Where is the nearest "Padel tennis"?
 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSIvS-Skg28

It looks like tennis, pickle ball and racquet ball put together. . .

thanks!

It’s becoming a big deal near home. It’s a lot of fun.

Many friends who are serious tennis and pickle players are saying Padel is more fun.

Where to play….
Where to Play Padel in the United States: Court Directory and How to Get Involved | Padel.fyi

I don't know if it's the closest or not but I saw it being played at the Sarah Vande Berg Tennis Center in Zephyr Hills, which is a bit more than an hour away.

Looks pretty much like platform tennis. I love platform tennis because I find that it requires more athletic ability than pickleball. When I played pickleball, I only played singles because I can cover a court on my own. Platform is more difficult because you play off the walls, which is way more fun for me. JMO, only my preference. Your mileage may vary.

Nice overview article on Padel.

Pickleball vs Every Racket Sport

PB vs. Padel (vs. Everything Else)

Padel, as we've said before, has a lot of ground to cover if it wants to catch up with pickleball...no, literally: it takes up much more space and requires a lot more money to build its glass-enclosed court.

But The Washington Post believes it could be the new pickleball (or, more accurately, the new golf) -- for C-Suite execs.
"It’s a networking superconductor for athletic, like-minded, like-moneyed masters of the universe," their story says.

This idea of exclusivity -- as opposed to pickleball's inclusivity -- is mirrored in the fact that only about 300 padel courts exist in the US currently. Even before the pickleboom, there were already well over 300 courts established throughout the US; probably more in Florida alone.

But, WaPo writes, "if you move in the right circles, in the right places, or at least follow the right accounts, padel is everywhere."

"Padel needs a specialized court that costs roughly $50,000 to install. But it’s precisely those barriers to entry that appeal to those with cash and calories to burn."


The WaPo piece further describes how padel "is more athletic" than pickleball and how the uber-wealthy have started to latch on to the sport.

The athleticism needed for Padel could actually be more off-putting for CEOs. Golf only requires you to walk. Surely this is a point in pickleball’s favor?

But perhaps the best part of the article is this admittedly-funny chart comparing each of the most popular racket sports. We've highlighted our favorite parts.

"anyone with a pulse"...I love it.

Yeah; padel seems more like the polo.of racquet sports.

Padel reminds me a lot of platform tennis, which I played a lot of in my 20s, and 30s. It never took off wildly the way pickleball has, probably because, up north where it was most popular, it was played as an outdoor winter sport. At our facility, which was primarily a golf-centered country club, once the golf course opened up, and the tennis courts were playable, nobody played platform.

I think , were I younger and more athletic, Padel would be a real interesting option if it were available. At my advanced age (70), and with shoulder problems, pickle is a better option. From what little I've seen of Padel, I think it will have a hard time overtaking pickle as a game for the masses. But I'm sure it's fun.

If you really want to sweat to fitness, Squash is the game.
Take at least eight pints of beer to replace fluid loss after playing.
Another major attraction of the game!

I played that a bit also, but could never get comfortable with standing back to back with my opponent, trusting him to stop his racket follow through before striking my face.

Seems close to the platform tennis I played up north in the winter. Definitely a doubles game with very long points. The court was raised with a heater underneath to melt the snow and ice. Here's an article regarding padel, paddle tennis, and platform tennis:

What is Padel / Paddle tennis / Platform tennis? - Epirus London.

I had no idea Padel was as popular worldwide as this article states: 10,000+ courts worldwide, 10 million+ players, I had never heard of it before about a year ago when I was at the Florida Seniors Games playing pickleball, in Zephyr Hills.

For those not aware, the Villages Platform Tennis Club is very well organized here offering lots of instruction. Very fun/challenging support.

Home | Villages Platform Tennis Club

I worried more about my nuts!

Wise to look after them as well. Although they seemed to be more in danger playing platform tennis than squash.