The sport hitting Bali
The sport most people associate with Bali is surfing. The island has a variety of surf breaks, which makes it an ideal place for both experienced surfers and those who are just learning how to surf.
But the sport that is really making waves in Bali right now is padel.
Padel clubs are popping up all over the place. Construction is underway on many more. Courts are fully-booked weeks in advance.
Padel is the fastest-growing sport in many parts of the world. The exception is the U.S. where another racket sport, pickleball is catching on like wildfire. So, what is padel and why is it so becoming so popular?
The Origins of Padel:
Padel’s birth can be traced to a wealthy Mexican businessman named Enrique Corcuera. He reportedly made the first padel court in the garden of his holiday home in Acapulco in 1969. It was meant for friends and family. Five years later, Corcuera’s friend reportedly opened two Padel courts in Marbella, Spain. The rest is history.
What is Padel:
Padel combines tennis with squash. The court is roughly three quarters the size of a tennis court. It has a glass wall at the back. Instead of a racket, you play with a bat. It is smaller and harder than a tennis racket. They are usually made of carbon fiber or fiberglass and there are no strings. The balls look like tennis balls but they’re very slightly smaller and a little less bouncy. The game is predominantly played in doubles.
Rules of the game:
Scoring in padel is the same as scoring in tennis but there are some key differences in how the game is played:
- The serve: unlike tennis, the serve is underhanded and the ball has to bounce once before you hit it to your opponent.
- The wall: if the ball hits the ground and then hits the wall behind you, it’s still in play and you should return it to your opponent.
- Teamwork: you move in tandem with your partner. When your partner is in the offence position at the net, you should be too. You should be moving backwards and forwards and sideways together as a pair. Imagine a string connecting the two of you as you cover the court.
Why Padel is so popular:
The obvious answer is that it’s fun! It’s a highly social game that is less strenuous than tennis, which is probably why it’s so popular with the boomer set. Don’t get me wrong, you definitely work up a sweat (especially in Bali) but it’s not as cardio intensive as tennis.
It’s easy to learn. Unlike tennis, which can take a considerable investment of time and money to learn to play properly, people can pick up padel quickly. The serve is not as complicated as tennis and the shorter padel makes it easier to control the ball.
I joined a ladies night padel tournament shortly after arriving in Bali and loved it instantly. I play whenever I can secure a game. My son has a class on Saturday mornings and is a super fan too.
Padel Courts in Bali:
- Jungle Padel in Canggu: I’m partial to this place as it’s where I was first introduced to the game through a Sunday night ladies tournament. It is a great place to play, watch others play while sipping a coconut and socialize. You can sign up for group classes or private lessons. My son and I have both loved our experience at JP. Booking a court is challenging but you can join games booked by others through various WhatsApp groups. They have four courts, a bar/coffeeshop and a pro shop as well. They plan on opening their second location in the Batu Bolong shortcut in May. https://www.junglepadel.com/
- Padel at Liga Tennis in Umalas and Sanur: Liga started as a tennis club but now offers three covered padel courts at its Umalas location and two courts at its Sanur location. They also offer classes and tournaments. https://liga.tennis/ltca/padel
- Indopadel in Denpasar: opening soon with 5 courts. https://indopadel.com/home-3/
