RIAF Journal ISSN: 2953-6693 Vol – 4 No. 2, July 2026

Articles

Physical fitness and competitive performance in padel: a comparison

between junior and cadet players

Mikel Gutiérrez García

; Alvaro Benito Linares

Mikel Gutiérrez García

Universidad Complutense de Madrid

gutierrezmikel2001@gmail.com

ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0008-8040-4553

Alvaro Benito Linares

Universidad Europea de Madrid

Alvarobenitolinares@gmail.com

ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0004-9442-4812

RIAF. International Journal of Physical Activity

Universidad de Guayaquil, Ecuador

Frequency: Semi-annual

Vol. 4, N° 2, 2026

revista.riaf@ug.edu.ec

Received: March 27th, 2026

Approved: May 20

, 2026

Published: July 25

, 2026

URL: https://revistas.ug.edu.ec/index.php/riaf

DOI: https://doi.org/10.53591/riaf.v4i2.3230

Authors publishing in RIAF acknowledge and accept the following

conditions: Authors retain copyright over their work and grant RIAF

the right of first publication, under the Creative Commons

Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International

license, which allows third parties to share the work provided that its

authorship and its first publication in this journal are acknowledged.

Authors retain copyright and guarantee RIAF the right to publish

the work through any channels it deems appropriate. Authors are

free to share, copy, distribute, perform, and publicly communicate

the published version of the work in RIAF, acknowledging its

publication in this journal. Authors are authorized to electronically

disseminate their work once accepted for publication.

Abstract: Padel is an intermittent sport that requires the

development of specific physical capacities during

formative stages. The aim was to analyse differences in

physical fitness according to competitive level in young

padel players from under fourteen and under sixteen

categories. A cross-sectional comparative study was

conducted with 38 male federated players aged between 13

and 17 years. Participants were classified as elite or amateur

according to their position in the official ranking.

Anthropometric variables, sport experience, handgrip

strength, and vertical jump performance assessed through

countermovement jump and countermovement jump with

arm swing were evaluated. A two-factor analysis of variance

was applied to compare category and competitive level.

Elite players showed higher values p<0.05) in handgrip

strength and jump performance in the younger category. In

addition, older players presented greater values than

younger players within the amateur level (p<0.05). In the

older category, significant differences between competitive

levels were observed only in handgrip strength, whereas

jump variables showed non-significant trends. It was

concluded that upper limb strength and lower limb

explosive power were associated with better competitive

level in the younger category, while their influence

decreased in the older category. These findings suggested

that early development of strength and power could

contribute to competitive performance in young padel

players

Keywords: padel; physical fitness; grip strength; vertical

jump; athletic performance; developmental stage.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-

NonCommercial-No Derivatives 4.0 International License.

RIAF Journal ISSN: 2953-6693 Vol – 4 No. 2, July 2026

Introduction

Padel is a racket sport characterized by its intermittent nature, combining short-duration high-intensity

actions with incomplete recovery periods (Martín-Miguel et al., 2023). These characteristics determine

specific physical demands that include repeated accelerations, changes of direction, explosive actions of

the upper and lower body, as well as adequate postural control and intermittent endurance capacity

(Martín-Miguel et al., 2024). In recent years, the growth of padel has been especially notable in Spain,

where it has become one of the most practiced sports disciplines both in competitive and recreational

settings, with a significant increase in federation licenses and participation at early ages (Consejo Superior

de Deportes, 2025).

From a performance perspective, physical fitness has been identified as a determining factor in racket

sports such as tennis or squash, where variables like explosive strength, movement speed, and muscle

power are associated with competitive level (Gallardo et al., 2023). In the specific case of padel, studies

conducted on adult populations have shown that players of higher competitive level present better values

in vertical jump tests, handgrip strength, and acceleration capacity, suggesting that these physical

components may play a relevant role in performance (Courel-Ibáñez & Herrera-Gálvez, 2019).

However, the available evidence in young populations is still limited and shows inconsistent results.

While some studies have pointed out differences in strength and power variables between competitive

levels, other works have not found clear associations between physical fitness and competitive

performance in formative stages (Courel-Ibáñez & Llorca-Miralles, 2021). These discrepancies could be

explained by factors related to biological maturation, training experience, or heterogeneity in assessment

methods.

