Why is padel so popular in the UK?
• 4 MINUTE READ
Padel is a racket sport that’s fun, easy to learn and extremely sociable. Played on an enclosed court about a third the size of a tennis court, it encourages groups of mixed ages and abilities to come together and play.
Fast-paced, accessible and social – it’s easy to see why padel is widely renowned as one of the fastest growing sports in the world.
Here in Britain, we’re experiencing our own padel boom, with over 230,000 people playing on an annual basis. Since we’ve been appointed as the national governing body for padel, the number of courts in the Britain has also been on the rise, having hit 760 courts across the country at the end of 2024.
As the padel revolution takes hold in Britain, we look at a few of the reasons why the world’s fastest growing sport, could become your new favourite.
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Padel is… open to everyone
Simply put, anyone can play padel – it doesn’t matter your age, ability or background, everyone is welcome on court.
Padel is easy to pick up for beginners and even if you’ve never played before, you’ll find yourself rallying with friends and family in no time with our unique padel tips for beginners.
Compared to other sports, padel is less about technique and power when you first start playing, so everyone is at more of a level playing field right from the off. Serves are underarm, balls have a slightly lower compression and the racket is closer to your hand, making it easier to control your shots.
Padel is… a great workout
Fast, thrilling and unpredictable – padel is a great way to get your sweat on, while having fun with friends and family.
Padel is all about movement, whether you’re darting across the court to hit a tough shot or getting back into position with your partner, and it’s a brilliant, low impact sport to help you stay fit and healthy.
In fact, earlier this year, GQ magazine tipped padel to become one of the biggest emerging fitness trends in sport.
Watch our Padel Made Easy tutorials
Padel is… a social game
Only played as doubles, padel is one of the most social sports for friends and families to play.
Just grab a mate, or find some other padel players at your local courts, pick up a racket and start playing your new favourite sport – what’s not to love!?
Padel is… ready to compete
If you’re looking for a more competitive edge, there’s a whole host of LTA padel competitions taking place every year around Great Britain, with plans for even more in the future.
This year there were over 100 competitions in Britain with more than 3000 players competing and we’re only just getting started.
World class, professional padel events are also now heading to British shores, with the first-ever FIP event – the London Padel Open – taking place at the National Tennis Centre and plans for another three international tournaments in 2023.
Read more about padel competitions
Padel is… growing British stars
While it’s a great sport for beginners, professional padel is one of the best sports in the world to watch live. Non-stop action, unbelievable skill and shots that will blow your mind – if you’ve never watched the pro game, then now is your time to start.
We’ve seen several of the top British players making waves of the world stage this year. British No.1 Aimee Gibson made history in January by becoming the first female British padel player to break into the FIP rankings top 100. The 33-year-old has also claimed two FIP Silver titles this year alongside fellow British star Catherine Rose.
Meanwhile, Christian Medina Murphy reached the quarter-finals of the Premier Padel event in Cancun - marking the furthest any British player has gone in a Premier Padel tournament.
Check out our British padel player profiles
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Find out more about how you can get started playing padel, how to find your local courts and what kit you need.
