Coach Lukman started the session with a focus on fundamentals such as how to hit the ball with control and precision and the all-important positioning for returning shots. As someone whose default mode is to cower for fear of being hit by a ball ricocheting towards me, his drills and emphasis on footwork and reading the ball’s trajectory helped me feel more comfortable with the pace of the game. By the end of the hour, I had at least learnt to better time my shots and even managed to land a few winning volleys. No aces yet but we decided to save that for another day.
To keep the padel momentum going, several resorts are also introducing more ways for guests to connect on the court. This could include casual arrangements, such as by roping in staff to play with guests or introducing interested guests to one another so they may make their own plans to meet at the court. The Sanchaya also organised its inaugural Padel Cup in March, which featured professional padel champion Luis Ruiz, who conducted coaching clinics before the competition.
“Everyone got a chance to understand the game and as the tournament progressed, it was quite competitive but there was a lot of fun in between,” said Williams, adding that there are plans to hold the second Padel Cup at the resort next year.
In the last six months, the resort has had groups of returning guests from Singapore squeezing in as much padel as possible between poolside relaxation and other luxurious indulgence.
“You can play a lot more padel here without being restricted to time slots like in a major city. And you can also enjoy a leisurely afternoon by the pool with cocktails, have a well-deserved pampering session at the spa or indulge in a lobster barbecue on a Saturday night,” said Williams. “This really ticks all the boxes — mixing competitive padel with plenty of relaxation and pleasure.”