Conga Sports Drumbeat 36 for 2/17/2025

Tennis, Pickleball, Padel. What should you play?

My history in racquet sports is extensive, admittedly mainly in tennis. Growing up in Germany, I wasn’t exposed to tennis at all because a) there were no public tennis courts, and b) all we wanted to do was play soccer. Naturally.

After I emigrated to the United States in 1985, a neighbor in Pennsylvania (another German, haha) introduced me to tennis. Soon thereafter, I was bitten by the tennis bug and wanted to play all the time. However, there was no tennis club close by, so I played with a bunch of seniors on a public court.

Tennis

Things changed when I moved to California in the early ‘90s and learned about a fabulous club near me: the 7-court Bobby Riggs Tennis Club in Encinitas, San Diego North County. I traded membership to create the club’s newsletter and organize the mixers for members. After a while, I created a group called the San Diego Tennis Network and organized regular drop-in mixers for hundreds of players in San Diego County four or five times a week.

Pickleball

Group 1: New players who want to play a racquet sport but a) think tennis is too difficult and expensive to learn, and b) never see tennis players in parks or clubs who seem to have fun and rarely show you that sport can be welcoming and inviting.

Group 2: Existing tennis players, mostly mature and over the age of 50, who a) don’t want to work so hard anymore playing points on large courts, or b) are tired of the cheating and sandbagging and rivalry environment of USTA league tennis, or c) want to have more fun playing a racquet sport.

Padel

The explosive worldwide growth of Padel has reached the United States just recently. So far, only a few Padel places have opened up in Southern California but the pace of openings is getting faster. Interestingly, there is a growing trend of putting Padel courts on the roof of a shopping center. Like, Pura Padel at the Westfield Fashion Square Mall in Sherman Oaks, or Padel Up at Westfield Century City.

I took a Padel lesson once at The Padel Courts in Hollywood and I loved it. It’s played with thick paddles and a low-compression tennis ball. Fast-paced, balls hitting the glass walls are still in play. I found that most Padel players are either very good tennis players, current or ex-college players, or teaching pros.

Conclusion

The question was: “Tennis, Pickleball, Padel. What should you play?” I say since you are most likely a beginner, here are the things I want you to consider:

Pickleball is often praised as being easier for a beginner than tennis. Apart from the rules which are more difficult to learn, it’s just easier for beginners to deal with a shorter court and a slower pace. It is also a fact that Pickleball is gentler on the body compared to tennis, making it an appealing option for individuals looking for a lower-impact racket sport. Just be aware that Pickleball is not so gentle when you’re prone to lower back problems or ankle injuries. Pickleball is also considered the more social sport if that’s what you’re looking for.

Tennis is a racquet sport that is much harder to learn but once you master the basics, and you are looking for a more intense workout, it’s the right sport for you. Be aware that it requires greater agility, speed, and endurance due to its larger court size. Also, faster ball speed, and more complex shot variety, make it a more physically demanding sport.

Padel is played on smaller courts and the walls are in play but it only looks like that would make it less physically demanding. However, rallies are very intense and the level of play is generally high, so that may not be an entry-level sport for beginners.

So, if you are just trying to get into playing a racquet sport and being part of a social group is important to you, Pickleball would be the better entry-level sport for you in my opinion. If you’re looking for a more intense workout and a physically more demanding sport, and at the same time you’re not afraid of a more steep learning curve, choose Tennis. Once you are getting the hang of either sport and want to add an extra layer of fun and competition to your life, try Padel. Heck, you may become one of the growing number of players who like to participate in all three sports. That’s not such a bad idea.

Next week’s Volley Blitz:
The Pros and Cons of USTA Adult Tennis League in Southern California

Question from our reader Celia G:
“I’m a total beginner and haven’t had a tennis lesson yet. What kind of racquet should I buy? What is most important for me when selecting a beginner racquet?”

Susan Nardi, renowned Southern California Tennis personality replies:
My recommendation is to go ahead and spend a little money and get a graphite frame racquet. The quality is so much better.  An aluminum frame yoke is 2 pieces. Look at the blue circle. Compare that to a graphite frame in 1 piece (red circle).

Susan coached at the Van der Meer World Training Center on Hilton Head Island, SC working with high-performance players. Coach Nardi was the head coach at Capistrano Valley High School where numerous players went on to play college tennis on scholarship. She is the only female to be the head coach of the All-Army Tennis Team.

Susan F. Nardi
President & Fun Engineer, Rhino Crash Sports Group, Inc. 
Website: https://playtennis.usta.com/RhinoCrashSportsGroup

2021 Positive Coaching Alliance National Double-Goal Coach
https://youtu.be/XgjTJ7WRuic

We also found an interesting article written by a good friend of Conga Sports Drumbeat, Will Boucek. How To Choose A Tennis Racquet: 2025 Buyer’s Guide

We are featuring LA TENNIS again this week to remind you of their great work in the Los Angeles public parks area.

The founders of LA TENNIS know that their business relies on delivering quality programs and personalized service. LAT separates itself from other tennis management companies and individuals in the tennis industry through its hiring, training, forward-thinking, and continuing education programs.

The coaches of LA TENNIS are considered some of the best in the industry. To navigate their website, find the location that suits you best and look around to find the professional that you would like to contact.

We are proud of our new Facebook Group
Racket Sports Connect Los Angeles.

Why don’t you become a member?
Just click on the image and sign up.

Should you contemplate traveling to Miami in March…

RacquetX 25 - A world-class festival and celebration of all racquet sports

Get ready for Racquet X at the Miami Beach Convention Center! This premier tennis and pickleball experience brings together enthusiasts, athletes, and industry leaders for an exciting showcase of the latest in sports gear, apparel, and technology. Enjoy live demonstrations, interactive sessions, and meet-and-greets with top professionals.

Read my article here

Each person is individually profiled and automatically added to their offline ‘black book’. Maclynn International extends an invitation to all Conga members and Drumbeat readers to become one of their Open Members. Maclynn's matchmakers commit their time to Private Members, individuals who pay for active service, then tap into their network of Open Members to hand-select the best matches and make one-on-one introductions. Pretty neat system, if you ask me.

If you would like to dip your toes in, follow this link to register and use this code: 

https://maclynninternational.com/open-membership/

Apply under ‘Open Membership’  The invitation code is: “Conga“