You’ve probably heard the noise (literally!). Maybe a friend came back from a weekend break in Spain raving about it. Perhaps you’ve spotted new glass-walled courts popping up at your local tennis club. Or you’ve simply noticed ‘padel’ appearing everywhere on social media and wondered what all the fuss is about.
Here’s the short version: padel is arguably the most accessible, sociable and fun sport to pick up as an adult and the UK has gone absolutely mad for it. Whether you’re 42 or 62, a complete non-sporty type or someone returning to activity after years on the sidelines, this article will tell you everything you need to know.
We’re The Longer Game – a platform built for people in their 40s, 50s and 60s who are rediscovering sport, adventure and active living on their own terms. Padel is one of our favourite topics and this guide is the one we wish had existed when we started playing.
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What you’ll find in this guide:
What padel actually is (and how it differs from tennis) | The basic rules | How to find courts near you
What kit you’ll need | Why it’s brilliant for the over-40s | FAQs
What is Padel?
Padel (pronounced PAH-del, not PAY-del, though no one here will judge you…..) is a racket sport that was invented in Mexico in 1969 by Enrique Corcuera. It has grown to become one of the fastest-growing sports in the world, with over 25 million players across more than 90 countries.
The short definition: padel is mainly a doubles racket sport played on an enclosed court roughly a third of the size of a tennis court. There are some singles courts dotted around too if you fancied going solo or for a more intense workout! The court is surrounded by glass and metal mesh walls, which are very much in play, meaning the ball can bounce off them, just like in squash. Unlike tennis, you use a solid, stringless paddle (or racket)and the ball bounces once off the ground before you can use the walls.
That wall element is what makes padel SO addictive. Shots you’d consider completely lost in tennis can suddenly be retrieved from the back wall, creating long, spectacular rallies that even complete beginners can enjoy within their first session.
| PADEL | TENNIS | |
|---|---|---|
| Court size | 10m x 20m (enclosed) | 23.77m x 10.97m (open) |
| Racket | Solid paddle, no strings | Strung racket |
| Walls | In play (glass & mesh) | Out of bounds |
| Always played | Doubles (4 players) | Singles or doubles |
| Scoring | Same as tennis | Same scoring system |
| Serving | Underarm only | Overhead serve |
| Learning curve | Beginner-friendly | Steeper to start |
| Typical session | 60–90 minutes | 60–120 minutes |
Padel Rules for Beginners: Everything You Need to Know
One of padel’s greatest gifts is that the rules are really really simple. If you’ve played any racket sport before, you’ll pick them up within the first 15 minutes on court. If you haven’t, don’t worry, you’ll still be holding your own in your first session.
The Basics
- Padel is mainly played as doubles – four players, two per team
- The court is 10 metres wide and 20 metres long, enclosed by glass and metal mesh walls
- The ball is similar to a tennis ball, but slightly softer with less internal pressure
- Scoring is identical to tennis: 15, 30, 40, deuce, advantage, game, set, match.
- Matches are typically the best of three sets
- Don’t be surprised if you see your local club with the odd singles court available.
Serving
This is where padel differs significantly from tennis and it’s one of the reasons beginners find it so accessible:
- The serve must be underarm – no overhead serves
- The server stands behind the service line and bounces the ball, striking it at or below hip height
- The ball must land in the diagonally opposite service box (same as tennis)
- You get two attempts at the serve – just like tennis
- The receiver must let the ball bounce before returning it
The Walls: The Fun Part
This is what makes padel ‘padel’. The walls are in play after the ball has bounced once on the floor on your side. Here’s how it works:
- After the ball bounces on your side of the court, it can hit the back wall or side walls and still be in play.
- You can let the ball come off the wall and play it before it hits the floor a second time.
- You can even hit the ball into the back wall of your own half, but then it has to land on the other side of the net to stay in play.
When the Ball is Out
- If the ball hits the wire mesh at the top of the walls before bouncing on the floor, it is out.
- If the ball goes over the walls and out of the court without bouncing, it is out.
- If the ball bounces twice on your side before you return it, you lose the point.
Using the Walls/Mesh
- Serving – a ball hitting the mesh is legal if it first bounces on the ground, if it hits the mesh without bouncing it is out.
- Direct hit – if the ball hits the mesh directly (without bouncing on the ground first) it is out.
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Don’t overthink the walls. In your first session, just focus on getting the ball back over the net. The wall play will start to feel natural surprisingly quickly and when you pull off your first back-wall retrieval, that will be it – you’ll be hooked for life!
