Originating in Mexico, padel is the new racquet sport that is taking the world by storm. It is now played in 78 countries around the globe.
Padel (originally pronounced with the accent on the second syllable) is played on a court about 1/3 the size of a standard tennis court with a paddle that is perforated, but otherwise similar to the ones used in pickleball. There is a net like in tennis, and scoring is also identical with scoring in tennis. The balls used are like tennis balls, but slightly softer. Doubles play is the norm in padel. The game can be played on indoor or outdoor courts.
What makes padel unique is that it is played on a court surrounded by walls, and the ball can bounce off both the walls and the court. This makes some aspects of the game similar to racquetball. After the serve, the receiving player can volley the ball back, hit it after it hits the ground, or allow the ball to bounce to a wall and hit it after that bounce.
Padel is a fast-paced sport that is all about the angles. If you are thinking about building a pickleball court, consider making it a little larger and adding walls for padel. You could be on the leading edge of the next sports craze.