Analysis of Game Performance Indicators during 2015–2019 World Padel Tour Seasons and Their Influence on Match Outcome

Abstract

A better understanding of the demands of in-game competition demands may improve coaching strategies, training designs, and injury prevention programs. However, there is limited information regarding performance analysis in professional padel. This study aimed to analyse performance indicators and their influence on match outcomes regarding sex, tournament round, and set number. The sample contained 1070 sets from 532 matches of the 2016 to 2019 World Padel Tour seasons. Variables including sex, round, game result, stroke effectiveness, and break points were registered through systematic observation. A non-parametric approach was applied to evaluate differences between sex, match outcome, and tournament round. The results showed significant differences between winners and losers regarding sex in break points (male d = 2.13, p = 0.00; female d = 2.22, p = 0.00), smash winners (male d = 0.85, p = 0.00; female d = 0.69, p = 0.00), groundstroke winners (male d = 1.01, p = 0.00; female d = 1.18, p = 0.00), volley winners (male d = 1.08, p = 0.00; female d = 0.91, p = 0.00), and errors (male d = 0.76, p = 0.00; female d = 0.65, p = 0.00). Furthermore, differences in shot effectiveness between winners and errors increased in the last set of the match and in the last round of the tournament (p < 0.05). Therefore, shot effectiveness seems to be a key factor in professional padel that distinguishes between winning and losing players. Such knowledge may have implications in the design of appropriate game strategies and specific training sessions to improve performance and to prevent sport injuries.

Match Analysis, Physical Training, Risk of Injury and Rehabilitation in Padel: Overview of the Literature

“…A total of 479 padel players with a different level of experience were included in the studies and 1098 matches were also analyzed. Most of the studies are cross-sectional ( n = 3) [ 7 , 10 , 15 ] and observational ( n = 12) [ 3 , 7 , 9 , 12 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 ]; studies on match analysis utilized the systematic observation of padel match videos from official channels. The current literature argues over four different aspects of padel: match analysis, anthropometric and physical fitness, the biological effects of padel matches on athletes, and the risk of injury and rehabilitative approaches.…”

“…The current literature argues over four different aspects of padel: match analysis, anthropometric and physical fitness, the biological effects of padel matches on athletes, and the risk of injury and rehabilitative approaches. Almost all the study included were from Spain ( n = 16) [ 3 , 7 , 9 , 10 , 12 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 ]; only one was from Sweden [ 26 ]. Ten of the included studies investigated game dynamics [ 3 , 9 , 12 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 ], of which one [ 12 ] analyzed the court zone involved in the attacking and defensive phase of the match; six studies [ 3 , 16 , 17 , 19 , 20 , 21 ] investigated padel strokes, highlighting that the smash is one of the most effective strokes with which to stop the rally; on the other hand, the lob is the most valid in a defensive position [ 20 ].…”

“…It has a Mexican origin (1969), adapting a squash court with elements of tennis [ 2 ]. Recently, an increasing number of players and courts have emerged in more than 40 countries [ 3 ]. Although similar to tennis, a padel court is about a third smaller than a tennis court, composed of a plexiglass wall at both end zones and completed by a metal mesh, which not only prevents the rise, but also reduces the effective playing area, and two openings at the outer side of the net; the padel ball also provides less bounce than a tennis ball [ 4 ].…”

Performance Outcome Measures in Padel: A Scoping Review

“…Besides, comparing winners to losers, winners made a higher percentage of smashes and trays and a lower number of side-wall shots, side and back wall, and wall boast than the losers ( p < 0.001) [ 16 ]. Furthermore, the shot effectiveness seems to be a key factor in professional padel that distinguishes between winning and losing players ( p < 0.05) [ 48 ].…”

Analysis of the Actions of Net Zone Approach in Padel: Validation of the NAPOA Instrument

“…Studies have been conducted to describe the competition [ 9 ], the technical–tactical actions that may be more effective [ 10 , 11 , 12 ], physical condition [ 13 , 14 ], movements [ 15 , 16 ], biomechanics [ 17 , 18 ], or the discovery of game indicators [ 19 , 20 , 21 ]. In addition, various investigations in padel have studied the differences that exist between winning and losing pairs [ 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 ] or between women’s and men’s padel [ 12 , 25 , 26 ].…”