Finding Padel Courts in the UK
The UK padel boom is real. In 2022, there were fewer than 300 padel courts in the entire country. By early 2026, that figure has grown dramatically, with new venues opening monthly across England, Scotland and Wales.
Courts can be found at:
- Dedicated padel clubs and centres (often standalone or part of multi-sport venues)
- Tennis clubs – many LTA-affiliated clubs are added padel courts
- Leisure centres and local authority sports facilities
- Health clubs and gym chains
- Holiday parks and hotels
How to Find Padel Near You
The easiest way to find courts is via the LTA’s court finder tool, Padel England club finder, Padel Mates or Matchi. These databases are updated regularly and list both indoor and outdoor facilities. Most courts are bookable via apps like PlayByPoint or Playtomic, download one before you go to make booking seamless.
What to Expect at a Padel Court
Most padel facilities offer:
- Court hire by the hour (typically £10–£30 per person, per 90 minutes per court). Court prices will vary depending on whether it’s a pay and play club or a municipal/council run club and whether it’s in or outdoors.
- Racket and ball hire/loan if you don’t yet own kit
- Beginner and improver coaching sessions
- Social padel sessions where you can just rock up and play
- Group leagues and tournaments (once you’re ready)
What Kit Do You Need to Play Padel?
One of the most appealing things about padel is that the kit investment is relatively modest, and you certainly don’t need to buy everything at once. Here’s a practical breakdown.
Padel Rackets
Your racket is your most important piece of equipment. Unlike tennis rackets, padel rackets are solid – made from a foam core wrapped in fibreglass, carbon fibre, or a combination of both. They have no strings and are perforated with holes to reduce air resistance.
For beginners, the key things to look for are:
- Round-shaped head – more forgiving sweet spot, easier for beginners than diamond or teardrop shapes
- Soft foam core – better control and feel at slower speeds
- Weight of 360–375g – easier to manoeuvre while you develop your technique
- Mid-range price point (£60–£120) no need to spend big until you know you love it – but we really think you will!
See our full guide to the best padel rackets for beginners in the UK
Padel Shoes
This is genuinely important – please don’t play padel in running shoes or fashion trainers. The court surface (almost always artificial grass or porous concrete) requires shoes with the right grip pattern and lateral support.
Padel shoes (and tennis shoes with herringbone (for a clay court) or omni grip soles) are designed for the side-to-side movement that’s central to the game. Running shoes are built for forward motion and can lead to ankle rolls on a padel court.
Expect to pay £60–£120 for a good pair of padel shoes. Major brands including Babolat, Bullpadel, Head and Asics all produce padel-specific footwear.
[INTERNAL LINK: See our guide to the best padel shoes for beginners in the UK – article to be supplied
Padel Balls
Padel balls look similar to tennis balls but are slightly smaller and have lower internal pressure. They come in pressurised cans (just like tennis balls) and typically have a shorter lifespan.
For beginners, any standard padel ball will do – Bullpadel, Head, Wilson and Adidas all produce well-regarded options available from most sports retailers’ examples and Amazon. Expect to pay £5 – 10 for a tube of three.
[INTERNAL LINK: See our guide to padel balls – what to buy and when to replace them]
Other Kit to Consider
- Padel bag or racket sleeve – to protect your padel between sessions
- Grip tape – to replace the handle grip as it wears (sold in multipacks for a few pounds)
- Wristband and headband – entirely optional – but you’ll look the part!
- Water bottle – padel is more physically demanding than it looks
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Starter Kit – You can be fully kitted out for under £200: a beginner racket (£80), padel shoes (£80), and a tube of balls (£6).
Most clubs also offer racket hire/loan for your first few sessions while you decide if you want to invest.
Why Padel is Perfect for the Over-40s
This is where we get genuinely evangelical. The Longer Game is built around the belief that the best chapters of active life don’t have to end at 39 and padel might be the best single piece of evidence for that argument.
Lower impact, higher enjoyment
Padel is a low-to-medium impact sport. The enclosed court means far less running than tennis – positioning and anticipation matter more than pure speed or fitness. The underarm serve eliminates the shoulder strain that many returnees to tennis find prohibitive; the smaller court means you’re rarely asked to sprint more than a few metres.
The social factor
Padel is mainly four people on the court. That also means every single session is inherently social. You’ll find that padel clubs have a noticeably warm, inclusive atmosphere – partly because everyone remembers being a beginner, partly because the format naturally creates conversation, laughter and post-match drinks.
