What do Serena Williams, David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo all have in common? Well apart from being the GOATs in their sport, they all play padel tennis.

If you haven’t heard of it already you will soon, because padel tennis is quickly becoming one of the most popular sports in the UK. It has elevated the participation of racquet sports across the world and it’s making its mark on the health and fitness scene. As a fitness professional, it could make a difference to the growth and potential of your business.

What is padel tennis?

The origins of padel tennis date back to the 19th century, British passengers on cruise ships would play a similar game known as ‘platform tennis’. This became popular in parts of the United States and eventually paddles were used in place of tennis racquets. 

However, padel as we know today was invented in 1969 by husband and wife Enrique and Viviana Corcuera. Whilst looking for something to keep them occupied at their holiday home in Acapulco, Enrique built the first padel court with walls to prevent the ball from escaping. 

From here, padel tennis became a popular sport amongst his peers throughout Mexico. His friend Prince Alfonso de Hohenlohe-Langenburg was responsible for bringing the sport to Spain. Then the success of padel in Spain led Julio Menditeguy to take the sport to Argentina, where it also gained popularity quickly. 

Fast forward to modern day, and there are over 30 million padel tennis players worldwide. In the UK alone, 50,400 people reported to have played padel at least once in the last year. It’s an increasingly popular sport, and its dominance in the racquet sport world doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon. 

What does a padel tennis court look like?

A padel court is 20x10m with each half 10x10m. The court is made of either concrete, grass or carpet and is divided by a net similar to a tennis net. The court is then surrounded by perspex glass and wire mesh to allow the ball to bounce off the walls. There are gates on either side of the court that remain open throughout play so that players can continue the game if the ball goes out of court. 

Do you use a padel racquet?

A racquet is used in padel, but it isn’t the same as a tennis racquet. A padel racquet has a shorter handle and doesn’t have strings. It often has a foam core and perforated holes to reduce the weight of the racquet. This makes it easier to handle than a tennis racquet which can be quite heavy.  

A padel ball is also smaller than a traditional tennis ball, so it is quick to bounce off the walls and doesn’t travel as far.

What are the rules of padel tennis?

Padel combines elements of tennis and squash. The objective of the game is to score more points than the opposing team to win the match. Players hit the ball over the net, ensuring it bounces on the ground in the opponent’s half. After the first bounce, the ball can hit a wall before being returned by the opposition. 

A key difference between padel and tennis is the strategic use of walls in the game. Players can use the walls to their advantage, but the ball must hit the ground before it hits the wall on the opponent’s side. If the ball bounces on the floor twice, your opponent wins the point.  

An exciting aspect of padel is that the ball can even be played outside of the court. If it bounces off the wall and out of bounds, players can exit the court using one of the open gates and return the ball to play. 

Padel scoring system

Padel uses the same scoring system as tennis, it is divided into games, sets and matches. Points are awarded in each game as follows:

• 15 
• 30 
• 40
• Game 

If both teams reach 40 points, this is called ‘deuce’. They have to play an extra point known as an ‘advantage’ before winning the game. The first team to win six games wins the set. However, if the score reaches 5-6, the leading team must win another set in-order to be two sets clear. Matches are usually played for three of five sets, depending on the tournament. 

Why has padel tennis become so popular?

For such a young sport, padel’s popularity has skyrocketed in recent years. Although it has only recently gained traction in the UK, padel has been popular in countries like Mexico, Argentina and Spain for decades, second only to football in popularity.  

But what is it about padel that makes it so popular? 

Accessibility

Padel is one of the most accessible racquet sports because it has a low barrier for entry in terms of skill. Unlike tennis which demands a certain level of skill, padel is easier to pick up because the use of the walls makes it easier to play. Padel is less reliant on power compared to tennis and so it doesn’t require as much forearm strength, which can be a limiting factor. 

Team sport 

Padel is usually played in pairs with two teams, which makes it a social occasion as well as a fitness activity. Whereas most common fitness activities are solo, such as running and the gym, you need a minimum of two players to take part in padel. 

It has become more of a social occasion too. With several padel clubs popping up across the UK, they often have cafes and other community based areas connected, so that players can eat and drink together after playing. 

It’s fun! 

Most people exercise because they ‘have to’ in order to stay healthy. And although there are some that enjoy conventional modes of exercise such as the gym, many people are just ticking a box and getting the work done. On the other hand, padel has been designed to be fun. You’re working out whilst enjoying yourself which is what makes it so popular compared to other types of exercise. If someone finds exercise enjoyable they’re more likely to stick to it. 

Projected growth of padel in the UK in 2025 

The LTA have created a Padel strategy, aimed at increasing the number of padel tennis participants and courts across the UK. Between 2024 and 2026, they aim to increase the number of monthly players from 65,000 to 200,000. They also aim to increase the number of courts from 350 in 2024 to 1000 in 2026. As of January 2025, there are already over 500 courts across the UK, so they’re on track to reach their target. 

