Over the last few years, the practice of paddle tennis has experienced a dizzying increase. Consequently, this has also happened with technology in the manufacture of sportswear, being excellent news for all players, both amateur and professional.
Aspects to be considered beforehand
Before making a decision on the selection of equipment, two fundamental aspects will be taken into account:
- the playing fieldas an external factor and,
- the player’s own conditions.
Firstly, the playing field is made up of a hard floor and walls whose structure provides a high speed in the movements made.
On the other hand, the characteristics of each player (amateur or professional) must also be considered, i.e. their constitution, weight, strength, flexibility, speed and resistance will be taken into account. In addition, the adaptability of the clothing will have to be examined in each case.
In many cases, the player is not aware of the importance of these two points. Therefore, the advice of a physiotherapist can be of great help in detecting possible imbalances at the muscular, postural and/or biomechanical level, among others. In this way, a correct choice will be assured.
The combination of these two factors results in the selection of the necessary tools for playing paddle tennis. In other words, each accessory and item of clothing will be chosen according to the playing field and the player’s own conditions.
Good sportswear in paddle tennis, as in any other sport, is essential for several reasons:
- It saves energy in movements, producing less fatigue.
- It makes the game more comfortable, giving wide freedom of movement.
- It reduces the risk of injury in a high percentage.
Playing field and shoes
The type of floor requires perfectly adapted footwear and self-knowledge of the player’s movement.
It is very important to know if there are previous physical alterations, such as: scoliosis, differences in height between one lower limb and the other (dysmetries), pre-existing ankle sprains, etc. as hard ground can exacerbate the discomfort in the future and also bring other associated alterations.
In paddle tennis there are different types of flooring, among them we can name artificial grass, cement, porous concrete, brick dust (as in the following image), etc.
The characteristics of each floor will allow the player to adapt to a different way of playing with respect to speed and precision. For example, on a brick dust court the speed of play will be slower than on a cement or porous concrete court. There will also be less risk of spraining the ankle or knee in a brick dust court than in others because it will allow better sliding (without blocking) of the lower limb joints.
The correct assessment of the footwear by a professional is essential
The paddle tennis racket
Nearly twenty years ago, the excessive weight of paddles was a highly negative factor, but with the technological revolution that sport has undergone at all levels, this no longer poses a problem for muscle overload (as technology applied to manufacturing has made them very light). Thetype of handle and its thicknessremain important elements to take into account, as they must be fully adapted for each player to avoid tendon, joint and muscle discomfort in the hands, forearms, arms and back.
A professional paddle specialist should also be responsible for advising on the type of paddle and handle.
Trousers, T-shirt and socks
They must have two qualities: they must be breathable so that sweat can evaporate quickly and thus maintain body temperature and comfort at an optimum level. Also, it must be adaptable to the body, to allow for wide movements and to reduce the limitation of joints in every sporting gesture.
Cristian Calneggia with Corps à L’aise at the World Padel Tour La Nucía 2013
Licenciado en Kinesiología y Fisiatría.
Diplomado en Fisioterapia.
Experto en Posturología Clínica.
CORPS À L’AISE – CENTRO DE REHABILITACIÓN
C/ Pintor Lorenzo Casanova 19, Bajo. 03003 – Alicante – 966231695
