Padel: The People’s Smash

Padel – not paddle – tennis started in 1969 in a Mexican billionaire’s back garden, spread through Marbella’s sun-kissed elite, and is now booming in British cities with waitlists longer than a Sunday roast queue. Think of it as the sport that footballers, DJs, and design-forward dads all suddenly agree on. Small courts, glass walls, doubles-only format — and a serve that doesn’t require a YouTube tutorial.

It’s less about tradition, more about vibes. You’ll find padel courts springing up in multi-use urban hubs, hotel rooftops, even car parks in rewilded leisure centres. The gear is minimal (no strings attached, literally), the scoring familiar, and the skill curve gentle enough to lull you into thinking you’re a natural — until you’re not.

Getting started? Book a social game, borrow a racket, and don’t overthink the kit (yet). But beware: while the game is built for longevity, your enthusiasm might burn out by game six — especially if your WhatsApp group gets too serious, too fast.

Will you last? Who knows. But your knees might thank you more than five-a-side ever did.