From a tennis friend to a month in Spain
Louis Jarrold started playing padel just over two years ago, after a friend from tennis introduced him to the game. Soon afterwards he took a sabbatical from work and spent a month in Spain, which is where he started playing properly.
Around the same time he made his first YouTube video about learning padel. When it took off, he kept going on both fronts – making content and competing. The channel is Padelactico, and those two strands have run side by side ever since.
An honest view from a regular player
Louis is clear about what Padelactico is for. He wants to give people an honest insight into what it is like for a regular person to take up padel and try to compete, so they can learn from his journey, improve their own game and enjoy the process.
That journey has moved quickly. As he puts it: “It’s been a crazy ride so far, from playing FIP tournaments to representing Ireland at the Euros.”
The appeal lies in the perspective. The tournaments and the training are seen through the eyes of someone who was new to padel two years ago, not a lifelong professional.
The people and the balancing act
Asked about his favourite part of the journey, Louis points first to the people he has met, and then to the chance to compete in so many different places.
The biggest challenge has been balancing everything. Filming, training, competing and other business ventures all run at the same time, and keeping them in step is a constant juggle for a player who is still climbing the levels himself.
An eye injury and a new direction
One of the biggest challenges this year has been an eye injury Louis sustained while playing. It set back his fitness and made it hard to get back on court consistently, and finding protective eyewear suited to racket sports has been another hurdle.
The experience has also sparked a new idea. After struggling to find glasses that protect properly without compromising performance, Louis is exploring a business that would develop high-quality eyewear designed for racket sports. What began as a frustrating personal problem could become a way to help other players facing the same one.
Looking ahead
The recent World Cup qualifiers in Madrid were tough but valuable – a chance to learn, develop and experience the game at a high level. Louis hopes the experience will help drive the continued development of Irish padel, particularly as other countries raise their game quickly, and he is keen to build on what he learned to push the sport forward at home.
That includes Padelactico Experiences, with the next one taking place on 28 November. It gives players the chance to travel to Spain and train like a pro with Louis and top coaches. A natural extension of the channel, it lets those who have followed his journey get on court, experience his training first-hand and immerse themselves in the country where he first started playing properly.
The best way to follow his progress is to subscribe to Padelactico on YouTube or follow @padelactico on Instagram.