For anyone in midlife navigating the shrinkage of social circles that often comes with career pressure, parenting commitments or simply time, padel offers a ready-made community.
Fast to learn, always room to improve
You will have a genuinely enjoyable session on your very first visit. That’s not true for many sports. The learning curve in padel is shallow enough that absolute beginners can rally within minutes, yet the skill ceiling is high enough that even experienced players are always finding new dimensions to their game.
Mixed-gender by default
Padel is one of the few sports where mixed doubles is genuinely the norm rather than an afterthought. Mixed social sessions are standard at most clubs, making it an ideal sport for couples, friends, or colleagues who want to play together regardless of perceived gender-based skill gaps.
How to Get Started: Your First Steps
Ready to give it a go? Here’s the simplest possible route from curious to committed:
- Step 1: Find your nearest courts via the LTA court finder, Padel England club finder, Padel Mates or Matchi.
- Step 2: Book a beginner’s taster session or social session – most clubs run these specifically for newcomers
- Step 3: Hire a racket and wear comfortable trainers (proper padel shoes come later)
- Step 4: Don’t worry about technique – just try to get the ball back and enjoy it
- Step 5: Book a follow-up session. We know you’ll want to!
If you’d prefer a more structured introduction, many clubs offer group beginner coaching for £15–25 per person per session. The LTA also runs its own padel activation programmes called ‘Padel into Parks‘ which are designed specifically for new players.
Frequently Asked Questions About Padel in the UK
Q: What is padel and how do you play it?
Padel is a doubles racket sport played on an enclosed court surrounded by glass and metal mesh walls. It combines elements of tennis and squash — you use a solid paddle (no strings), the ball can bounce off the walls, and you score exactly like tennis. It’s mainly played as doubles (four players) and is known for being beginner-friendly, highly social and great fun from your very first session.
Q: Is padel easy to learn as a beginner?
Yes – padel is widely considered one of the easiest racket sports to pick up as an adult beginner. The underarm serve, smaller court and the fact that you can use the walls to retrieve shots all lower the barriers significantly. Most beginners are having enjoyable rallies within their very first session, regardless of previous sporting experience.
Q: How many padel courts are there in the UK?
The UK padel scene has grown dramatically. As of 2026, there are hundreds of venues across the country with new courts being added regularly. The LTA’s court finder is the most up-to-date resource for locating facilities near you.
Q: What equipment do I need to play padel?
To play padel you need a padel racket (a solid perforated design), padel-specific shoes (with the right grip for the court surface) and padel balls. For your first session, most clubs offer equipment hire/loan. A beginner starter kit typically costs between £150 and £200 in total.
Q: How is padel different from tennis?
The main differences are: padel is mainly played as doubles; the court is smaller and fully enclosed with walls that are in play; you use a solid paddle rather than a strung racket; the serve is underarm only; and the ball can be played off the walls after bouncing. Despite these differences, the scoring system is identical to tennis.
Q: Is padel suitable for older adults or people new to sport?
Absolutely – that is why we’re here! Padel is particularly well-suited to adults in their 40s, 50s and 60s. The lower-impact nature of the game, the social format, the manageable court size and the relatively gentle learning curve all make it an ideal entry point for people returning to sport or trying something new in midlife.
Q: How do I find padel courts near me in the UK?
The easiest ways to find padel courts near you are via the LTA’s court finder, the Padel England club finder, Padel Mates, Matchi or by searching Playtomic, which allows you to find and book courts by location. Many tennis clubs and leisure centres also now have padel courts.
Q: How much does it cost to play padel in the UK?
Court hire in the UK typically costs between £10 and £30 per person per 90-minute game. Which is very comparable to a gym session. Beginner coaching sessions usually cost £15 to £25 per person. Some clubs offer membership packages if you plan to play regularly.
Ready to Play? The Longer Game is Here to Help
Padel is having its moment and it deserves it. We genuinely believe it’s one of the best sporting decisions any 40-something can make right now: affordable, accessible, wildly social, and something you’ll still be playing in your 70s if you start today.
At The Longer Game, we’re building the most useful, honest and experience-led content for UK adults getting into padel for the first time. That means:
- Equipment guides that don’t assume you have a limitless budget
- Court and club reviews from actual 40+ players – we love to hear from fellow players
- Community content from people who started exactly where you are
Explore our library, browse our recommended starter kit and most importantly – get yourself on a court. The best time to start was last year. The second-best time is right now.
The Longer Game Team