Welcome to the very first episode of Padel Up: Beginner's Guide, the podcast dedicated to helping complete beginners discover, understand, and fall in love with one of the fastest-growing sports in the world. Hosted by Jack Mercer, this episode answers the most fundamental question of all: What on Earth is Padel?

In this episode, Jack breaks down everything a newcomer needs to know before stepping onto a padel court for the first time. We explore the origins of padel, tracing the sport back to its invention in Mexico in 1969 by Enrique Corcuera, and following its journey through Latin America into Spain and eventually across the globe. We also explain how padel differs from tennis and squash, what the equipment looks like, and why the enclosed glass-walled court changes everything about how the game is played.

Whether you've seen a padel court at your local leisure centre and wondered what it is, or a friend has been trying to convince you to give it a go, this episode is the perfect starting point. Jack covers the scoring system, the doubles format, the unique paddle design, and the welcoming social culture that makes padel one of the most accessible racket sports available today.

Perfect for anyone searching for padel for beginners, how to play padel, padel rules explained, padel vs tennis, or what is padel, this episode gives you a solid foundation before your first session on court.

Subscribe now and join us as we take you from beginner to confident padel player, one episode at a time. New episodes dropping regularly.