How to start playing padel in the UK

What padel actually is

Padel is a racket sport played on a court roughly a third the size of a tennis court, enclosed by glass walls and metallic mesh. It is always played as doubles — two against two. The rules are similar to tennis (same scoring: 15, 30, 40, deuce), but the serve is underarm and the ball can be played off the walls, much like squash.

The racket is solid with no strings, shorter and lighter than a tennis racket. The ball looks like a tennis ball but has slightly less pressure, which keeps rallies going longer. The combination of a smaller court, a forgiving racket, and the wall play makes padel dramatically easier to pick up than tennis. Most people can hold a rally within their first twenty minutes.

Why padel is easier than tennis

Three things make the difference. First, the underarm serve: no overhead motion, no shoulder strain, and far fewer double faults. Second, the enclosed court: balls that fly past you bounce off the back wall and come back into play, which means points last longer and you spend less time chasing stray balls. Third, the court size: a padel court is 20 metres by 10 metres, which means less sprinting and a game that rewards positioning over raw athleticism.

This is not to say padel lacks depth. At competitive level, the tactical complexity rivals tennis — wall play, the lob-and-volley game, and the bajada (a smash played off the glass) all take years to master. But the floor for enjoyment is much lower. You will have fun from game one.

What to wear

Standard sportswear. Shorts or leggings, a breathable top, and court shoes with a herringbone or clay-court tread pattern. Running shoes work for your first few sessions, but they lack the lateral support you need once you start moving properly. Dedicated padel shoes start around £50 and make a noticeable difference.

Indoor courts tend to be warmer; outdoor courts in the UK can be cold from October to April, so a light jacket is worth having for the warm-up. Most venues have changing rooms and showers.

What racket to buy (or not)

Do not buy a racket before your first session. Almost every venue in the UK offers racket hire for £3–5, and many beginner sessions include it for free. Play three or four times, get a feel for the sport, then invest.

When you are ready, look for a round-shaped racket — they have a larger sweet spot and are more forgiving on off-centre hits. A decent beginner racket costs £50–80. The Bullpadel Vertex and Head Flash are solid entry points. Avoid carbon-fibre power rackets until you have developed consistent technique.

How to find a court

The UK now has 528+ padel venues, from dedicated padel centres to tennis clubs and leisure centres with a court or two. Most venues use Playtomic for online booking, which means you can see live availability and book in seconds.

The quickest way to find a court is Play Today — our live availability tool that shows you which courts near you have slots open right now. You can also browse all 528 UK venues by city, postcode, or train station.

If you are in a major city, you will have multiple options. London has the most venues, but Manchester, Bristol, Birmingham, and Edinburgh all have strong coverage.

What to expect in your first session

Most venues run structured beginner sessions — typically 60 or 90 minutes, led by a coach, for £10–20 per person. These are the best way to start. You will learn the basic grip, the serve, forehand and backhand volleys, and how to play the ball off the back wall. By the end, you will be playing points.

If you prefer to jump straight into a game, book a court with three friends and figure it out together. The rules are intuitive: serve underarm into the diagonal box, let the ball bounce once before returning serve, and play the ball off the walls when it suits you. The only rule that catches people out is that the ball must bounce on the ground before it hits the glass on a serve — it cannot go directly onto the wall.

Expect to sweat. Padel is more physically demanding than it looks. A 60-minute session burns roughly 400–600 calories, depending on intensity. You will feel it in your legs and shoulders the next day.

How to find a coach

Group coaching is the most cost-effective way to improve: £15–25 per person for a 60–90 minute session. Private coaching runs £40–70 per hour. Most dedicated padel venues have in-house coaches and run weekly group sessions at different levels.

Browse venue pages on Padel Manual to see which ones offer coaching. Look for LTA-accredited coaches and venues that run regular beginner programmes rather than one-off sessions.

How much it costs

Court hire runs £40–60 per hour, split four ways — so £10–15 per person. Off-peak slots (weekday daytime) are 20–30% cheaper. Add in racket hire at £3–5 and your first session costs under £20. Starter equipment (racket, shoes, balls) costs £100–150 when you are ready to invest.

Finding people to play with

Padel requires four players, which can feel like a barrier at first. Most venues solve this with social sessions, mixers, and Americano tournaments — formats where you turn up as an individual and get paired with others. These are typically weekly, cost £10–15, and are the single best way to meet other players at your level.

There are also active padel communities on Facebook, WhatsApp, and Playtomic itself. Once you have played a few times, finding a regular group is straightforward. The sport is inherently social — people want to play.