Considering the growth of padel at early ages and the need to identify physical factors associated with

performance at these stages, the aim of this study is to analyze differences in physical fitness between

elite-level competitive padel players compared to lower-level federated players in the under fourteen and

under sixteen categories.

RIAF Journal ISSN: 2953-6693 Vol – 4 No. 2, July 2026

Material and Method

A cross-sectional comparative study was carried

out with the aim of analyzing physical fitness in

padel players aged between 13 and 17 years

during the 2024/2025 season.

Participants

A total of 38 male federated players belonging

to the Madrid Padel Federation, distributed in

under fourteen (n = 20) and under sixteen (n =

18) categories, were included in the study.

All participants and their legal guardians were

informed verbally and in writing about the

objectives and procedures of the study, signing

the informed consent. Likewise, authorization

was obtained from the SOMPADEL padel center

(Community of Madrid, Spain) where the

measurements were carried out following the

established protocol, in accordance with the

Declaration of Helsinki.

Instruments

Training experience (years), competitive

experience in federated settings (years), and

ranking position at the time of evaluation were

collected through an ad hoc questionnaire

subsequently verified with the corresponding

clubs and contrasted with the official ranking of

the Madrid Padel Federation. For statistical

analyses, the "elite" group was created,

comprising players within the top 16 positions of

the Madrid Padel Federation ranking in their

category. The remaining players with federation

licenses were grouped as "amateur."

Anthropometric variables were

evaluated

prior to performing physical tests. Height was

measured using a portable Seca 2017 stadiometer,

while body weight was recorded with a calibrated

Seca 803 scale without shoes and with minimal

clothing (pants, shirt, and underwear) following

the standardized protocol by Marfell-Jones et al.

(2006). From these measurements, body mass

index (BMI) was calculated as the ratio between

body weight (kg) and height squared (m²).

Before evaluation, participants performed a

standardized 10-minute warm-up that included

low-intensity continuous running, joint mobility,

and neuromuscular activation exercises.

Handgrip strength was evaluated using an

analog dynamometer (Takei TKK 5401, Takei

Scientific Instruments Co., Ltd., Japan) with

adjustable handle. Following previously validated

standardized protocols (Roberts et al., 2011),

participants adopted a standing position with the

arm extended along the body, avoiding any

compensation with the trunk or lower limbs.

After the start signal, they performed a maximum

voluntary contraction sustained for 3–5 s. The

dominant hand was evaluated, performing three

attempts with one minute of recovery between

them. The maximum recorded value was

considered for analysis.

Countermovement jump (CMJ) was evaluated

using the MyJump2 application (iOS version,

Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA, USA), previously

validated for jump height measurement (Vieira et

al., 2023). Players started from an upright

position, with hands on hips to eliminate upper

body contribution. Participants performed an

eccentric phase until approximately 90° of knee

flexion, followed by explosive extension. During

the flight phase, the trunk remained upright, and

reception was performed with knee extension and

plantar flexion (Claudino et al., 2016). Two

attempts were performed, considering the best

result. If the difference between both exceeded

10%, a third attempt was performed. All attempts

that did not comply with the protocol were

considered void.

RIAF Journal ISSN: 2953-6693 Vol – 4 No. 2, July 2026

Countermovement jump with arm swing (ABK)

was executed under the same conditions as the

CMJ, allowing free use of the arms to maximize

performance (Luna-Villouta et al., 2021). The

same technical and validity criteria were

maintained, as well as the number of attempts

and the procedure for selecting the best record.

Statistical Methods

Data were recorded in a spreadsheet

(Microsoft Excel 2021, Microsoft Corp.,

Redmond, WA, USA) and analyzed using IBM

SPSS Statistics software (version 29.0; IBM

Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). A descriptive analysis

of all variables was performed, expressing data as

mean, segmented by category and competition

level of the players.

Data normality was checked using the

Shapiro–Wilk test and homogeneity of variances

using Levene's test. For inferential analysis, a two-

factor ANOVA (category × competitive level)

was applied. In case of significant effects, post

hoc comparisons with Bonferroni correction

were performed. The significance level was set at

p < 0.05.

Results

Descriptive Analysis

Table 1 presents the characteristics of

participants according to category (under

fourteen, under sixteen) and competitive level

(amateur, elite). The sample consisted of 38

federated players from the Community of

Madrid.

In most variables, elite-level players showed

higher values in age, weight, height, sports

experience, and physical performance compared

to their amateur counterparts within each

category.

