Why should you try Padel: benefits beyond the game.
Padel, love at first sight.
They say that first love is unforgettable. Let me tell you my story…
How the romance started.
I remember it was a cold winter day of December 2019. I was lying on the couch when one of my friends called me. ‘Pierre, do you want to play Padel?’. Not really convinced, but with the thrill of discovering something new, I said ‘yes’. Sometimes you don’t realize how one simple decision can impact your life, this one changed mine.
Photo by Oliver Sjöström
First encounter with a padel court.
Once I walked past the padel court for the first time, I felt a rush of emotions. A bit of fear came from this small court enclosed by four infinite glass walls. It came as well with a hint of curiosity and a lot of excitement, just like meeting that special someone. When I took my first step on this blue turf, my heart suddenly raced, following the rhythmic pop sound of the ball against the glass wall on the court next to me.
We were about to start the game, and as with any building romance, there was a bit of hesitation. I was wondering if I would be good enough for this. Would I be able to keep up with the pace? Would I have the skills to play or to learn the rules? But then I remembered that love doesn’t follow any rules, so I picked up my racket with confidence and started to dive into this tourbillon of learning, falling, and rising.
Game is on.
The court, smaller than a tennis court, felt intense and intimate, like the first moments in a new relationship. Every shot is a dance, where you are flirting with the walls and the net. Every rally teaches you something new about the game, about yourself and about your partner. Like in a relationship, communication with your playmate is the key; the better you understand each other, the better you synchronize in the glass cage.
The padel community.
After all those emotions, once the game was over, I discovered the padel community. From beginners to confirmed players, everyone is welcoming, passionate, and supportive, such as your friends who share the joy of your first love.
Image by Freepick
A long term commitment sport.
First love is often intense and fades over time, but after 5 years, I can guarantee that my relationship with padel is stronger than ever. It has been a journey, full of difficulties and challenges. Like with your partner, the more time you spend together, the more you discover new traits that make you fall in love deeper and deeper. Lob, Bandeja, and Vibora are now my new love languages,and every time I step on the court, I feel butterflies in my stomach, the same that I had during my first kiss.
So, if you haven’t experienced the magic of padel, I recommend you to give it a try. You might find yourself falling in love all over again.