Padel, tennis, and squash: where they all began

Tennis traces its roots back to medieval France, where it was known as 'jeu de paume' and played primarily by monks as a handball game. It evolved to using rackets in the 16th century, becoming a favourite of European royalty. The modern game of lawn tennis then took shape in the late 19th century in England, giving rise to the sport we know today, complete with its standardised rules and global tournaments.

Squash originated in the early 19th century at Harrow School in England, where students adapted the older games of handball and rackets by playing with a punctured ball against the school walls. This new version required a softer ball, which could be used in enclosed areas, leading to the development of the modern squash court and its distinct gameplay.

Thanks to the Mexican Enrique Corcuera,  Padel’s origins are as recent as 1969. 

Padel is a hybrid of tennis and squash. The game was designed to be played in enclosed spaces with walls, using solid paddles instead of rackets. It quickly gained popularity in Spain and later spread to Europe and the Americas, becoming, thanks to its  social aspect and accessibility, a favoured sport 

The first major difference is the name and construction of the playing implements: in tennis and squash, a strung racket is used, while padel features solid paddles with small holes on the surface. The sizes of all three types of rackets are also significantly different. Tennis and squash rackets are larger than padel rackets, but lighter.

The standard padel paddle has maximum dimensions of 45.5cm in length, 26cm width and 38mm thickness, weighing between 330 and 400 grams. As for the manufacturing materials, padel paddles have a wide spectrum of materials: fiberglass, carbon fibre, EVA rubber, FOAM or more curious materials like Kevlar, graphene and even tungsten. All paddles feature a strap that players have to attach to their wrist to enhance control and prevent the paddle from flying out of their hands during explosive shots. They're conceived, among other functionalities, to hit the ball shorter distances, fit a smaller, enclosed space and endure incidental hits against the walls of the court.

The game ball seems identical in tennis and padel, but it isn't. The squash ball is distinct, since the sport calls for a totally different type of ball reaction.

Padel balls are very similar to tennis balls, but feature slightly less pressure and are smaller in size. The regulations of the International Padel Federation (FIP) specify that padel balls must be made of rubber in yellow or white colour and have a diameter of between 6.32cm and 6.77cm, and a weight of between 56 and 59 grams.

Tennis, squash and padel courts differ in many aspects. While tennis courts are considerably larger, padel courts are surrounded by four walls and fences that integrate into the game, while squash courts eliminate the net and feature a four-side enclosure limited by walls.

The tennis court is a sprawling rectangle of 23.77m x 8.23m separated by a net (expandable to 10.97m wide in doubles matches). The floor of the court can be grass, clay or asphalt. 

Squash courts measure 9.75m long by 6.4m wide (13.72m long by 7.62m for doubles) and are enclosed by four walls. Surfaces are generally made of wood or synthetic materials, uniformly light to contrast with the small, dark-coloured squash ball. The court features out lines at the top of the front wall and on the side and back walls. This fully enclosed design is essential for squash and makes it a very intense sport, allowing players to use the walls in fast-paced play, requiring agility and strategic thinking.

The padel court is a captivating blend of the previous two that generates dynamic rallies: a rectangle of 10m by 20m separated in the middle by a net. The surface of the court can be porous concrete and cement, synthetic grass or carpet. The colour is usually green, blue or earthy brown. The most striking feature in padel courts are the walls surrounding it (with a minimum height of three metres each). They can be made of glass, acrylic or cement and it's allowed for the ball to bounce off them during the game, as long as it bounces on the floor first.

Tennis uses a unique scoring system where games are scored as love (zero), 15, 30, 40 and game point. Matches are typically played in sets, with a player needing to win six games by a margin of two to take a set. Tiebreaks are employed when the game count reaches 6-6, requiring players to win points consecutively to secure the set, emphasising the sport's need for consistent performance and mental toughness.

Padel adopts the same scoring system as tennis, with points counted as 15, 30, 40 and game, with sets played to six games and a two-game margin needed to win. Tiebreaks are also used at 6-6. This familiar scoring framework helps make padel accessible, particularly for tennis players transitioning to or from padel, facilitating a seamless adaptation to the game dynamics.

Squash demands rapid, sharp movements in a much smaller, enclosed space, enhancing the need for quick reflexes and strategic play. 

In padel, thanks in great measure to the presence of walls, plays are easier and easier to master. Padel has a simpler technique than tennis, and, at the amateur level, slower movements than squash. 

Learning to play at a decent level usually takes considerably less time and this is one of the reasons why it's currently one of the fastest-growing sports globally. But even though padel doesn't require as much technical ability, a good padel match is a spectacle worth watching, and there are plenty of unwritten rules of padel to understand as a player.

Tennis demands excellent stamina, strength and agility, essential for covering the extensive court and sustaining lengthy rallies. 

Padel requires good coordination and quick reactions due to its smaller court and wall play. Training should emphasise agility and precision to utilise walls effectively, as well as teamwork to communicate well with partners.

In tennis, frequent injuries include tennis elbow, shoulder pain and knee problems, stemming from the repetitive swinging and high-impact movements across the large court. The diverse playing surfaces can also influence injury types, with harder surfaces often exacerbating stress on joints and muscles, requiring rigorous conditioning and proper technique to minimise risks.

In squash, common injuries often involve the lower back, knees and elbows due to the intense, repetitive twisting, lunging and rapid direction changes. Players need to be particularly mindful of the stress placed on these areas during play.

Repetitive hard swinging of the rackets can pose a risk of arm injuries

In padel, players often experience ankle sprains, wrist injuries and muscle strains due to the sport's quick pivots, wall interactions and the use of solid paddles. The smaller court size increases the likelihood of sudden direction changes, requiring players to maintain agility and use preventive strategies to avoid common injuries.

Why not Google “Padel courts near me” – and go and take a look. Become ‘modern’.