Grip Strength and Competition

Figure 1 shows grip strength according to

category and competitive level. Significant

differences were observed between the two

competition levels within the under fourteen

categories, with higher values in the elite group

compared to amateur. Likewise, under sixteen

amateur players presented significantly higher

values than under fourteen amateurs. No

significant differences were detected between the

elite level groups of both categories.

Table 1.

Characteristics of Participants

Variable

Under 14

Amateur

(n=14)

Under 14

Elite

(n=6)

Under 16

Amateur

(n=11)

Under 16

Elite

(n=7)

Age, years

14.62

15.79

16.79

17.63

Weight, kg

41.95

52.82

55.86

67.25

Height, cm

154.57

169.60

168.79

174.45

BMI, kg/m²

17.52

18.27

19.51

21.99

Training, years

3.42

4.12

4.55

4.85

Competition, years

2.23

2.74

2.72

3.47

HGS, kg

25.84

38.72

34.94

41.43

CMJ, cm

25.45

31.80

30.89

32.00

ABK, cm

32.15

38.70

35.15

38.85

Note. Data presented as mean according to category and competition level. Abbreviations: BMI (Body Mass Index); HGS (Hand

grip strength); CMJ (Countermovement jump); ABK (Abalakov jump)

RIAF Journal ISSN: 2953-6693 Vol – 4 No. 2, July 2026

Figure 1.

Differences

grip

strength

according

level

and

category

Note. Data presented as mean according to

category and competition level. * p<0.05; ** p<

0.01. Own Elaboration

Discussion

The aim of this study was to analyze whether

there are differences in physical fitness between

developing padel players according to their

competitive level. The main findings indicate that

players with better ranking positions, especially in

the under fourteen category, present higher

values of handgrip strength and vertical jump

capacity (CMJ and ABK) compared to lower-level

players. However, these differences tend to

reduce in the under sixteen category, where

significant differences are only observed in grip

strength, while in jump variables only trends

without reaching statistical significance are

identified.

RIAF Journal ISSN: 2953-6693 Vol – 4 No. 2, July 2026

Handgrip strength showed higher values in

players of higher competitive level, with these

differences being more pronounced in the under

fourteen stage. This finding could be explained by

the relevance of the upper body in padel

performance, due to its association with hitting

speed, racket stability, and technical control

during rallies (Courel-Ibáñez & Herrera-Gálvez,

2019; Castillo-Rodríguez et al., 2014). Likewise,

the increase in grip strength with age observed

between categories could be influenced by

maturational development and increased training

experience, determining factors in the

improvement of physical performance during

adolescence (Izquierdo & Ibañez, 2017).

Jump capacity, used as an indicator of lower

limb explosive strength, showed differences

between competitive levels in the under fourteen

categories. These results suggest that, in early

stages of development, lower limb explosive

strength may play a relevant role in performance,

as has been observed in other racket sports,

where muscle power facilitates rapid movements

and changes of direction (Zhang et al., 2025).

However, in the under sixteen categories, no

significant differences were observed between

competitive levels. This finding could indicate

that, as age and experience increase, other factors

such as tactics, decision-making, or competitive

experience acquire greater relevance in

performance, reducing the relative weight of

physical fitness.

This study presents some limitations that

should be considered. First, the relatively small

sample size, especially in higher competitive level

groups, may have limited the detection of

significant differences. Likewise, variables such as

maturational status, multi-sport practice, or

training volume were not controlled, factors that

may influence physical performance during

adolescence. Future research should include

larger samples, incorporate biological maturation

indicators, and analyze other relevant variables

such as speed, agility, or acceleration capacity.

From a practical perspective, the results

suggest that the development of upper body

strength and lower body power, especially at early

ages, could be related to better competitive

performance. In this sense, training programs

that combine technical-tactical work with

structured development of physical capacities

could constitute an effective strategy for

improving performance in young padel players.

Conclusion

In conclusion, handgrip strength and lower

body power appear to be associated with a better

ranking position during the under fourteen stage.

However, in the under sixteen categories, this

relationship is reduced, remaining only in upper

body strength and disappearing in lower body

power, suggesting a greater influence of other

factors on competitive performance in more

advanced stages of development.

