The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Padel gaining popularity in state
Connecticut’s first indoor padel courts opened last fall, bringing the global sport to the Nutmeg State.
Similar to racket sports like tennis and pickleball, padel is played on a court with racquets and balls. Along with pickleball, it has exploded since the pandemic, and as pickleball continues to expand its footprint in Connecticut, padel is beginning to make its mark on the state.
What is padel?
Padel is a racket sport described as a mix between squash and tennis. The sport can be traced back to Mexico in the 1960s and is now among the fastest growing racket sports.
The global market for padel was estimated to be worth $190.78 million in 2021, and is expected to grow to $477.03 million by 2031, according to data published in Business Research Insights in 2023.
Padel is played on a court similar to a tennis court. Courts measures approximately 66 feet in length by 33 feet in width, and are encased in glass panels and metallic mesh, according to BNL Italy Major Premier Padel.
Where can you play padel in Connecticut?
There is only one indoor padel court and sanctioned club in Connecticut. The Sport Haus, which opened in South Norwalk in October, offers five padel courts to rent as well as four pickleball courts.
Sports Haus co-founder Patricio Misitrano said that his business is the first in the U.S. to offer both indoor pickleball and indoor padel.
“I get calls or messages every day about people trying to open this type of club,” Misitrano previously told Hearst Connecticut Media. The Sports Haus is the only club in Connecticut recognized by the United States Padel Association.
Last year, the Branford Planning and Zoning Commission approved the construction of All World Pickle and Padel for the town, which will eventually have five padel courts.
How do you play padel?
Padel is typically played in doubles with matches featuring four players on the court. A complete list of rules can be found on the Lawn Tennis Association’s website.
How much does it cost to play padel?
The Sport Haus has initiation and membership fees in order to play padel and other raquet sports at the facility. Costs range from a $249 initiation fee plus a $65 monthly fee for seniors to a $799 initiation fee plus a $250 monthly fee for families.
Memberships ensure priority registration for events, discounted rates for padel and pickleball court rentals and discounted lessons.
Appropriate gear, such as shoes and racquets, is necessary to play the sport. Babolat’s best-selling racquet, “Contact,” is $64, while the most expensive racquet by the brand retails for $304. Wilson racquets follow the same price points as Babolat, with the most expensive racquet roughly $350.
What is the difference between pickleball and padel?
The pickleball boom, particularly in Connecticut, continues to grow. Pickleball courts keep popping up around the state to meet the increasing demand of players.
In 2022, the pickleball equipment market was valued at $519.8 million, with a projected growth to $1.06 billion by 2030, according to data from Verified Market Research.
Aside from its alreadystrong foothold in the sporting community versus padel, pickleball is also easier to set up — often only requiring a pop-up net, racquets and pickleball balls to play.
Unlike padel courts being constructed specifically for the sport with mesh and glass walls, pickleball courts have become a creative way to fill empty retail space as indoor malls face financial crunches, such as Pickleball America in the Stamford Town Center, which opened in September.