“We want to try,” said Pina to Tom Bödger. A 17-year-old boy from the Schiefbahn (TC) tennis club arrives at the racket shop and pulls out two plastic rackets that are much smaller than regular tennis rackets and have many small holes in the head. “Light,” Sophie said of the bat’s weight as she held it in her hands. Two twelve-year-old girls who play tennis at the club have to be patient because the two courts are still busy. On the right court, four players let the ball bounce over the net using glass walls and grids, while on the other court there are two players who jump behind the ball. TC Schiefbahn is celebrating its first: it is the first club in the district of Viersen to open a new sports center with two courts.
What started earlier in the year is now complete and will be implemented in-game. “We are adding a second game to our club for the first time since it was founded 57 years ago. It is a new chapter in the history of our club. We want to position ourselves in a modern and family-friendly future and attract new members. With what we offer, we are becoming more attractive to children and young people, “says Wolfram Flatow. Padel is fun and friendly because you can play it with four people, added the chairman of TC Schiefbahn in his welcome speech.
Old tennis courts
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The group was able to use two old tennis courts, which were previously used temporarily by the childcare center during construction, to build padel courts. The two playing fields, which are ten to twenty meters long, which are surrounded by glass walls and grids and have the color of a blue carpet with sand, are not the only new buildings. At the same time, the group had a lot of pitch. Among other things, soft tennis, basketball and football can be played here. There is also a cool playground with sand as well as a beachside lounge. The playground is not finished. “We want to finish the stadium by the end of the year,” says Cornelia Grips from TC Schiefbahn.
The group is happy that the city of Willich can offer padel, “a beautiful sport,” as Flatow explains, thus expanding the variety of sports offered. Padel is a mixture of squash and tennis. The game includes glass walls and grids, which create more energy on the field. Although the rackets are very different from the tennis racket, the balls look the same. They are just a little bit smaller and stronger.
“Padel is easier to learn than tennis, and you learn a lot faster,” says Bödger, who is one of four members trained as rowing assistants. You can take coaching courses, but you don’t have to. It can also only go to the two courts. “It’s a fast game that’s a lot of fun,” says Roman Lieutenant, who plays tennis and enjoys what’s on offer.
Irmgard Gerlatzka confirms that it is a game for all ages. The 85-year-old, who plays tennis and badminton, has just returned from the court where he was kicking a padel racket. “Super. “This will be my third game,” he says, commenting on the new innovation. Vice-mayor Guido Görtz (CDU) also picks up his bat and jumps onto the field. “You really faint. It’s not without it. But it’s very interesting, even Technical thinking is added to the game because you can add walls. “It’s not the last time you play it today,” says Görtz.
Demand from members and visitors is high. Many take the opportunity and want to try padel. Visitors can also see what it looks like when the pros play. One of the reigning guests of Germany, Matthias Wunner, is one of the guests playing the tournament.