References

Castillo-Rodríguez, A., Hernández-Mendo, A., &

Alvero-Cruz, J. R. (2014). Morfología del

Jugador de Élite de Pádel: Comparación con

Otros Deportes de Raqueta. International

Journal Of Morphology, 32(1), 177-182.

https://doi.org/10.4067/s0717-

95022014000100030

Claudino, J. G., Cronin, J., Mezêncio, B.,

McMaster, D. T., McGuigan, M., Tricoli, V.,

Amadio, A. C., & Serrão, J. C. (2016). The

countermovement jump to monitor

neuromuscular status: A meta-analysis. Journal

Of Science And Medicine In Sport, 20(4), 397-

402. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2016.08.011

RIAF Journal ISSN: 2953-6693 Vol – 4 No. 2, July 2026

Consejo Superior de Deportes. (2025). Licencias.

https://www.csd.gob.es/es/federaciones-y-

asociaciones/federaciones-deportivas-

espanolas/licencias

Courel-Ibáñez, J., & Herrera-Gálvez, J. (2019).

Fitness testing in padel: Performance

differences according to players’ competitive

level. Science & Sports, 35(1), e11-e19.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scispo.2019.05.009

Courel-Ibáñez, J., & Llorca-Miralles, J. (2021).

Physical Fitness in Young Padel Players: A

Cross-Sectional Study. International Journal

Of Environmental Research And Public

Health, 18(5), 2658.

https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18052658

Gallardo, M. P. C., De la Fuente, F. P., Moreno-

Azze, A., & Páez, L. C. (2023). Physiological

demands of racket sports: a systematic review.

Frontiers In Psychology, 14, 1149295.

https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1149295

Izquierdo, M.,

& Ibáñez, J. (2017). Crecimiento y

maduración del deportista joven. Aplicación para el

desarrollo de la fuerza. Revista de educación física:

Renovar la teoría y práctica(145), 47-47.

Luna-Villouta, P., Paredes-Arias, M., Flores-Rivera, C.,

Hernández-Mosqueira, C., De Carvalho, R. S.,

Faúndez-Casanova, C., Vásquez-Gómez, J., &

Vargas-Vitoria, R. (2021). Anthropometric

Characterization and Physical Performance by Age

and Biological Maturation in Young Tennis Players.

International Journal Of Environmental Research And

Public

Health,

18(20),

10893.

https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182010893

Marfell-Jones, T. o. A. S. A. L. C. M., Stewart, A.,

Marfell-Jones, M., & Kinanthropometry, I. S.

F. A. O. (2006). International Standards for

Anthropometric Assessment.

Martín-Miguel, I., Escudero-Tena, A., Muñoz,

D., & Sánchez-Alcaraz, B. J. (2023).

Performance Analysis in Padel: A Systematic

Review. Journal Of Human Kinetics, 89, 213-

230. https://doi.org/10.5114/jhk/168640

Martín-Miguel, I., Escudero-Tena, A., Sánchez-Alcaraz, B.

J., Courel-Ibáñez, J., & Muñoz, D. (2024). Physiological,

physical and anthropometric parameters in padel: A

systematic review. International Journal Of Sports

Science & Coaching, 20(1), 407-424.

https://doi.org/10.1177/17479541241287439

Roberts, H. C., Denison, H. J., Martin, H. J.,

Patel, H. P., Syddall, H., Cooper, C., & Sayer,

A. A. (2011). A review of the measurement of

grip strength in clinical and epidemiological

studies: towards a standardised approach. Age

And Ageing, 40(4), 423-429.

https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afr051

Vieira, A., Ribeiro, G. L., Macedo, V., De Araújo

Rocha, V., Junior, De Souza Baptista, R.,

Gonçalves, C., Cunha, R., & Tufano, J. (2023).

Evidence of validity and reliability of Jumpo 2

and MyJump 2 for estimating vertical jump

variables. PeerJ, 11, e14558.

https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14558

Zhang, J., Wu, X., & Ye, X. (2025). The effect of

plyometric complex training on lower-limb

explosive power in adolescents: a systematic

review and meta-analysis. Frontiers In

Physiology, 16, 1716568.

https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2025.1716568

Declaration of No Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare that there is no conflict of

interest of a financial, commercial, institutional,

or personal nature that could have influenced the

results or the interpretation of the data presented

in this study.

Authorship Contribution Statement: Both

authors participated jointly throughout the entire

research process.