile, an overhand ace serve in tennis can reach 200 km/hour. Padel emphasizes teamwork and long rallies, while tennis focuses on individual power.
- Court: Padel uses a 200 m² enclosed court, while tennis uses a 260 m² open court.
- Difficulty Level: Padel is beginner-friendly, as walls leave plenty of room for error. Tennis requires 6 months of practice.
Padel burns 500 calories/hour, compared to tennis’s 700 calories/hour. However, padel matches are twice as long as tennis because of the social aspect.
Benefits of Playing Padel
Padel is not just a source of entertainment—a 2024 FIP study presents several holistic benefits.
- Physical Benefits: Mild cardio (heart rate goes up to 140-160 bpm), honing agility (quick shifts in direction) as well as core and wrist strength (through wall volleys). A study shows that playing padel 3 times a week reduces BMI (Body Mass Index) by 5% in 3 months and increases VO2 by up to 15%. Padel also carries a lower risk of shoulder injury than tennis, making this sport suitable for those aged 40 and over.
- Social Benefits: A doubles system builds teamwork and reduces stress by 30% (Journal of Sports Psychology). In Indonesia, padel is a networking method—executives in Jakarta play before settling business deals. The community is inclusive, with women comprising 45% of global players.
- Suitable for All Ages: Children from age 8 can start with mini padel, while seniors aged 70 and over can still enjoy this low-impact sport. The 2025 trend of padel shows that it has become a corporate wellness program in Jakarta offices.
Is Padel Beginner-Friendly?
Yes, padel is very beginner-friendly—80% of new players stay after 1 month, according to WPT data. A solid racket makes up for imperfect techniques, walls support rallies, and underhand serves eliminate the risks of rotator cuff injuries. Unlike tennis, which can create frustration when the ball is out of bounds, padel keeps the ball in play 90% of the time.
Padel also carries a low risk of injury. Short footwork reduces shin splints, and there are no extreme overhead smashes. To start playing padel, you can rent a gear for Rp100,000/hour, and a 1-hour course costs Rp200,000 at Pantai Indah Kapuk. Renting a court costs Rp300,000-500,000/hour. Beginners in Jakarta can reach an intermediate level in 10 sessions.
Conclusion
What is padel? Padel is a doubles racket sport that takes place in a 20 by 10 meter enclosed court. It involves underarm serves, walls that actively affect play, and a solid racket—a fun and strategic hybrid of tennis and squash. Born in 1969 in Mexico, padel is now a global hit with 50 million fans and shapes Indonesia’s sports trend.
Padel is easy, healthy, and full of social aspects, making it suitable for beginners, families, and recreational athletes. Don’t wait—book your court, buy a beginner-friendly racket, and experience a magical rally that combines fun strategies with strong teamwork.
