Padel is my new favorite form of recreational wellness: activites that nurture physical, social and emotional wellbeing. Already super popular in Europe, the Middle East and South America, it’s only a matter of time until Padel becomes a major part of the US leisure sports landscape. For the Padel community, glamour and style are a huge component of the sport. Part of the fun of preparing for a round of Padel is putting together a chic outfit. This guide is here to help you serve looks while serving balls.
Dress to Impress
Any modern wellness girlie is no stranger to sartorial dressing. Whether it’s a coquette-chic look for Pilates or a matching set for your Hot Girl Walk, half of the fun is in preparing an outfit. Bonus points for one that is stylish, flattering, and references the history and traditions of the practice.
Padel: The Basics
Before we get into crafting a killer Padel outfit, let’s cover the basics of Padel.
Padel is like the love child of tennis and squash. Rumor has it that the inventor of Padel, Enrique Corcuera, retrofitted his private squash court in Acapulco to accommodate the outdoor fun of tennis in a way that his aging body could participate in with more ease.
The Padel racket (or club, or paddle) is somewhere between a pickleball paddle and a tennis racquet. Its large foam face is integrated with holes which allow it to move through the air. A welcome difference compared to a pickleball paddle is the much quieter contact it makes with the ball with each stroke.
The rules are very similar to tennis, except for a few significant differences:
The Padel Serve
The serve in Padel is underhand, versus the overhand serve found in tennis. For those prone to shoulder injuries, this is a huge bonus.
The Padel Court
Padel courts are smaller than tennis courts. This means a bit less running, but don’t let that fool you. You are now responsible for covering those “wall balls.” The courts are also less hard than traditional American Hard Courts. This means a lot less wear and tear on the body.
No Singles in Padel
Although there are dedicated singles courts, the average Padel court you will come across will be configured for doubles play. This differs from tennis, in which courts can be used for either doubles or singles play.
Padel-Ready Outfits
Padel is a social sport. Showing up in a cute outfit is a key component of the experience. Nothing particularly fancy is necessary, but an outfit that shows off your personal style and allows you to break a sweat comfortably will score points on and off the courts.
If sports were people, Padel would be the social, fun younger cousin to tennis and squash. For those on TikTok, think Cousin Colton versus Constance.
You can stick with traditional tennis whites, but why not add a few fun pops of color? A good rule of thumb: demonstrate knowledge of the rules, while subtly breaking them.
A good rule of thumb: demonstrate knowledge of the rules, while subtly breaking them.“
—Azeezah Goodwin
Below, you’ll see a few of my picks for making a positive impression on the Padel courts:
Have fun out there!
