Pretoria P1: A brand new ball will make its debut on the circuit Premier Padel

Le Pretoria P1 , the first step in the history of Premier Padel In South Africa, there will be a surprise in store for the players. To adapt to the specific conditions of the South African capital, the tournament will be played with a exclusive version of the Bullpadel PremiumPro , specially developed for high-altitude competitions. A ball not available commercially, designed to change the pace of the game.

A ball created solely for high-altitude tournaments

Upon consulting the official tournament information sheet on the FIP website, one detail stands out: the Pretoria P1 will be contested with the Bullpadel Premium Pro High Altitude , a ball absent from the brand's consumer catalogue.

Unlike the standard Premium Pro, which is commercially available, this version cannot be purchased. It is manufactured exclusively for competitions held at altitude, meaning that players will discover this model directly on site, without having had the opportunity to prepare for it during their training.

Why a different ball?

This choice is not insignificant. Pretoria is located approximately 1,339 meters above sea level , a parameter that directly influences the behavior of the ball.

At higher altitudes, the air is less dense. As a result, the ball travels faster, bounces higher, and rebounds more easily off the glass. With a traditional ball, rallies could quickly become difficult to control.

To limit this effect, Bullpadel designed a ball equipped with a lower internal pressure When you hold it, it might even feel slightly deflated. However, this is indeed a technical choice.

As explained by the physical principle, the drop in pressure inside the ball compensates for the decrease in atmospheric pressure at altitude, in order to achieve a playing behavior closer to that observed at sea level.

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A philosophy completely opposite to the classic Premium Pro

This version High altitude takes the opposite stance to Bullpadel Premium Pro is usually used.

The commercially available version highlights a high internal pressure , synonymous with high speed. Bullpadel he also gives it a rating of 9/10 in speed , 10/10 for durability et 8/10 in control .

The ball used in Pretoria pursues the opposite objective: to slow down the game sufficiently so that the altitude conditions do not disrupt the balance of the exchanges.

A tournament that promises unique playing conditions

Le Pretoria P1 will mark an important milestone for Premier Padel, with a first stop in South Africa. Promoted from P2 to P1 this season, the tournament will distribute 1 FIP points and will offer a total endowment of 479 068 euros .

Organized at SunBet Arena of Menlyn Indoors, the competition will take place on three tracks installed by Better Set with a coating Mondo .

Between the altitude, the indoor environment, and this ball specially developed for the occasion, the players will be competing in unprecedented conditions on the tour. This could influence their playing style, particularly for attackers accustomed to their smashes making the difference, but also for defenders, who will have to quickly adapt to the behavior of this unusual ball.

Maceo ZERHAT

Maceo Zerhat discovered padel in 2020 in Savigny-sur-Clairis, Burgundy. He contributed to the club's expansion by bringing his energy and curiosity. Padel Magazinehe transmits his Padel"mania" by skillfully bouncing on all the latest news about your favorite sport!