Austin, Texas-based professional pickleball player Madison Wolfe has chosen to focus on padel instead. At least the most recent Instagram post. She gained expertise playing both singles and doubles pickleball at the age of 26 by participating in a number of professional pickleball competitions across the US.
The Reason Padel
With over 30 million players worldwide, padel’s explosive growth has made it a popular sport for sportsmen looking for new challenges. Wolfe’s change is indicative of the growing overlap between padel and pickleball, two racquet sports that are similar yet have different strategies, speeds, and global appeal.
A Growing Pattern
Her decision fits into a larger pattern of racquet sport experimentation. Pickleball and padel courts are now available in facilities all over the world, enticing sportsmen to compare the two sports. Compared to pickleball’s dink-heavy style, padel offers a new challenge with the usage of barriers, quicker rallies, and strategic positioning.