Reasons for popularity – obvious
According to E. Vaičkus, vice president of the Lithuanian Padel Federation, co-owner of “RATO Padel Arena” located in “Ogmios City”, prize-winner of the Lithuanian padel seniors championships in the last three years and participant in international tournaments, one of the biggest strengths of padel is enthusiasm. When playing this game, players feel their first success much faster than in many other sports.
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“There are noticeably more opportunities in padel. Even if you miss the ball, theoretically you can still continue the point, so the first failures are not so painful. The game engages very quickly because a person feels from the first minutes that they can play, not just learn,” he says.
According to the speaker, this very feature means that even players who have never held a racket before often book another game after their first visit. “Indeed, padel is full of excitement. Points are constantly won and lost, so emotions are abundant throughout the game. At the same time, it is a team sport where you need to communicate, negotiate, and support your partner. Because of this, people often leave the arena not only having exercised well but also having had a great time,” says E. Vaičkus.
This game, he adds, has no age, language, or social restrictions. While padel was previously more associated with actively sporting people, today the situation has changed. According to the representative of “RATO Padel Arena”, players of various ages and physical fitness levels now come to the courts – from schoolchildren to seniors.
“Today it is already difficult to single out one dominant group. People of all age groups come to try padel, regardless of their sports experience or physical fitness. The most important thing is that once they start playing, everyone usually finds a suitable level of play and community,” the speaker notes.
Called a cultural phenomenon
The discussed reasons for padel’s popularity are only part of the motivation encouraging families, children, friends, or colleagues to engage in this sport. In Lithuania, the game, which has become especially widespread, is often a leisure choice for those looking for an alternative to tennis.
“Although both are racket sports, the start for a newcomer is very different. Padel requires less physical fitness. The stroke technique is simpler, the court is smaller, and points usually last longer. Therefore, even a completely new player quickly feels the rhythm of the game and can enjoy the process,” explains the padel expert.
According to the speaker, this is why padel is often recommended for people who have not exercised for a long time or are looking for active leisure without heavy physical exertion.
“It is also important that the community grows not only on the court. Therefore, people come to padel not just to exercise. Players gather into regular groups, organize weekend games, create joint conversations on social networks, and plan meetings themselves,” he says.
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“We see,” continues E. Vaičkus, “that people register not individually but in teams. They create their own ‘Facebook’ or ‘Viber’ groups, look for partners of similar skill levels, organize friendly tournaments. Padel becomes more than just a sport. It is a form of communication, friendship, and socialization. And it is precisely this culture of community that distinguishes padel from many other sports. This game is a cultural phenomenon, a comprehensive leisure experience.”
Revealed all the cards
As the popularity of this sport grows in Lithuania, the number of arenas is also increasing, but courts alone are no longer enough today. Therefore, the representative of “RATO Padel Arena” located in “Ogmios City” emphasizes that people increasingly value the entire experience: from convenient arrival to the opportunity to socialize after the game.
“One of our biggest advantages is the location. The arena is located in ‘Ogmios City’, so it is convenient to reach from various districts of the capital. There are many free parking spaces here, so you don’t have to worry about where to leave your car. Moreover, many players combine several activities during one visit – they can shop and enjoy leisure time,” he emphasizes.
After the game, you can visit the sauna in the Arena, hang out with friends at the bar, or visit the “Bullpadel” partner store, which offers one of the widest selections of specialized padel equipment. “We want people to come here not only to play for an hour but also to spend quality time,” says E. Vaičkus.
But that’s not all. Nearly 2000 square meters, 5 modernly equipped courts, smart lighting, comfortable and modern relaxation areas. “RATO Padel Arena” located in “Ogmios City” opened its doors in mid-December 2022 and still welcomes its visitors as one of the most modern complexes of this sport in the country.
The arena will also present another unique project this coming autumn – a padel “Children’s Academy” almost without analogues in Lithuania. From September, it will invite the little ones to new types of training.
“An easy start, strong community spirit, and the opportunity to enjoy the sport without much preparation have made padel today one of the fastest-growing sports in the world. And in Lithuania, this trend seems to be gaining momentum,” the speaker smiles.
“RATO Padel Arena” is located in “Ogmios City”, J. Kubiliaus St. 21, Vilnius. Its working hours: Mon–Sun, 06:00–00:00. You can find more information and register for training here.
