10 tips for playing padel in summer
Summer is approaching, and for true fans of the sport, giving up the idea of playing padel due to intense heat or high temperatures is unthinkable. That's why we bring you 10 tips for playing padel this summer and not dying trying. Of course, proper hydration when playing padel and sun protection are essential.
1- Avoid peak hours for playing padel.
The peak hours when the sun is strongest are from 12:00 PM to 6:30 PM in the afternoon. During these hours, the intensity of any type of sport is higher, but for padel, it's even worse, as it is played inside a court with glass walls, which means poor ventilation.
2- Hydrate properly
Hydration, as we highlighted at the beginning, regardless of the weather we are going to play in, is very important. You should drink water or isotonic drinks so that your cells are well hydrated and have enough minerals. In this way, we can face the course of the match without suffering from any heat stroke. To do this, it is advisable to drink water between games, and an isotonic drink during and after exercise.
3- Indoor or outdoor court
Nowadays, the
evolution of indoor clubs has been remarkable in many cities and provinces. Therefore, many people prefer indoor to outdoor clubs, advantages or disadvantages:
Indoor: The temperature of the club increases due to the greenhouse effect because it is largely enclosed; however, it is more efficient as the sun is not reflected and you avoid getting burned by its rays.
Outdoor: Ventilation is an important point, but if we decide to play outdoors, we must consider the time of day. In the time zone where the sun is strongest, it is necessary to use a type of high-protection sunscreen. It is recommended to reapply it as many times as necessary.
4- Adequate nutrition for padel
The food you eat for your padel matches must be adequate. It is advisable to eat pasta, vegetables, meat, etc., as these are foods with high energy and protein value (in good quantity). Taking into account the time of the match, we can also eat fruits, such as bananas.
5- Proper use of padel clothing
It is very important to wear the right sportswear because in hot weather, we sweat more. We recommend wearing several outfits so as not to play with a soaked t-shirt throughout the padel match, so that the skin breathes and mobility is more comfortable, and to reduce the sensation of heat.
6- Use breathable padel shoes
Breathability should not only be present in the t-shirt or pants. Today, these technologies are also found in padel shoes, which are made of breathable materials such as mesh and perforated fabrics. This way, your feet will also stay cool during the hottest match days. This not only improves the player's comfort but also prevents the feet from slipping inside the shoe.
7- Buy padel bags with heat protection.
This advice is not directly related to the game, but to the integrity of your padel equipment. High temperatures can affect padel rackets, and this is something few people know. It is therefore recommended to buy padel bags or backpacks with technologies to protect the inside. The most common type of technology is thermal materials, which are present in many padel bags on the market. Thanks to this, rackets are kept at a safe temperature, as long as they are protected inside the bag.
8- Light-colored equipment
It is advisable to wear light-colored clothing or equipment because, as we already know, the sun affects us more if we wear colors such as black, navy blue, etc. We will leave these dark clothes for winter.
Wearing a cap at this time of year is crucial, although some people only use it for aesthetic reasons, but in summer, it is ideal to avoid continuous contact with the sun during the match. Sunglasses are the ideal complement to caps, to avoid direct contact with the sun, which can be uncomfortable and harmful. With sunglasses, players can fully concentrate on the game, as the sun's rays do not disturb their vision.
10- Use a spray on the grip of your padel rackets
This tip is very useful during the hottest times of the year. The
Dry Grip Spray is a type of spray that is applied directly to the hands to keep them dry during the match. Its purpose is to prevent the padel racket from slipping due to excess sweat on the palms of the hands.
