Padel, the king of sports in Spain, where it has dethroned tennis in just a few years, is a mix of tennis, squash, and racquetball. It is played by four people on a court whose surface area is half that of a tennis court. This new sport, which is booming in France, is rapidly gaining popularity because it is relatively accessible, even for beginners, and great fun. There is already a professional circuit, dominated by the Spanish, as well as more than 300 padel centers in France organizing countless tournaments.
Players often think that improving at padel is simply a matter of working on their bajada or perfecting their vibora. But the reality is that good sports nutrition is the secret to maintaining consistent explosiveness from the first point through to the decisive tie-break. Eating and hydrating properly means avoiding an energy slump in the middle of the second set, maintaining tactical clarity during long rallies, and, above all, optimizing recovery so you can compete in successive tournaments without injury.
To excel in this highly dynamic, even explosive game, nutrition therefore plays a crucial role—not only in maintaining energy but also in ensuring rapid recovery. Let’s look at the best sports nutrition for padel and how to eat properly to improve padel players’ performance.
A sport that places high demands on the body
Like other racket sports, padel is primarily an aerobic discipline, excellent for sculpting the body and strengthening muscles, making it one of the best activities for burning a maximum number of calories. From a metabolic standpoint, padel stands out for its hybrid nature, alternating between the athlete’s aerobic and anaerobic capacities. Accelerations, powerful shots, sudden stops, and changes of direction characterize a padel match, testing both the players’ strength and muscular endurance. An average padel player can burn 600 to 700 kcal in one hour of play. Professional players can burn up to 1,000 kcal during a 90-minute match. It is therefore essential to eat and hydrate properly before and during the match.
Specific nutritional needs for padel
Energy and endurance
Padel is a demanding sport that requires a combination of quick energy and endurance. Our bars, gels, compote and energy drinks are specially formulated to provide rapid energy release that lasts over time—ideal for keeping players moving throughout the match. Rich in nutrients and easy to digest, they are the perfect fuel for padel players.
Hydration
Hydration is just as crucial, especially in a fast-paced sport like padel, which is often played indoors, where sweating can be substantial. Our hydration drinks are designed to quickly replenish lost mineral salts and electrolytes, ensuring that players remain hydrated and perform well from start to finish.
Mineral salts are vital chemical elements for the body, involved in several functions such as bone formation and metabolism regulation. Electrolytes are a specific category of mineral salts. They turn into ions in the body and play a key role in electrical conduction and fluid balance. Although all electrolytes are mineral salts, the reverse is not true. The main difference between them lies in electrolytes’ ability to dissolve and form ions, which are essential for many physiological functions.
The key to hydration is to drink regularly, without waiting until you feel thirsty. Professional athletes systematically drink during breaks to rehydrate, replenish electrolytes, and provide energy. They often use three types of drinks: an electrolyte drink, an energy drink, and water to rinse their mouths and help prevent sugar-related cavities. Good hydration is crucial for all padel players, with liquids recommended before, during, and after play, while checking urine color to assess hydration levels.
How should you eat before a padel match?
For an optimal breakfast before a morning match, choose oats or whole-grain bread accompanied by dairy products and a banana, while starting your hydration. It is advisable to eat this meal 2 to 3 hours before playing for optimal digestion. Before an afternoon match, opt for a meal rich in complex carbohydrates, such as pasta or brown rice, with a moderate amount of protein and little fat.
A good meal choice could be whole-wheat pasta with a light tomato sauce and grilled chicken, accompanied by a green salad for vitamins and minerals without excess fat. Whole-wheat pasta, which provides lasting energy thanks to its low glycemic index, and chicken, for its lean protein, are particularly recommended. Add whole-grain bread and a piece of fruit for dessert to provide fiber and antioxidants, and don’t forget to continue hydrating well with water or a hydration drink.
How can you incorporate Mulebar products into your padel routine?
At Mulebar, we understand the importance of sports nutrition for padel. We offer a range of 100% natural products (with no preservatives, artificial flavors, or colorings) designed to meet the specific needs of this new discipline.
Before the match
Starting with a Mulebar energy bar 30 to 60 minutes before the match can give you the boost you need to start strong. This is the time needed to digest it. It provides a balanced blend of carbohydrates, protein, and healthy fats, ensuring a gradual release of energy.
During the match
A Mulebar energy gel or energy compote acts as an instant boost, quickly replenishing your energy stores to maintain your playing intensity. They are convenient to consume, even in the heat of the action, thanks to their small resealable tubes.
Of course, as mentioned above, it is recommended to have three bottles: our hydration drink, our energy drink, and water.
After the match
Recovery begins as soon as the match ends. A Mulebar vegan protein bar will help repair muscle fibers and replenish energy stores, while our hydration drink will help restore your fluid and electrolyte balance.
In addition to using Mulebar products, a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, lean protein, and whole grains will help optimize your padel performance.
Mulebar, the benchmark sports nutrition brand in padel
Because this sport is still relatively new, few sports nutrition brands are interested in it. They are all still focused on endurance sports, particularly running and cycling, where there is, it must be admitted, a strong nutrition culture. Mulebar therefore has an excellent opportunity in this highly fashionable sport to become the benchmark nutrition brand in padel.
That is why we are partners with several tournament organizers throughout France:
Padel Business League: Mulebar is a partner of the PBL Masters at 4padel in Toulouse on March 15, 16, and 17, 2024. These are the finals following the various stages, during which more than 1,000 employees from 200 companies competed across France since the beginning of September.
Mulebar is a partner of the padel training camps organized by Twenty by ten in 2024.
We love padel trusts us for its “padel mon amour cup” event on March 14 at Esprit Padel in Lyon. This competition brought together 36 corporate teams from padel stakeholders in France (brands, equipment manufacturers, court installers, etc.).
Mulebar also provides its energy to Odentik, the tournament for dentists held in Bordeaux in April.
Testimonials and examples of Mulebar product use by padel players
We tested Mulebar as early as June 2022 at the 4padel center in Colomiers, and the feedback and sales quickly proved excellent. Highly skilled players shared their experiences with us, reporting a noticeable improvement in their performance and recovery since incorporating our Mulebar products into their training and match routines. These testimonials highlight not only the effectiveness of our products but also their pleasant taste, a significant advantage during exercise.
It is unfortunate that most padel center managers have no training or experience in sports nutrition and do not offer quality products to their customers. As in most tennis clubhouses, they sell industrial chocolate bars that are a nutritional disaster. They will therefore need to be trained and supported in padel nutrition, as they will be the best ambassadors to players. The market is therefore wide open.
Conclusion
Eating healthily does not immediately guarantee an improvement in your game, but it will contribute to better overall health. This will result in faster recovery, sharper vision, better perception of the game, quicker reflexes on the court, and more resilient muscles. Over time, these benefits will lead to progress in your sport and a reduction in injuries.
Incorporating suitable sports nutrition, such as that offered by Mulebar, is essential for any padel player looking to improve their performance and recovery. Our products, developed with passion since 2008, offer a 100% natural and delicious solution to meet these needs. We invite you to discover our range and experience the difference that good nutritional choices can make to your game. Ready to transform your padel performance with Mulebar?
