This is an issue raised by referee José Luis Martínez in a article by our Argentinian colleagues from La Voz : what if the padel courts had become too small for today's athletes?

Padel has evolved a lot in recent years. A rather defensive and slow game thirty years ago, it is now a very fast sport, where the very best are athletes in their own right.

Just look at the power generated by Arturo Coello, the relaxation of Ale Galan or the speed of the legs of Federico Chingotto.

Arturo Coello smash Buenos Aires WPT Masters 2022

These new generation players sometimes give the impression that the track is a little too small for them, as they have the facility to perform winning smashes from behind the line or to cover the 10 meters which separate the glass from the back of the net. in no time. For Martinez, there is no doubt: “the track has become too small for the players”.

Thus, we could imagine a change in the dimensions of the court, generated by the improvement of the athletic abilities of the players, as has already been seen in other sports. We remember that in basketball, the phenomena Wilt Chamberlain and then Shaquille O'Neal forced the NBA to change its rules. In padel, larger courts could allow for a slower game, with more opportunities for players with a defensive profile.

But a change in the size of the tracks at the pro level would cause a huge upheaval on a global level, since all the clubs welcoming high level players - and even those which simply want to offer approved tracks - would be forced to make major adjustments. . Martinez cheerfully acknowledges this: “we understand that this is something that is not easy to change”.

So, in your opinion, should we bet on larger tracks, with all that that implies, or stay with the traditional 20×10?

Xan is a fan of padel. But also of rugby! And his posts are just as punchy. Physical trainer of several padel players, he finds atypical posts or deals with current topics. He also gives you some advice to develop your physique for padel. Clearly, he imposes his offensive style as on the padel court!

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