What is padel?

Padel in one paragraph

Padel is a racket sport played in doubles on a 20 by 10 metre court enclosed by glass walls and metal mesh. The scoring is tennis scoring, the serve is underarm, the racket is short and solid with holes in it, and the ball is a slightly softer tennis ball. The walls are part of the game: after the ball bounces it can rebound off the glass and still be played, which makes rallies longer and easier to sustain than in tennis. It is the fastest-growing racket sport in the world and, over the last few years, in the UK.

The court

The court is a glass box. Back walls are 3 metres of glass with a metre of mesh on top, the sides are glass for the first 4 metres from each corner and mesh the rest of the way to the net, and the surface is a short artificial turf dressed with sand, normally blue, green or terracotta. Openings in the side fencing at the net let players on and, on some courts, let them chase a ball out.

Courts are built outdoors with floodlights, under a canopy, or fully indoors. Of the 425 courts listed on this site, about 56% are indoor or covered, and that share is rising because British weather is the biggest single reason bookings get cancelled. For the full specification and a labelled diagram, see padel court dimensions.

How a point works

1. Underarm serve. The server bounces the ball and hits it below waist height, diagonally into the service box. Two attempts, as in tennis.
2. The return must bounce. The receiver lets the serve bounce, then plays it. From this point on anyone can volley.
3. Walls come into play. The ball can bounce once on the floor, then hit your own glass or mesh, and you can still return it. Shots that hit the opponents' walls before their floor are out.
4. Take the net. Most points are won by the pair at the net volleying and smashing, and most rallies are a fight for that position: lob to push the net pair back, then move forward yourself.
5. Score like tennis. 15, 30, 40, game, six games a set, best of three. At deuce most competitions play a single "golden point" instead of advantage.

Full details are in padel rules explained.

Padel vs tennis and squash

Padel is often described as a mix of the two, and for once the cliché is accurate: tennis scoring and net play, squash walls and angles.

Tennis players adapt fastest at the net and slowest at the back, where their instinct to hit hard sends the ball off the glass and back to the opponents. Squash players read the walls immediately but have to learn to hit up over a net. Complete beginners with no racket background are often the quickest to pick up the lob-and-volley rhythm because they have nothing to unlearn.

Where padel came from

Padel in the UK

Britain came to padel late and is catching up fast. The first UK courts appeared in the 2000s at a handful of private clubs, but the real growth started around 2019 when the LTA took over governance and dedicated operators began building multi-court centres in retail parks, industrial units and on the sites of old sports halls. Tennis clubs followed, converting one tennis court into two padel courts, and the big leisure chains added padel to existing sites.

This directory currently lists 126 padel clubs across 4 UK cities with 425 courts between them, and new venues open most weeks. London has by far the most, followed by Manchester, Nottingham, Bristol.

The typical UK venue is a pay-and-play centre with two to eight courts, bookable by the hour through an app, with rackets to hire and a coaching programme built around group sessions and americano social tournaments. Members-only padel exists mostly at racket clubs and David Lloyd sites. Prices vary a lot by city and by time of day; see how much padel costs for the current numbers.

Why people get hooked

• Rallies from day one. The walls keep the ball in play, so beginners get the fun part of a racket sport, the rally, in their first hour rather than their first month.
• It is social by design. Four people, a small court, constant talking. Most clubs run americanos and mixers so you can turn up alone and leave with a group to play with.
• Mixed ability works. A strong player and a beginner can share a court and both enjoy it, which is rarely true in tennis or squash.
• Easy on the body. Underarm serving, a light racket and a smaller court mean less strain on shoulders and knees than tennis, which is part of why the sport spans ages from juniors to seventies.
• Endless depth. The wall geometry, the fight for the net and the tactical lob give the game a ceiling far above where most players will ever reach.

How to try it

1. Find a pay-and-play court near you. Browse by city on the courts directory; every listing shows prices, indoor or outdoor, and whether rackets can be hired.
2. Book an hour off-peak. Weekday daytime is cheapest and quietest. Split the court fee four ways.
3. Hire rackets and buy a tube of balls. Wear trainers with grip; clay-court tennis shoes are ideal.
4. Or book a beginner session. Most centres run "intro to padel" group lessons with a coach and a racket included, which is the fastest way to learn the walls.

Once you are ready to hit the court, the next read is how to play padel.