Padel – The Game Behind the Fences

Padel in the Alps

"The Naturparkregion Reutte has discovered a new trend sport: padel. This fast-growing racket sport is enjoying increasing popularity not only in Reutte, but all around the world. I had the pleasure of conducting an exclusive interview with Andreas Gerstgrasser, an enthusiastic padel player and a passionate supporter of the sport’s development in Reutte. In this interview, we learn more about the fascination of padel, the reasons behind building a padel court, and the growing enthusiasm among athletes."

First of all, I’d be interested to know what the correct term for this fascinating sport actually is – padel, padle, or paddle?

"The correct term for this up-and-coming sport is “padel.” The word originally comes from Spanish, where it is known as “pádel.” Due to the variety of languages, different spellings have emerged over time, and you may occasionally come across terms such as “padle” or “paddle.”

However, there has been an international agreement to officially refer to the sport as “padel.” This standardisation ensures clear and consistent communication across national borders."

What were the reasons behind building a padel court in Reutte?

"The decision to build a padel court in Reutte was influenced by several factors. Padel is currently the fastest-growing sport in the world and offers a great deal of fun. Combining elements of tennis and squash, the game attracts new players to the facility and encourages young people in particular to get active.

What makes padel especially appealing is that you can start playing immediately without extensive training, making the sport accessible to everyone. The opportunity to host tournaments such as the Tyrolean Championships in Reutte has further increased interest in padel. Reutte is even the only location in Tyrol with two padel courts and is planning to host an international championship in the future."

What are the differences between tennis, squash, and padel?

"Tennis is a racket sport played on a large court using a hard ball and long rackets. Squash, by contrast, is played in an enclosed court with a smaller racket and a small, hollow ball. Padel is a combination of tennis and squash, played on a special “cage-like” court (a padel court with glass walls at the back and metal fencing on the sides) using a slightly smaller racket and a low-pressure ball that can rebound off the walls.

Padel is generally played as doubles - especially at tournament level - although it is occasionally played as singles. Tennis and squash, on the other hand, can be played in both singles and doubles formats."

What are the requirements for building a padel court?

"A padel court must above all be water-permeable. In Reutte, the court was built on an existing tennis court, allowing the existing drainage system to be used. The cage structure and the playing surface were delivered from Spain as ready-to-install components.

A particular highlight is the floodlighting, as there are only a few tennis facilities in the region equipped with this feature. Especially on hot summer days, the floodlights make it possible to round off the day with a game of padel after spending time at the lake."

Are there specific rules in padel that players need to follow, or can you simply start playing right away?

"Padel does have rules, but you can still jump right in and start playing. Whether young or old, the first rallies are usually possible after just ten minutes. Compared to tennis, which often requires hours of training, padel allows for a quick introduction and fun for everyone."

Padel is currently in high demand and enjoying great popularity. Has the padel boom already reached the Außerfern region?

"The padel boom has definitely arrived in the Naturparkregion Reutte. Although padel is currently organised under the tennis section of SV Reutte Tennis, this fascinating sport is already enjoying great popularity.

Within just a few months, the padel section has gained 50 active members who regularly play on the padel court. It has become clear that padel is a welcome addition to the traditional range of sports practiced by many athletes. The annual membership fee for the padel section is €65, offering affordable access along with numerous benefits."

What equipment is required for padel?

"The equipment needed for padel includes a padel racket and a low-pressure ball. The padel racket is similar in shape to a tennis racket but has a more solid structure and is perforated. The low-pressure balls are slightly smaller than tennis balls and have a reduced bounce.

The padel court itself consists of a smooth playing surface with metal fencing along the sides and glass walls at the back. These glass walls, made of tempered glass panels, are actively used during play, as the ball can rebound off them. This allows for tactical shots and opens up a wide range of playing strategies."

Preparations for your padel camp from 28 to 30 July 2023 are surely already well underway - what can participants look forward to when attending the camp?

"On Friday (28 July), the camp will kick off with a coaches’ workshop focusing on the fundamentals and the differences between tennis and padel training. On Saturday (29 July) and Sunday (30 July), the camp continues with sessions for players ranging from beginners to advanced levels.

Francesco Foschi, a coach from Italy, will be present and will lead three training sessions - two on Saturday and one on Sunday - aimed at helping participants take their game to the next level. The camp will be rounded off with a tournament open to both camp participants and non-participants."

PS: To round off the evenings, the camp will conclude with a barbecue for everyone :)

17.05. - 20.05.2024 Padel- Tennis Camp Reutte

Whether you’re a beginner, recreational player, or professional - sign up now for the Pro Tennisschool Reutte Padel Camp and learn the latest tips and tricks.

Click here to register

You’re part of our Active Card programme with both padel and tennis—how strong is the demand among holiday guests visiting the Naturparkregion Reutte?

"There is definite demand for padel and tennis among holiday guests visiting the Naturparkregion Reutte. Many guests who sign up for tennis also discover the padel court and become curious to give it a try. However, padel is not yet as widespread in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland as it is in countries such as Italy, Spain, or the Netherlands, where the sport is already experiencing a real boom. Some Italian guests even plan their holidays specifically around destinations that offer padel courts.

Increased promotion of padel through social media, camps, and the tourism office could further raise awareness. Another way to boost demand could be the introduction of a partner-matching service, allowing holiday guests to find playing partners more easily and lowering the barrier to trying the sport for the first time."

Padel has arrived in the Naturparkregion Reutte and is inspiring both locals and holiday guests alike. The construction of a padel court has opened up new opportunities for sport and leisure activities. Its ease of learning, high fun factor, and competitive nature make padel an attractive sport for all ages. With targeted marketing measures, the padel boom can be further driven forward and awareness of the sport within the Naturparkregion Reutte can continue to grow.

In conclusion, I would like to sincerely thank Andreas Gerstgrasser for the pleasant conversation—and, of course, a team outing was immediately scheduled by the tourism board afterwards. Motivation in the office is already high to try out this trend sport ourselves, so we can share our own experiences with guests. :)