There has also been a rise in the commercial growth of padel tennis in the UK. Clubs are popping up across the country, with hot spots in London, Bristol and Manchester. Some of the most popular padel tennis clubs in the UK include: 

• Advantage Padel – Kingsley, Hampshire 
• Padel Box – South East London 
• Destination Padel – Handforth and Northwich, Cheshire 
• Rocket Padel – Bristol, Ilford and Battersea Park, London 
• Padel Club – Gloucester, Wilmslow and Trafford City, Manchester (COMING SOON) 
• Pure Padel – Alderley Edge, Cheshire and Manchester 

Projected growth of padel in the UAE in 2025 

Padel tennis isn’t just popular in the UK, there are currently more than 3200 courts across Asia, with 85% of the courts located in the Middle East. In Dubai alone there are over 250 courts, which isn’t surprising considering the health and wellness culture that has developed in the UAE. Of course, as with everything in Dubai, the courts are of the highest quality and offer some of the best facilities in the world. Some of the most popular facilities in Dubai include: 

• World Padel Academy – 43 courts and 6 venues across the UAE, Bahrain and the UK. 
• Matcha Club – An award winning padel club with pilates, yoga and a wellness cafe. 
• Padel X – A floating padel court located in the Jumeirah Lake Towers. 
• Tay Exotica Resort and Spa in The Palm – Single, exclusive court located away from the crowds in a five star hotel. 

Worldwide, business is booming. In 2023 the padel tennis club market was valued at $1.775 billion and is estimated to triple to $4.015 billion by 2026.

Padel’s impact on the fitness industry

One of the most significant changes in the health and fitness sector is the rapid development of padel tennis courts, both standalone facilities and within leisure clubs such as David Lloyd. Having padel tennis courts has become a unique selling point for gyms and clubs, attracting clients to sign up to their facilities. 

As well as leisure facilities installing padel tennis courts, there has been an onslaught of stand-alone facilities opening across the country to cater to the sport’s growing popularity. 

Another area where padel tennis is making an impact is through community sport. The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) is the UK’s governing body for padel tennis in the UK. Its aim is to work with local councils to create more opportunities for padel to grow across the country. The LTA have already partnered with Manchester council to make sure that padel tennis fits in with the local plans around sport and health and facility investment. They are hoping to find ways to make padel tennis more accessible and sustainable, to reach as many people as possible. 

The development of padel tennis across the UK is making racquet sports more accessible for those from a variety of backgrounds. Where tennis has historically been associated with wealth and privilege, padel is bridging the gap and making racquet sports more inclusive. 

What does this mean for fitness professionals?

You might not immediately see how padel tennis affects you as a fitness professional, but you can certainly use it as an advantage to develop and expand your business in ways you might not have considered. 

A new way to develop your fitness community  

As a fitness professional, one of the best ways to build an authentic business is to create a community. Whether you own a fitness facility or you’re training to become a self-employed Personal Trainer, having a community of like-minded individuals who share a common interest will help uplift your business and encourage word of mouth referrals. 

Organising events of groups centred around padel tennis is a great way to bring your community together and also introduce them to a new form of exercise. Not only will this help them get closer to their own health and fitness goals, but it will also help you to develop a better relationship with clients. 

Encourage clients to exercise on their sessions 

One of the biggest challenges personal trainers face is encouraging their clients to exercise outside of their sessions. Although it depends on your target demographic, many people opt to work with a personal trainer because they don’t feel comfortable training on their own, or enjoy the social interaction that comes with it. 

Padel tennis could be a sport that you encourage your clients to take part in outside of your sessions. It’s a great form of cardiovascular exercise that can improve your client’s anaerobic and aerobic capacity, as well as build overall strength. They get to participate in a more fun form of exercise whilst still maintaining the social aspect.  

Exciting coaching opportunities 

If you already work as a coach in a racquet sport such as tennis, padel could create a new opportunity to develop your business. With its rise in popularity, it’s likely that some people will take the sport seriously and want to develop their skills using a coach. As a racquet sport coach, you are in the position to provide professional coaching. 

This rise in popularity could also be beneficial for strength and conditioning coaches. Padel is popular with both the general population and the elite, as the scope of people playing opens up, this provides a bigger pool of potential players looking to improve their performance using strength and conditioning. You don’t need to be an expert at padel to help others use the gym to elevate their performance, but an understanding of the sport is key. 

The rapid rise of Padel tennis presents an excellent opportunity for the fitness industry and fitness professionals alike. Its accessibility, social nature, and inherent enjoyment have positioned it as a sport with significant growth potential. 

For fitness professionals, this translates to new avenues for community building, client engagement, and specialised coaching. By embracing Padel tennis and understanding its unique appeal, fitness professionals can diversify their services, attract a broader clientele, and contribute to the ongoing evolution of the fitness landscape. 

As padel tennis continues to develop, it is poised to shape the future of exercise and redefine what it means to lead an active and healthy lifestyle.