Adam Levine Calls Padel ‘Pickleball But Cooler’—Thanks to Michael Bublé’s Unlikely Sports Obsession

Adam Levine stumbled onto padel, not through his tattoo addiction, but during a Mexican getaway with Michael Bublé. The Maroon 5 frontman got schooled by Bublé in a “crazy plexiglass cage,” playing what he calls “pickleball but cooler.” The sport, born in 1960s Acapulco, involves hitting balls off walls in a tennis-squash hybrid that’s taking Europe by storm. While pickleball dominates U.S. courts, padel’s sophisticated European flair might just change the game.

Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine unearthed his latest obsession during a Mexican getaway, and it wasn’t another tattoo. Instead, he uncovered padel – a sport that’s basically pickleball’s sophisticated European cousin – thanks to none other than crooner Michael Bublé, who apparently moonlights as a sports evangelist.

Move over tattoos – Adam Levine’s newest passion is padel, discovered during a Mexican vacation thanks to unlikely sports guru Michael Bublé.

The sport, which originated in Acapulco, Mexico in the 1960s, has been quietly conquering Europe, particularly Spain, Italy, and Sweden. With nearly 40,000 courts worldwide, it’s not exactly underground anymore. The complex construction of padel courts requires materials from Spain. Much like pickleball’s non-volley zone, padel has its own unique court restrictions that shape gameplay strategy. Levine’s description? “Pickleball but cooler,” which might ruffle some pickleball purists’ feathers.

During his Mexican vacation, Levine found himself squaring off against Bublé in what he describes as a “crazy plexiglass cage.” The game involves hitting balls off walls – think squash meets tennis meets your childhood dreams of playing in a bouncy castle. Levine, ever the competitor, nearly beat Bublé on his initial try, though he admits to using an unusual motivation technique: imagining Blake Shelton’s face on the ball. During a playful moment on The Tonight Show, Levine joked about his rivalry with Shelton while discussing his new sporting interest.

Unlike pickleball, which can pop up anywhere with a flat surface and some chalk, padel demands specific facilities. The courts require artificial turf and glass or wire walls, making it a bit more high-maintenance than its casual cousin. This hasn’t stopped its growing popularity, though finding a court in the U.S. might require some detective work.

The sport’s demanding nature – all those angles and wall shots – makes it challenging for beginners. But that’s part of its appeal. While pickleball remains America’s fastest-growing sport, padel is making its own waves globally. It’s like the sport equivalent of a craft cocktail – more complex than your average game, but worth the extra effort.

For those wondering if this is just another celebrity fad, the numbers suggest otherwise. The sport’s global reach continues to expand, with facilities popping up worldwide. Though Levine might have uncovered it through a chance encounter with Bublé, padel’s appeal extends far beyond star-studded Mexican vacations.