Israelis love Matkot

The Israelis absolutely love Matkot! They play it constantly, they take it extremely seriously, and they spend a lot of money on it... They'll be seen and heard everywhere. This is definitely one of the top Things about Israel You Should Know.

So what exactly is Matkot? Matkot is a popular Padel ball game in Israel, akin to beach tennis, and is sometimes referred to as the national beach sport by Israelis. Matkot has been played on Mandatory Palestine's beaches since the 1920s. Early depictions of the game include an Israeli artist Nahum Gutman's 1932 Tel Aviv beach scene depicting two young guys with rounded paddles and hitting a ball back and forth on the beach. Israelis play it vigorously and with a distinct approach. Some people dislike or are irritated by the frequent sounds of the balls and rackets.