“Padel courts are springing up all over the place ... Prada has recently launched a sleek black padel bat for £1,530, but that’s probably not going to make you a better player – just ...

“I consulted with East Dorset Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club when they put up three padel courts last summer, and afterwards I asked their chairman how their tennis players were taking to padel.

Plans have been lodged for new padel courts, as the trendy sport continues to sweep across the county. Often described as a hybrid between tennis and squash, padel has been gaining popularity in ...