This month, I decided to play the "Game of differences", and to tackle the comparison between the female and male game, in France, in the Padel.

In this survey, when I speak of high level or the best, I am referring to the top French (only). I do not speak of the best world ... not yet, at least, because I wish them, all, to break into this hard medium of the highest level!

I created a poll, anonymous, on Facebook, open to everyone. Two questions were proposed (the 2nd question will be the subject of a future survey):

- What are, for you, the differences between men and women in the Padel at the technical, tactical, physical and mental levels?

I was very pleasantly surprised. More than 40 of you responded, and thank you. Thanks for playing the game, and I hope I can count on you again in the future ... for further inquiries!

No debate on the physical ... 

100% of you recognize men as superior in the physical realm. More particularly at the level of the power and speed deployed on the movements and the blows played (even by comparing two sizes of different players…). Whatever the level of the player, the physical qualities necessary for Padel are more developed in humans. There is not too much rivalry there.

Of course, some women stand out physically ... there are always exceptions.

… But debate on tactics!

As one of you wrote to me: " Tactics take precedence over the physical, in the padel female. Indeed, 80% of you define the feminine game as more tactical, more patient, with longer exchanges than men. These produce a more spectacular game, but less enjoyable to watch after a while, you say.

That's where you have to do the nuance and talk about the level of practice, I think.

Some have mentioned it, and I agree with them, on the fact that at “low” level for both women and men, the game is very fast with a lot of unforced errors quickly in the point.

We can still note a difference between the 2 genres. Generally speaking, the girls seek more to apply themselves, to reproduce a "beautiful and good" gesture than to hit hard (even if some hit too hard to properly control the ball). But given their low level of defense after the windows, errors occur quite quickly.

In men, we see more big strikes, often direct in the window in front… but thanks to their fast reaction time and their capacity to move quickly, there are often rescues, and exchanges which can sometimes last!

When you level up, you notice that the game is often faster in the padel female compared to that of men (among the best French (s)). The girls master the windows and technique at the net a little more than at the average level ... but the men, in general, defend better in the French top, than the women. Once again, thanks to their physical qualities, but also their more correct technique among the best. In general, the best French technically master different effects and blows - in defense as in attack. The biggest difference can be seen on all over-the-shoulder strikes ...

And the Mind in all of this?

Huge topic, isn't it? Complicated, your answers show it. Difficult, on the one hand, not to fall into stereotypes; and, on the other hand, to know what we are talking about when we talk about mental qualities.

I will try, in my turn, to give my feelings-lived-knowledge by revealing the big tendencies of your answers, and of what I could observe on and off the grounds. I will only deal with a few areas ... and will investigate later on this huge - but oh so interesting - subject.

Overall you give women a better mind than men. Let me explain, no panic! Most of you have cited a strong mind when speaking of women… but very rarely cited men with this overall quality.

In my opinion, it is accepted that women are strong and resistant. When we want to speak more precisely of Padel, I think you have to distinguish between some of the multiple mental qualities.

It is also commonly believed that men are more competitive than women. That they are more "go-getters", especially when we see average players or beginners. That they have more certainty than women, who often have a more difficult management of emotions, who are more timid (I quote one of you, everything is said for me): women have " Less competitive spirit, the fear of looking ridiculous, prefer not to register for the tournament or make a forfeit if they have to face seeded, and even more if these seeded ones have a page Facebook of top athletes or if Padel Magazine praised it! »

At the best, all this is balanced. All are (or have been) racquet sports competitors. They know the competition, its constraints, its contributions. All have great mental qualities and some flaws, specific to each player.

For me, the biggest “mental” difference that we find between female and male play is in the importance of choosing a partner. What I have seen, experienced and felt is that in women the choice of partner is essential. There has to be agreement, complicity, trust for this to work. In men it is less important. Some are able to play quite well with a partner they don't like more than that… if at all !?

This will not surprise anyone: differences do exist! Although each rule has its exceptions, these tendencies are found most of the time.

The knowledge that everyone has of themselves is, in my opinion, essential! Know their possibilities, their motivations, their limits, their fears, etc. All this in the 4 areas mentioned (technical / tactical / physical and mental), would already be a big step forward to be better… and bring even more to his / her partner.

And, rather, than to compete with the other sex, to develop and deepen its specificities in order, each one, to find its place in the development of the Padel.

Line Meites

Line Meites is one of the best French players in padel. It's the voice of your live on Padel Magazine. But not only, she also hosts the column “Investigations of the Swiss Army Knife”. Every month, she will come back to a controversy or a theme that is close to her heart.

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