How do you describe something that completely captures your attention and your energy? You dream about it, you think about it all day long, you study it by watching YouTube, you plan your vacations and your social life around it, you dream about your next match, and you replay the good and bad points from that match over and over again in your mind. It takes over your daily life in the best of ways as you plan your daily schedule around your lessons, matches, tournaments and clinics. You become focused on what your opponents are doing, how much they are playing, where they are taking lessons and what you need to do to improve even more. And ultimately, it completely becomes your social life- evenings and weekends at the club, socializing, networking, playing, eating, drinking and making friends. You start to plan vacations around it too, seeking destinations where padel courts are on property or close by and you encourage your family to play so that you can continue to play more
This is padel, and this is a feeling that all of us recognize too well. it’s a love affair, a healthy addiction, a burst of endorphins released as that ‘high’ when you workout, combined with a dopamine rush that brings extreme pleasure and makes you want more and more and more. Dopamine is tied to the brains reward system, so any improvement, whether it’s mastering a new shot or winning a match, keeps you coming back and wanting more and more. Simple neuroscience, but addiction is real. And padel is mostly a very healthy addiction, being social, fun and active. Sadly with any addiction, even with the healthiest ones, there are some negatives. Too much of anything can hurt you, and too much padel is no exception. It causes overuse injuries, burnout, mental fatigue and can have a negative social impact.
My life has changed so much in the past year, in so many wonderful ways. Largely because I discovered padel! I have made so many new friends, male and female, from different walks of life, different countries, different backgrounds and I have travelled to new countries to compete and play padel and have enjoyed the camaraderie of being on Team USA. We are united by our common passion and addiction. We speak the same language, the language of padel. I used to enjoy leisurely Friday lunches with my girlfriends, and now, I would rather play some great padel and grab a healthy salad at the club when we are done. I used to enjoy happy hour at various hotspots around town, but these days, the ‘hottest’ happy hour is happening at the padel club. Would you rather be in a stuffy bar, or play some padel, enjoy a cool vibe, listen to some great music and socialize with like-minded and passionate people? Well, I know what I prefer! And as my friends see the light in my eyes and catch a glimpse of this fuel that ignites me, they want a piece of it too. Well, who wouldn’t! Slowly I am finding that all my friends want to give this a try and it’s a wonderful opportunity to mix old and new friends and make magic happen both on and off the court.
Sadly, I have also felt the negative effects of my crazy obsession and addiction. Playing three times a day and chasing lessons, clinics and more matches has left me with tennis elbow and knee problems. I also find I’m spending less time in the gym and neglecting my very important weight training routine. A crucial component to any well-balanced fitness regime. I’m staring at a partial knee replacement which will set me back a few months, but it’s also a message and a lesson to try and slow down, recalibrate my padel addiction, re-assess what works for me and maybe to find that balance again.
With its upward spiral and growing popularity, this wonderful padel trend is no trend at all. It’s a movement and a lifestyle and this is just the beginning. In my opinion, the padel clubs of the future will start to encompass more of a lifestyle and will become more like a country club. As families start to pick up the sport, there will be a need for places that include padel, spa, restaurants, bar, trainers, daycare-a country club style environment for padel. It’s already happening right here in Miami. But 2025 will be the year! Watch out as padel’s growth skyrockets. What’s not to love?
