Beyond the rally

26 articles

Pickleball paddles and ball beside the net during a friendly doubles game
Beginner Guide 5 min read
Pickleball etiquette: court manners for beginners
A practical beginner guide to pickleball court manners, fair calls, safe play and what is a rule rather than just courtesy.
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Padel racket and ball beside the net with players shaking hands in the background
Beginner Guide 5 min read
Padel etiquette: unwritten rules for beginners
New to padel? Here are the court manners, partner habits and rule boundaries that make social games run smoothly.
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Pickleball paddle and ball beside a tennis racket and tennis ball on court
Beginner Guide 5 min read
Pickleball vs tennis: differences, difficulty and workout
Pickleball is not just mini tennis. Compare the court, serve, rules, learning curve and workout demand in plain English.
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Beginner pickleball practice setup with paddles, ball and training cones
Beginner Guide 5 min read
Is pickleball easy to learn? Beginner mistakes and the first 5 priorities
Pickleball is quick for beginners to start. Learn why it feels accessible, the mistakes to avoid and the first 5 priorities on court.
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Pickleball paddle, ball and court diagram for a beginner rules guide
Beginner Guide 6 min read
Pickleball rules for beginners: the complete guide
A plain-English guide to pickleball rules for UK beginners, covering serves, scoring, the kitchen, faults and what to learn first.
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Pickleball paddle and ball on an indoor court for a UK beginner guide
Beginner Guide 6 min read
What is pickleball? A UK beginner's guide
Pickleball is a court sport played with a solid paddle and perforated plastic ball. This UK beginner's guide covers the basics, kit and first game.
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Pickleball paddle and plastic ball beside a padel racket and felt ball on their respective courts
Beginner Guide 5 min read
Pickleball vs padel: differences, difficulty and UK popularity
Pickleball is usually easier to start, while padel adds walls, glass rebounds and doubles movement. Here is the fair UK comparison.
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Padel racket and ball beside tennis and badminton equipment on an enclosed padel court
Badminton 6 min read
Is padel closer to tennis or badminton?
Padel is structurally much closer to tennis than badminton. Here is how the court, scoring, equipment, serve and tactics compare.
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Should you hit hard in padel? Control beats power featured image
Beginner Guide 5 min read
Should I Hit the Ball Hard in Padel?
Power has a place in padel, but beginners win more points with control, placement, lobs and smart shot choice than by hitting every ball hard.
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Padel players in action with text explaining that padel is beginner-friendly, social to play and a fun form of fitness.
Beginner Guide 6 min read
Why Is Padel Becoming So Popular?
Padel is becoming popular because it is easy to try, social by design, supported by rapid court growth and deep enough to keep players improving.
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Split image of tennis and padel players with text explaining that tennis is harder to start, while padel becomes more tactical later.
Beginner Guide 7 min read
Which Is Harder, Tennis or Padel?
Find out whether tennis or padel is harder, why tennis has the steeper beginner learning curve, and why padel becomes more tactical as you improve.
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Padel player in action with text explaining that padel is a fun workout for cardio fitness, agility, balance, legs and core.
Beginner Guide 6 min read
Is Padel a Good Workout?
Padel is a useful all-round workout for cardio, agility, coordination and balance. Learn what it does well, what it does not replace, and how beginners can play safely.
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Padel player wearing canvas trainers on court with text explaining that Converse may be fine for a casual first hit but are not recommended for proper padel.
Beginner Guide 4 min read
Can I Play Padel in Converse?
Converse might get you through a gentle first padel hit, but they are not suitable for regular play. Here is what footwear beginners should choose instead.
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World map and padel court graphic showing that Spain leads padel popularity, Argentina is a stronghold and the UK is growing fast.
Beginner Guide 6 min read
Where Is Padel Most Popular?
Find out where padel is most popular, why Spain leads the way, which countries matter globally, and where Britain fits into the sport's growth.
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Padel player on court with text showing common beginner mistakes, including smashing everything, ignoring the walls and not moving as a pair.
Beginner Guide 7 min read
How Not to Play Padel
Learn the beginner padel mistakes to avoid, from smashing too much and ignoring the walls to poor positioning, weak communication and unsafe footwear choices.
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Padel shoe and tennis shoe comparison on court, explaining that padel shoes are fine for casual tennis but proper tennis shoes are better for regular play.
Beginner Guide 4 min read
Can You Wear Padel Shoes for Tennis?
Padel shoes can work for casual tennis, but regular tennis needs shoes matched to the court surface. Here is when crossover use is sensible.
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Padel player on court with text explaining that padel is pronounced pad-uhl, not pay-del, and is not paddle tennis.
Beginner Guide 5 min read
How Do You Pronounce the Game Padel?
Learn how to pronounce padel, why it is spelt that way, how it differs from paddle tennis and why UK players usually say it like paddle.
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Tennis player with padel and tennis balls, explaining that padel balls are fine for a casual hit but not ideal for proper tennis.
Beginner Guide 4 min read
Can I Play Tennis With Padel Balls?
You can use padel balls for a casual tennis rally, but proper tennis needs tennis balls. This guide explains the feel, rules and beginner trade-offs.
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Padel players on an enclosed court with text explaining that padel is easy to learn, fun from the first game and harder to master.
Beginner Guide 5 min read
Is padel easy to learn? A beginner's first-session guide
Padel is easy for most beginners to start, thanks to the underarm serve, doubles court and playable walls, but the glass, lobs and positioning take time to master.
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Tennis player on a padel court with text explaining that tennis skills transfer well, but players should use less power and learn the walls.
Beginner Guide 9 min read
Can a Tennis Player Play Padel?
Find out whether tennis players can play padel, which skills transfer well, what habits need changing, and how to adapt quickly on a padel court.
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Padel players on an enclosed court with text explaining why padel is social, full of longer rallies and hard to stop playing.
Beginner Guide 6 min read
Why Is Padel So Addictive?
Padel feels addictive because it is easy to start, social, full of longer rallies and packed with small improvements that make players want one more game.
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Side-by-side comparison of padel and tennis showing why padel is easier to start, with a smaller court, easier serve and walls that keep rallies alive.
Beginner Guide 9 min read
Is Padel Easier to Play Than Tennis?
Find out whether padel is easier than tennis, why beginners often learn padel faster, and where each sport becomes more difficult as you improve.
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Padel players on an enclosed court with text explaining why padel is easy to start, social by nature and built for long rallies.
Beginner Guide 5 min read
What is padel? The UK beginner's guide
Padel is a fast-growing doubles racket sport played on an enclosed court where the walls stay in play after the bounce.
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Infographic comparing padel and tennis, showing the differences in court, walls, serve, rackets, format and scoring.
Beginner Guide 9 min read
How Is Padel Different From Tennis?
Learn how padel is different from tennis, including the court, walls, serve, rackets, scoring, tactics and which sport is easier for beginners.
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Padel gear guide featured image with essential racket shoes balls and kit
Beginner Guide 6 min read
Padel Gear Guide: What Players Actually Need
A practical padel gear checklist for beginners: what to buy first, what can wait and where court shoes, rackets, balls and accessories actually matter.
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Padel courts explained with court layout, rules and basic gameplay points
Beginner Guide 6 min read
Padel rules explained: scoring, walls and key faults
Padel is a doubles racket sport where the walls stay in play after the bounce. Learn the serve, scoring, rebounds and key beginner faults.
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