I would say most padel players play the game casually - tournaments might not be the most important to them. But I know a lot of players are competitive and want to show their level and go deep in tournaments. This article is for those getting ready to enter their first tournament. There is definitely some things to consider to optimize your enjoyment and get the most out of it.

Have low expectations for your first tournament

Unless you are some sort of rare specimen, it is a good idea to have low expectations for your very first tournament. Why? Well, playing tournaments are a very different beast than playing casual or competitive matches. It is a new setting you are not used to, and it can be quite stressful. You might already know that if you "don't win this match" you could be eliminated and that might play tricks on your mind.

It is very tricky to bring out your best level during your very first tournaments. 

The facilities might throw you off

I am often surprised by how different lighting, turf, glass and balls affect the game. Playing in a court you are not used to can feel vastly different than your home court! Different turf have different characteristics in terms of speed and bounce, and even glass can be different! I remember being shocked about how much better my kicksmashes were off the glass when visiting a nearby city to play a tournament. The balls really grabbed on to the glass and kicked upwards after the glass, something I had never experienced before.

The lighting can also be a huge factor - in the same tournament I noticed my kicksmashes working better on the glass they also had WINDOWS to the outside! Suddenly in the middle of a point a cloud blocked the sun, completely changing the lighting on the court.

Of course balls also make a huge factor. Slow balls on a slow court versus fast balls on a fast court is a massive difference. Just see the professionals how smash effectiveness can vary from one tournament to another.

This is another reason to have lower expectation if you are visiting a unfamiliar court - it also gives you incentive to try and get some play in before your tournament matches start, although that is not always easy as most courts are full of tournament action already.

Make sure your body is well rested, well fed and bring nutrition for between games

Often in tournaments you can play at least 3 full matches back-to-back with very little rest. This can take a huge toll on your body. I recommend taking a break the day before the tournament starts so you are well rested before your back-to-back games.

Also make sure you eat properly before the first match. I recommend something high in carbohydrates so you have plenty of access to quick energy. In between each match you should also get some nutrition in, I will again recommend light carbohydrate-heavy meals that don't leave you stuffed but rather replenishes your quick energy storage.

Keeping hydrated is also a good idea. In most tournaments we switch sides and get a 90 second break in between every second game. Take this time to sit, breathe and drink a few sips of water. If you are sweating a lot this is even more important.

I generally recommend bringing plenty of water, a few bananas, maybe a couple of energy bars and some other drinks if you like. I usually have a couple of energy drinks with me, although probably not recommended by nutritionists due to high caffeine ;)

Bring spare clothes and a towel

If you sweat a lot, playing your second or third match in drenched clothing doesn't feel great. I really recommend bringing some extra shirts and underwear so you at least have the possibility to take a shower and put on some fresh clothes. It can make a big difference in feeling fresh and ready for a new battle.

Know the tournament format and rules

There are many different formats and rules you need should be aware of when playing. Some are simple, like if it is allowed to run out of the court to catch the ball. In most non-professional environments this is probably not the case, since very few courts are built to allow this in order to optimize space and be able to fit as many courts as possible.

There could be beams in the ceiling that if you go over / through the point might be done as the ball visibility might have been lost, even for a split second.

Most tournaments where we play, players are put into groups of 3-5 teams and the top 1-2 teams in each group advances to the playoffs. Usually the group stages are played on Saturdays while the playoffs are on Sunday. The most common is groups of 4 teams where the top 2 teams advance to the playoffs. This means you can win 2 matches and lose one and still advance.

That is mostly true for the lower tournament grades though. Once you reach a higher level, you will, like in tennis, be eliminated immediately once you lose a match. This is how the professionals do it. A single loss and you are out. Most smaller tournaments are also intended to be fun for everyone, and in those it makes more sense to have groups where you at the minimum get a certain number of matches in order to play more padel.

Be careful about playing in multiple divisions

In one of my first tournaments I was dumb enough to enter both in the mix and open divisions. This was a huge mistake as I had a small tennis elbow issue breeding in my left arm. After playing nearly 6 hours on Friday, and even winning the mix division (yey!), it set me up for a complete fail in the mens division on Saturday which I actually cared the most about. The pain in my elbow was definitely present on Friday evening, and after the first game on Saturday it was completely terrible. I almost dropped out but kept playing through the pain and my tennis elbow got from minor to severe. Thankfully over the next 6 months I was able to heal my tennis elbow eventually.

So in general - playing padel is fun but unless you are really sure you can handle 10+ hours of padel in the spain of 36 hours, be careful :)

Be fair with calling balls in/out

You will quickly become hated if you constantly call your own balls in while your opponents balls out - this is a gentleman's sport and you should behave accordingly. If there is any doubt whether a ball is in/out you should not call it out. In addition, if there are any disagreements you should immediately replay the point instead of keeping a heated debate escalating.

Also give your opponents the benefit of the doubt if they make a bad call - in the heat of the moment it is easy to get carried away. Just replay the point instead.

Socialize and get to know more players

Tournaments are a great way to get to know players coming from nearby cities and a great opportunity to make some new friends. If you start playing more tournaments you will most likely see the same people again and getting new connections is great. 

Bag checklist - what to remember

• Gear:
  • Your racket :D
  • Spare overgrips
• Spare set of clothes and towel to take a shower
• Food/hydration:
  • Water bottle, energy drinks(?)
  • Food: Bananas, protein bars, quick carbohydrates

Don't forget to have fun!

Keep in mind for most of us playing padel is about having fun. Be able to laugh at your mistakes, be nice to your partner and your opponents. And enjoy your time playing your favorite sport for hours on end in the weekend!