The windows used today in padel have a thickness generally between 10 and 12mm. Imposing windows, heavy and supposed to be resistant. However, sometimes they do break, causing at best a few cuts in the players. So why are windows breaking?

First of all the shock

It is true that depending on the shock received, the glass can break. Depending on the weight of the player, the way he falls and the speed at which he hits the glass, it may give way. However, I took the liberty of asking a question of one of the land builders. Why use “safety” glass (which shatters into a thousand pieces) when there is “laminated” glass which remains in place despite the breakage? This laminated glass is used in particular for car windshields. Its cost is not necessarily higher than the safety, but the safety of the players is nevertheless put a little more in front. Certainly the land insurers of padel would revise their prices down in the case of laminated glass, but hey, that is not the point.

Manufacturer's response: "Maybe because they do not meet construction standards".

the maintenance

By regular maintenance of windows, you will prevent them from breaking easily. It is advisable to check all hardware at least every 3 month since the bouncing balls and the game in general make the hooks work.

Then, the screws must be of stainless steel to avoid corrosion and taken in a plastic sheath to limit the vibrations.

The nut on the outside of the glass must be equipped with a brake, which is the generally blue line that we see inside. With this brake, the nut will loosen less quickly. There are plastic screws but we do not recommend them because with time they break.

Finally we must take great care of the friction zone between the glass and the metal part of the structure. There are slats of neoprene that arise between the glass and the metal, which will avoid this friction.

Friction, vibration, lack of support and shock a little more violent than usual are the ideal factors to break a window.

 

Julien Bondia

Julien Bondia is a teacher of padel in Tenerife (Spain). Columnist and advisor, he helps you play better through his tutorials and tactical/technical articles padel.

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