Kaupadel

Kaupadel is a racket sport played on a closed court with walls, drawing on elements of padel and squash. It is typically played by two or four players, though singles formats exist. The game uses a solid, perforated paddle and a small ball similar to a tennis ball but with different pressure. The court is enclosed on all sides, allowing players to use the walls to return shots.

Play and scoring: A rally begins with an underhand serve from behind a service line, diagonally into the opponent’s service box. After the serve, players hit the ball alternately, aiming to land it in the opponent’s court so that it cannot be returned legally. The ball may be played off the walls after a bounce. Points are counted using standard tennis-like scoring within each game, with games forming sets. Most competitions use best-of-three sets, and a tiebreak is played at 6-6 in games.

Equipment and court: Paddles are solid, perforated boards held in one hand; balls are similar to tennis balls but tailored for the sport’s dynamics. Courts are typically indoor, though outdoor variants exist, and often measure roughly the size of a padel court.

Organization and play: There is no single global governing body for kaupadel; national and regional associations organize leagues, clubs, and tournaments. As a developing sport, rules and equipment specifications may vary between regions, with common efforts toward harmonization in some federations.

History: Kaupadel emerged in the early 21st century within paddle sport communities as an informal variant, gaining traction in clubs and amateur circuits before formal competitions began to appear.