Padel in Netherlands
Padel in Netherlands has seen explosive growth during the past decade; 450 clubs now exist and 1500 padel courts have been built. Read on for more about this sport and how expats can play it here in Holland.
PADEL COURT LAYOUT
Padel is in many ways a cross between tennis and squash but with its own unique elements. A padel court is 10 meters wide by 20 meters long divided in half by a net. It is surrounded by glass walls and metal fencing 3 meters high. The glass wall at both far ends have a 1-meter metal fence extension on top bringing the total height to 4 meters.
The forecourt is divided into 2 service boxes (5 meters wide by 7 meters deep) on both sides of the net. The rear court (returning area) is 10 meters wide by 3 meters deep. There is no back court as in tennis.
PADEL SCORING
Padel game scoring is the same as tennis (0, 15, 30, 40, deuce) as is set scoring (6 games won by 2, at 6-6 a 7-point tiebreak is played) and match scoring (2 out of 3 sets, a 10-point match tiebreak can be substituted for third set).
GENERAL RULES OF PADEL
Padel is a doubles game with 2 players on each team. The service games are rotated between the 4 players.
The required underhand service motion is like squash rather than tennis. The server must bounce the ball of the ground before stiking it (no higher than waist height). The ball must land in the service box on the opponents’ side diagonal from the server without touching the net or walls. If it touches the net and lands in, a let is played.
The receiver can strike a return after the ball has bounced in the service box. The ball is struck just once and must cross over the net to the opponents’ side. Using the walls and fencing to change the trajectory of the ball is allowed. The only limitation is that it cannot hit the ground before crossing the net.
Once a point is successfully started, the ball can be struck on the fly (volleyed or smashed) or after it bounces one time. A ball that goes over a wall and outside the court is a foul unless it can be returned from outside the court before hitting the ground.
PADEL EQUIPMENT
The balls used to play padel are similar to those used in tennis but have a stiffer feel.
Padel rackets are much shorter and do not have strings like those used to play tennis and squash. They have a flat solid face with air holes and typically made of carbon, fiberglass or graphite. The maximum size of a padel racket is 45.5cm long by 24cm wide.
OVERSIGHT OF PADEL IN NETHERLANDS
The Netherlands Padel Bond (NPB) association was formed in 2011 and led to rapid growth of the sport in Holland. In 2020 that organization merged with the KNLTB, the Dutch national sports association for tennis. The KNLTB is now responsible for overseeing and promoting padel sport in Holland.
CLUBS TO PLAY PADEL IN NETHERLANDS
Padel is the fasting-growing new sport in Netherlands. Currently there are approximately 450 padel clubs and 1500 padel courts across the country. Find a Padel club
PADEL TOURNAMENTS IN NETHERLANDS
Open padel tournaments are organized by clubs throughout the Netherlands. There are multiple draws depending on skill level. You must be a member of the KNLTB to participate in an open tournament. A tournament pass can be obtained directly from the KNLTB.
International padel tournaments featuring top players are also held in the Netherlands. See the calendar of events here.
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