Growing up in Mexico City, racket sports were my everything. I started playing tennis when I was young, but I enjoyed dabbling in all racket sports. One day, a friend brought me to try padel. If you haven’t played it before, padel is a racket sport played mostly in doubles. It’s like a mix of tennis and squash — or imagine a pickleball court with walls, slightly bigger than a regular pickleball court.
Rodrigo (the author) and Vanda of R&R enjoying some padel.
I played regularly for many years, but once I moved to Canada, it was almost impossible to find a padel court.
Fast forward a few years: with the emergence of pickleball, padel has now risen in popularity across North America. Here in Vancouver, there are now a few courts to play on and the sport's popularity is starting to rise.
Here’s a bit of background on the sport:
Origins
- Padel was invented in 1969 in Acapulco, Mexico.
- Padel is now one of the fastest-growing racket sports in the world, with tens of millions of players globally.
Rules and Play
- Padel uses the same scoring system as tennis: 15, 30, 40, game, and traditional sets.
- Padel is always played in doubles on a 20m x 10m enclosed court, which is smaller than a tennis court but larger than a pickleball court. The court is fully surrounded by glass and mesh walls, which are part of the play.
Equipment
- Padel rackets are solid (no strings) with drilled holes, and are typically made of composite materials rather than wood or strings like tennis rackets.
- Padel balls look similar to tennis balls but are slightly lower in pressure, which changes the bounce and speed.
Where to play padel in Vancouver?
Padel FVR operates a large indoor padel facility with four IPF-approved courts in Pitt Meadows (about 40–50 minutes from central Vancouver), at 510-513 19055 Airport Way, with amenities like a lounge, showers, and coaching.
Our friends from FVR gave us a 30% discount code that you can use if you want to try playing with friends. And don’t worry if you don’t know how — there will always be staff who can explain everything.
Discount Code:
PADELFVR
Gear up for padel
The padel court surface is most commonly artificial grass (turf) with sand infill, so make sure to use the correct court shoes. As my coach used to say, one of the most important pieces of equipment you need are the shoes.
One recommendation would be the ASICS Solution Speed — a light option that lets you move quickly on the court. But any all-court men or all-court women shoe will work.
Choosing the right padel racket
When choosing a padel racket, the main question is: what are you looking for: power, control, or feel?
Back in the day, padel rackets were made of wood, but now the technology has changed. Modern padel rackets are built with lightweight cores and reinforced frames to balance control, power, and maneuverability.
EVA foam: the most common core material today, available in different hardness levels. Softer EVA provides more cushioning, better feel on off-center hits, and easier control. Firmer EVA delivers more rebound and potential power with a stiffer response. The choice affects how the ball comes off the racket and how forgiving the face is on mis-hits.
Padel Rackets Weights
Light (360–370 g): easier swing, great for beginners.
Mid (370–385 g): common choice for many players.
Heavy (385–395+ g)
Control / Comfort focus
These are best for ease of use, forgiveness, and consistency.
Remember, padel is like a game of chess. You have to think about your strategy so you can win the net. Keep in mind that passing the ball is the most important thing when you’re starting. This category is a great option to begin your Padel journey.
All-round / Balanced focus
These give a mix of control and power.
If you’re already in the game and want something more maneuverable with a little more precision, this is the ideal paddle. It’s the best of both worlds. If you’re starting to hit bandejas, víboras, and even going for the x4, you will love this.
Power / Advanced attacking focus
These are aimed at aggressive players with solid technique.
Guys, watch out with this one. It’s harder to control, but once you master it, you have a real weapon in your hands. Usually, a left-side player, the one who controls the middle or goes for the smashes, would be perfect for this type of paddle, since it allows a more aggressive style than their partner