Padel Origins Explained: From Acapulco 1969 to Modern Club Culture
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Padel History
Padel Origins Explained: From Acapulco 1969 to Modern Club Culture
Padel didn’t emerge from a marketing department or a professional tour. It began as a social, architectural experiment — and evolved into one of the fastest-growing sports in the world. Understanding padel’s origins explains why heritage matters today.
Updated: December 2025
Quick Summary
Modern padel traces its roots to Acapulco, Mexico, in 1969, where Enrique Corcuera adapted a squash-style court within the walls of his home. That original design — enclosed walls, shared social play, and club-first culture — still defines padel today.
The Birth of Padel in Acapulco (1969)
In 1969, Enrique Corcuera built a private sports court at his residence in Acapulco. Due to limited space, he enclosed the court with walls, creating a new style of play that blended elements of tennis and squash — but emphasised accessibility, rally-based play, and social interaction.
This design unintentionally created an entirely new sport. Unlike traditional racket sports, padel prioritised shared experience over individual dominance, making it ideal for clubs, families, and communities.
Today, Corcuera’s original concept is widely recognised as the foundation of modern padel.
How Padel Spread From Mexico to the World
Padel’s expansion followed people, not federations. Spanish and Argentinian visitors encountered the game in Mexico and brought it home, where it flourished in club environments rather than elite academies.
- 1970s: Introduced to Spain and Argentina
- 1980s–90s: Rapid adoption in social and private clubs
- 2000s: Formalisation of rules and federations
- 2010s–present: Global expansion across Europe, Middle East, and beyond
This organic growth explains why padel culture remains deeply tied to clubs, lifestyle, and community, rather than pure professional spectacle.
Why Padel Heritage Still Matters
As padel has grown rapidly, many modern brands have entered the sport from tennis or general sportswear. While these brands bring performance expertise, they are often disconnected from padel’s cultural roots.
Heritage in padel isn’t about age alone — it’s about understanding why the sport exists in the first place. That distinction is explored in depth in our guide to the best padel clothing brands with heritage .
From Origin Story to Modern Brand Identity
Brands that genuinely reflect padel’s origins tend to emphasise timeless design, club culture, and versatility — rather than seasonal hype.
Corcuera Padel Club takes its name directly from padel’s founder and builds on this legacy through clothing designed for the spaces where padel actually lives: clubs, travel, and everyday life.
To understand how this origin-led philosophy compares with other heritage brands, read our full breakdown here: Best Padel Clothing Brands (Heritage Edition) .
Frequently Asked Questions
➕ Who founded padel?
Padel is widely credited to Enrique Corcuera, who built the first enclosed padel court in Acapulco, Mexico, in 1969.
➕ Where did padel originate?
The modern form of padel originated in Acapulco, Mexico, before spreading to Spain, Argentina, and eventually worldwide.
➕ Why is padel considered a club sport?
Padel’s enclosed courts, doubles format, and rally-focused play naturally encourage social interaction, making it ideally suited to clubs and community environments.
Sources & Further Reading