I thought I knew all the classic signs of a male midlife crisis: a motorbike holiday with friends, a classic car arriving on the driveway, hair transplant leaflets lying about the house, Grecian 2000 bottles hidden in the bathroom cabinet, a sudden interest in joining a band. So when my husband of twenty years (who - sidebar - has an excellent hairline, very few grey hairs, and has never been a petrol-head) made it through his 40s without falling foul of any of these midlife ‘reinvention’ tropes, I was feeling rather smug.
But this summer changed everything. Because this summer, my husband bought a padel racket.
Before long, I started getting WhatsApps from him informing me of his ‘Padel Itinerary’. At first, it was an occasional match after work with a few of his friends. Then it was lunchtime and after work. Then he sneakily slipped in some Sunday Padel Tournaments.
Fast forward three months and he now plays at least three times a week and seems to know more people “at the courts” than he does at our local village Co op. I have watched this transformation with a mixture of amusement, bewilderment and, if I'm honest, mild irritation. You see, I’m a tennis player at heart. Padel, I’d always presumed, was basically tennis for people who weren’t fit enough to run around a full-size court.
How, then, has padel become the midlife sport du jour, beloved by even the fittest of celebrities? Eva Longoria plays daily when at her home in Marbella, Spain (she’s also the co-owner of the Eleven Eleven Padel team) in a recent interview she said:
© Instagram“It is fun for anybody, if you're an expert, if you're a novice, if you've never played before, if you're really good, or you're kind of good like me.”
Shakira is a huge fan, and so are tennis superstars Serena Williams, Andy Murray and Rafa Nadal. Even the Princess of Wales loves it, describing it as "a great leveller for those who don't play tennis."
Which begs the question, if a Desperate Housewife, a handful of tennis legends, our future queen (and my husband) can become obsessed…should I?
© Getty ImagesLet’s look at the evidence. Once a niche racket game played by Brits on Spanish holidays where it became popular in the 1970s, in recent years, padel is now one of the fastest-growing sports in the UK.
The appeal isn't difficult to understand once you actually look at the game. Padel is played in doubles on a smaller, enclosed court, with glass walls forming part of the game. You don't need to be a brilliant tennis player, and you don't need to have the fitness of a 25-year-old to enjoy it. In fact, that may be part of its midlife magic.
© Getty Images“Padel does have the habit of converting even the sceptics once they step on court," says Ian Aylward, the LTA's Lead Physical Preparation Coach.
"As for what it improves; you’ll see clear benefits in aerobic fitness, agility, co-ordination and balance. But from a performance and health perspective, the biggest win is adherence."
People enjoy it, hence its rapid growth. They keep coming back and that consistency is where the long-term physical and mental health benefits really kick in; reduced stress, improved mood and sustained activity level. And because you're playing a game rather than pounding away on a treadmill, it can feel more like fun than exercise - which may explain why people keep coming back for more.
© Instagram“It’s a sport that I got hooked on very suddenly,” David Beckham has said. “I train and have fun at the same time, it’s fantastic. You can play at any level, whether you’re a child or an adult.”
No word, however, on whether Victoria has joined him. If not, perhaps this will help his approach. Prada has produced a Re-Nylon padel racket and case, putting the sport firmly into the luxury-products arena. Versace has created its own branded racket and set, while Valentino recently took over Matcha Club Dubai, complete with branded courts and a tournament. In September 2026, Lacoste launched its first complete dedicated padel collection, spanning rackets, shoes, bags and clothing. And Rolex recently announced a partnership with Arturo Coello, one of the biggest names in professional padel.
© PradaEventually, after weeks of being a padel widow, I decided there was only one way to find out what all the fuss was about. My husband bought me my own racket (not Prada) and proudly took me to the court – clearly excited to teach the game to me.
I wish I could tell you I hated it. I really do. Instead, I discovered that it was actually... fun. Annoyingly fun. Addictively fun. The smaller court made it feel manageable, and because the ball can bounce off the walls, there is a strange mixture of tennis, squash and strategy involved. You have to think about where the ball is going rather than simply trying to hit it as hard as possible.
But most of all, I really enjoyed playing with my husband. In twenty years of marriage, we’ve never had a shared hobby. He doesn't want to do yoga with me. I don't want to play pétanque with him (that’s a whole other article about niche midlife hobbies). We have never suddenly discovered a shared passion for golf, cycling or running. But this? This we can work with.
© Ali HarrisAnd perhaps that’s what I hadn't appreciated about my husband's obsession. He wasn't just going to play padel: he was combining exercising with unwinding from work, seeing friends and having fun in just one free hour. Basically, padel is the perfect-multi-tasking-box-ticking activity for time-poor mid-lifers constantly juggling kids, teenagers, work and looking after ageing parents.
I'm not going to pretend I've suddenly become Eva Longoria, nor he David Beckham (we can both dream). I have no intention of playing twice a day, joining yet more WhatsApp groups or discussing my bandeja or bajada over breakfast (yes, apparently those are actual padel terms). But I can now understand why people get hooked. And, as they say, if you can’t beat them (and I can’t…yet) - join them.
So, am I still a padel widow? Yes. But at least I’m no longer a ‘desperate’ one….
A beginner's guide to padel - what you need
A Padel Racquet
Editor's Note:
Rent one at the club for your first few games. When you are ready to buy, choose a round-shaped racket with a soft EVA foam core weighing between 340g and 355g. Round rackets have a large, forgiving sweet spot and low balance, which protects your wrist, elbow, and shoulder from vibration. We love Served - a brand that's designed with beginner and casual players in mind.
Padel Shoes
Editor's Note:
Skip running shoes - their thick soles and forward-only tread create a high risk of rolling ankles or twisting knees. Buy dedicated padel or clay-court tennis shoes with a herringbone (zig-zag) tread pattern for lateral stability and grip.
Padel Balls
Editor's Note:
If you book a court with friends, you will need to buy your own. Padel balls look exactly like tennis balls but have slightly lower pressure, meaning they bounce a little slower and lower. Don't substitute them with old tennis balls.
