Tennis, pickleball, padel, and more racket sports to try this summer

The summer season has well and truly kicked in. Isn't it the perfect time to try some new and healthy hobbies?

Racket sports like pickleball, tennis, badminton, and more have been gaining popularity in recent years and for good reasons.

According to Harvard Medical School’s health blog, racket sports have benefits ranging from physical, mental, and even social well-being in adults.

“Besides offering a good cardiovascular workout, they can help with both upper- and lower-body strength at one time. They can be played at any age, can be modified to fit most fitness levels, and do not involve a lot of equipment,” Vijay A. Daryanani, a physical therapist and personal trainer with Harvard-affiliated Spaulding Outpatient Center, said on the blog.

Daryanani added that a lot of exercises involve moving forward, but racket sports also require back and forth and side to side movements.

“This helps improve balance and weight shifting, which can lower your risk of falls,” he said.

Racket sports also help exercise the mind, as it sharpens planning, decision making, and strategy skills. Players need to always stay sharp, to anticipate and carry out their next move, Harvard said.

Racket sports also have important rules and techniques to follow in footwork, holding the racket, and many more.

Racket sports are also played with other people, whether as a single player or doubles team, and so this social contact decreases loneliness.

That said, here are racket sports to try out this summer to experience the healthy benefits.

1. Tennis

One of the most famous racket sports in the world, tennis is once again gaining popularity among hobbyists in the Philippines, and with Alex Eala's incredible run at the Miami Open — not to mention her cute outfits, too — you will surely want to try it out. 

When a serve is done, the player must rally the ball back-and-forth over the net and within the court’s lines. A point is won when the player hits the ball before or after a bounce. The player must also wait for the ball to go over the net and come to their side of the court before hitting it.

Where to play and how much:

Elorde Sports Complex, Dr Arcadio Santos Ave, Parañaque City
Rates start at P140 per hour
Racket price: Starts at approximately P1,290

2. Pickleball

A fast-rising popular racket sport, pickleball has similarities to tennis, badminton, and even table tennis.

It can be played in both indoor and outdoor courts with short-handled small paddles and a plastic ball that is hit over a low net.

Points are earned when the opponent fails to return the ball, hitting the ball into the net or outside the court, and letting the ball bounce more than once, according to Brittanica, but only the serving player or team can score a point.

Games are played up to 11 points, and are won by at least two points. 

Where to play and how much:

The Pickle Yard, Warehouse 1, Emram Holdings Compound, West Service Road, Sun Valley, Bicutan, Parañaque City
Court rates start at P500 per hour
Racket price: Starts at approximately P1,990

3. Padel

Padel is a racket sport that has risen in popularity in recent years.

It is traditionally played in doubles, and has rules — and a ball — similar to tennis. It follows the same points system as tennis, but players can continue hitting the ball when it bounces off a wall.

That's right. Padel courts have walls, not unlike squash.  

According to iPadel, points are won when the ball bounces twice in any area on the player’s side, if the ball strikes the player or teammate, if it hits fences, posts, or other fixtures before flying over the net, and if the ball hits fences or walls before bouncing on the opponent’s side.

Unlike badminton and tennis rackets, padel rackets feature no strings.

Where to play and how much:

Play Padel Club Philippines, Sheridan Corner, Williams Street, Mandaluyong City
Off-peak court rates start at P1,200 per hour.
Racket price: Starts at approximately P1,590

4. Badminton

Badminton no longer hogs the headlines like it used to, but it doesn't it's gone away. On the contrary. Badminton has established itself as a strong favorite for after-work pa-pawis or weekend workout. 

It involves players hitting a shuttlecock with their slim racket over a net, with two to four players in either singles or doubles matches.

A point is given if the shuttlecock hits the ground on the opponent’s court, the Olympics website said. The first player or team to reach 21 points wins.

It is traditionally played in an indoor court—which is ideal for getting away from the summer heat—but it's hit the mainstream that it's being played "informally" outside, on the streets, or at beaches.

Where to play and how much:

Dragonsmash Badminton Center, 2227 Chino Roces Ave., Makati City, and Levi Mariano Avenue, Taguig City
Open all week, starts at P350 per court and per hour.
Racket price: Starts at approximately P2,380

5. Squash

Squash, like padel, is played in a walled court, with the wall being an important element of the game.

Players stand side by side and rally—or take back-and-forth shots—the ball against the front wall with a small stringed racket.

They can also hit the ball against the side walls or back walls, as long as the ball doesn’t hit the floor before hitting the front wall, according to the Olympics website.

If a player hits the tin—lower part of the front wall—or the out line, the opponent gets a point.

Where to play and how much:

The Philippine Squash Academy has several courts across the country.

Rates vary and they also often provide rackets and balls during games.

6. Table tennis

Table tennis, or ping pong, is best known for being a fast-paced racket game played uniquely on a table.

Players use a small racket with a rubber surface on both sides, and a lightweight ball.

In table tennis, it is important to let the ball bounce on the table before it hits the opponent’s side. The goal is to hit the ball that the opponent fails to strike it back, and will earn the player a point.

Where to play and how much:

Green Paddle, Unit 31 Grace Park Commercial Complex, 4th Avenue cor. A. del Mundo Street, West Caloocan City; and Green Paddle Unit 6G, Shaw Residenza Condo, 429 Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong City

Table rates start at P150 for 30 minutes.

Racket price: Starts at approximately P220

— LA, GMA Integrated News