Subject regularly addressed by players and clubs of padel : The height. The padel is a lob sport, perhaps more than any other racket sport. We will try to see more clearly the standards and the reality.

What does the International Federation say Padel (FIP)?

FIP, the international body for padel, is clear on this point. For her, a club of padel must offer land of padel that are at least 6 meters high. However, she indicates that she advises new clubs to padel to offer more than 8 meters in height.

One way for the FIP to make it clear that for the comfort of the players, there is interest to offer in reality more than 8 meters.

Another concept indicated by the fip: “Without any obstruction element”. The FIP is talking about projectors, these famous streetlights, which allow the field to be lit at night or in indoor clubs.

The minimum height must be 6 meters over the entire surface. Without any element (ie projectors) that obstructs this area. For new installations, it is recommended that the minimum free height be 8 meters over the entire area of ​​the lot, with no obstructions in this area.

To find out more: regulations Padel FIP

Reality: In the interest of FIP and padel in general, to avoid, “any exclusion of certain clubs from padel”, It was preferable to increase this height to 6 meters. We can play at this height. This forces players to achieve tight and perfect lobs. The padel leisure can be satisfied with it in general. There may be discussion during major competitions since bell lobs, or lobed glass defenses will be very difficult to achieve for example.

What does the French Tennis Federation say?

The FFT is the national body which governs and administers the padel in France. As a national body of padel, it has set up specifications that clubs are supposed to follow for the construction of their club padel.

The clear height shall be at least 7 m over the entire surface of the lot (including framing and lighting system).

To find out more: regulations Padel FFT

For tournaments of padel, the FFT asks its affiliated clubs to offer therefore at least 7 meters in height.

The reality: There is however a tolerance of the tacit FFT on this famous height. Indeed, a number of clubs padel do not offer a height greater than 7 meters. And even a number of clubs padel have “almost” on the whole site more than 7 meters, but there may be a piece of lamppost protruding, a small problem with the framework, a ceiling that is not straight with a pipe or even a beam slightly embarrassing ...

Franck Binisti

Franck Binisti discovers the padel at the Club des Pyramides in 2009 in the Paris region. Since padel is part of his life. You often see him touring France going to cover the major events of padel French.

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