Padel in Plain English

What is Padel?

Think of it as tennis’s fun little cousin with some squash vibes thrown in.

• Court: About a third the size of a tennis court, surrounded by glass and metal fencing (yes, the walls are part of the game).
• Racket: No strings—just a solid paddle with holes in it. Feels lighter and more forgiving than a tennis racket.
• Ball: A low-compression tennis ball (slightly softer so it doesn’t fly everywhere).

It’s doubles only—two vs two—which makes it sociable from the start. You serve underarm, keep the ball in play, and yes, you’re encouraged to bounce shots off the glass like a trick shot wizard. If you’ve never played a racket sport before, don’t worry: padel is ridiculously beginner-friendly.

How Do You Play? (Quick and Clear)

Padel’s rules are simple enough to explain over a coffee:

• Underarm serve only: Below waist height, diagonally into the box.
• One bounce rule: Ball can bounce once per side. Two bounces = point done.
• Walls are fair game: Bounce on court, then wall? Perfectly fine. Wall first? Nope.
• Scoring is tennis-style: Love, 15, 30, 40, game. You play to 6 games per set, and most matches are best of 3 sets.
• Serve quirks: Serve hits the box then the cage? Fault. Hits the back wall? Play on.

Play a couple of games and it’ll feel second nature.

Why is Everyone Suddenly Playing?

Short answer: because it’s fun, social, and easy to get into. Longer answer:

• Courts are everywhere now: There are now over 1,000 courts across the UK at more than 300 venues—and that number’s climbing fast. In the Midlands, new clubs are popping up in Birmingham, Leicester, Nottingham, and beyond.
• It’s a social sport: You’re always with three other people—partners, banter, post-match coffees (or beers). It’s as much about hanging out as it is winning points.
• It’s for everyone: Kids, retirees, total beginners, ex-tennis players—you’ll find them all on court.

Participation has exploded: from roughly 15,000 players in 2019 to over 400,000 in 2024. With more courts opening every month, it’s only going up from here.

Why Beginners Love It

Here’s why first-timers tend to walk off court grinning:

• Fun from day one: No weeks of lessons needed. Your first rally might be scrappy, but it’ll still feel good.
• Walls save you: In tennis, a shanked shot is gone. In padel, it bounces back off the glass and you’re still in.
• Small court, less running: You don’t need to be super fit. It’s active without being exhausting.
• Team game feel: It’s doubles-only, so you’re never alone out there. Win together, miss together.
• Low barrier to entry: No pricey gear needed. Book a court, borrow a bat, and go.

Why the Midlands is Getting Hooked

Clubs are opening everywhere—from big names like Stratford Padel Club to smaller community spots tucked into local tennis clubs. More courts = more players = more buzz. Some operators are even planning 30+ new venues in the next five years, many in our backyard.

If you’ve been curious but nervous, this is your sign: grab a friend (or don’t—clubs will happily pair you up) and book a taster session. You’ll be hooked after your first glass-wall shot.

Where to Play in the Midlands

Not sure where to start? Check out our Where to Play guide—a handpicked list of Midlands clubs with direct booking links, vibe tags (beginner-friendly, social, competitive), and local tips.

Bottom Line

Padel’s booming because it’s easy, social, and addictive in the best way. You don’t need to be sporty. You don’t need to know the rules off by heart. You just need to show up once.

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