The power of first impressions

Richard Shaw CEO SAPCA

Ihave something to confess – I’ve started playing padel and I’ve noticed that how I talk about the sport has changed.

It has been amazing to witness the birth of a new sport and see it develop over the past few years. Often the narrative, however, (at least in my own head), has been cautious. Seeing the data showing the oversupply in Scandinavia, witnessing the problems caused by poorly-designed courts and being fully aware of the difficulties that any emerging product or sector faces, have all added up to a concern that this was a fad that was going to disappear as quickly as it arrived.

What changed my mind was experiencing first-hand how accessible and forgiving the game was! Playing with three people – two of whom hadn’t played much tennis before – it took only minutes before we were having rallies.

Was the standard great? No, but I’m not sure we would have reached anywhere near the same level had we be playing tennis. The forgiving nature of the court, combined with the quick turnaround in gameplay, meant that the hour flew by and we’d all had a good run around.

Far quicker than golf, far easier than tennis and with less impact on joints than football, for four middle-aged blokes it’s a great way to get some exercise.

However (yes, there is a but). Would it have been the same, wholly positive experience if we had turned up to a shaky, temporary padel court with a slippery surface and glass panels that rattled? Would my view of padel be different then? Undoubtedly.

The danger for padel is that, in the race to provide courts, corners can be cut. Cost and speed of construction, rather than quality and longevity, can become the driving force.

Anyone stepping on a padel court for the first time isn’t just judging that court – they’re assessing the sport as a whole

The problem is, first impressions count. They colour our opinion on things. A bad experience at a particular restaurant chain? We won’t visit again.

The same for padel. Anyone stepping on a padel court for the very first time isn’t merely judging the quality of that particular court – they are assessing the sport as a whole. A great experience can turn into a lifetime habit. A bad one can deter them from ever trying padel again.

Therefore, the long-term sustainability of padel, I believe, rests in those first impressions we provide. The best way to deliver a great one is to ensure we design, build and maintain courts to the highest standards.