Pickleball is out – padel is in, now that Racket Social Club is coming in Katy.

On October 25, Racket Social Club will open at 21676 FM 1093 Rd, Katy, and will introduce the sport of padel to the community. The club is owned by Racquet360, a U.S.-based group dedicated to developing and operating racket sports clubs across the country and abroad. “Racket Social Club is dedicated to bringing people together through racket sports, with a special focus on padel, one of the fastest-growing sports globally,” said Felipe Marotta, Marketing Manager at Racket Social Club, in an email to the Katy Times. “Our mission is to create a vibrant community where sports, social connections, and lifestyle meet.”

“While Racquet360 operates nationally, the decision to open in Katy reflects the city’s rapid growth, dynamic demographics, and strong community spirit—making it an ideal location to introduce padel,” Marotta said. “Katy is a thriving, family-oriented community with a vibrant sports culture. We believe this makes it the perfect place to grow awareness of padel, one of the fastest-growing sports worldwide, while fostering community connections.”

Padel is another racket sport that’s surging in popularity and one that has strong Latino roots. According to a September 23 article from NBC News, padel got its start in Acapulco, Mexico, in 1969 when Enrique Corcuera, a Mexican businessman, was trying to build a makeshift tennis court in his backyard. He didn’t have enough space and chose to make a smaller version — the very first padel court — with a distinguishing feature: It was surrounded by an almost 10-foot wall.

The company plans to be very involved in the community, Marotta said. “Our plans include partnering with local schools, supporting nonprofit initiatives, and joining the Katy Chamber of Commerce to be an active part of the community from the very beginning,” he said. Learn more at https://www.racquet360.com/.