What you should know about the newest sport in town
Padel tennis is already in the Philippines and its home, Manila Padel Club (MPC), the first-ever padel club in the country, is already welcoming members to join their playground at Bonifacio High Street, BGC in Taguig.
If you haven’t heard of it yet, padel or pop tennis is a racket sport that is almost like scaled-down regular tennis. The sport is played in a doubles format, in a glass-panel-enclosed court that measures half the size of a tennis court—that’s why it’s also described as “’tennis with walls.” And unlike tennis, the racquet used for it is shorter and solid, with no strings.
According to MPC’s website, the sport is okay for almost everyone who wants to try it. It is great for kids and old people, as playing it, according to the club, is easy. With its small court, it doesn’t require as much back and forth as regular tennis.
Beginners and non-sports people may enjoy it too because it’s almost effortless to learn and, unlike tennis, there are no complicated serving techniques to memorize.
Aside from introducing padel, MPC also promotes fitness through its fully-equipped outdoor gym situated near its five padel courts.
The club has conducted several tournaments for different categories, including men, ladies, and kids where non-members can also participate for a fee. A few months ago, the club also offered free training for tennis coaches who would like to explore the sport and are up for an opportunity to get accreditation and a certificate to teach padel in and out of the country.
As of writing, the Manila Padel Club still accepts memberships for individuals, couples, families, and companies. —Jean Gerard Enriquez