Padel tennis is a brilliantly fast-paced racket sport that is highly social, accessible, easy to learn and affordable, now considered the fastest growing sport in the UK and globally!
Here in the UK, we’re experiencing our own padel tennis revolution with around 90,000 people playing annually and UK padel courts and clubs popping up at an incredibly fast rate around the country.
We love to see this growth and excitement reaching more players!
In this article, we will look at why padel is gaining such immense popularity globally and quickly becoming the fastest growing sport in the UK.
Why Padel is So Popular
Padel is Highly Social
The social aspect of padel plays a big part in the appeal of the sport, and it is perfect for adults and kids alike, making it great for friends and families!
The fact it’s played in doubles on smaller courts increases the sociability of the game, communication is constant and just increases the fun to be had.
Padel is Particularly Accessible
Padel is open to everyone and can be played by people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds.
You only need basic equipment to play – namely a padel racket, court shoes and padel balls. Oh, and a teammate too!
The game is easy to learn for beginners, offering an exciting mix of tennis and squash in an enclosed court.
A padel court is a smaller court than a tennis court, meaning less physical exertion is required when playing shots and covering the court.
Padel is also less about power and technique, especially when you start.
All serves are underarm, the ball is less pressurised, and the racket is smaller, making it easier to control shots overall. You’ll get the hang of it in no time!
It’s Great Exercise
Padel offers thrilling fast-paced gameplay that is often unpredictable and requires constant movement so it’s such an easy game to burn calories and get your sweat on.
You can burn up to 1000 calories per hour playing padel.
How Many Padel Courts Are There in the UK?
Since the LTA became the national governing body, the number of UK padel courts and clubs in Britain has grown substantially!
Today, there are over 300 padel courts nationwide with hopes for 400 by 2024. We hope you are as excited as we are!
While it’s great to see the number of courts growing rapidly throughout the UK, it’s unfortunately still not keeping up with the demand.
With this massive surge of players and clubs, bookings can sometimes be hard to secure.
Lots of courts can be found in existing tennis clubs but are limited to club members only. Having more padel courts open to the public is key to really making this sport accessible to all and thankfully, we are seeing more of these opening up each year!
Dreaming of having your own padel court at home? Our padel court guide covers everything from dimensions to construction tips!
Padel: Why Investors are Focused on the Fastest Growing Sport in the UK
You can get more courts in any space with padel, which provides a greater return on investment. Moreover, investors have seen how the sport has boomed in other parts of Europe and the trajectory here looks the same, which is fantastic to see!
With the number of players and interest levels being where they are in the UK and with demand currently outweighing availability, the industry is on the cusp of getting much larger which makes it a very attractive investment opportunity!
There is also a lot of investment potential in the technological aspect of padel with apps and platforms becoming commonplace in the industry.
Many famous athletes have put their money behind the sport including David Beckham, Andy Murray, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and many others! Corporate powerhouses and established brands like Adidas and Wilson are also backing the sport’s future.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fastest growing sport in the UK?
Padel tennis is the UK’s fastest growing sport, with 90,000 players, a number that is growing daily!
What is the fastest growing sport in Europe?
Throughout Europe, padel is considered the fastest growing sport with an estimated 66,908 padel courts projected by 2025. Padel is enjoyed globally by over 25 million players across 110 countries.
What factors will fuel padel’s growth?
Here in the UK, we need a significant increase in investment in courts to improve access to padel courts across the country. Investment in grassroots-level development will also be important to create British padel stars for the future.
Padel: The Fastest Growing Sport in the UK
Now you should have a good understanding of why padel has gained such immense popularity in the past few years and hopefully you feel inspired to give the sport a go if you haven’t already!
With its fast-paced gameplay that is still accessible to newcomers, it’s easy to see why padel is becoming the fastest growing sport in the UK and globally.
- Understanding the Cost of Building a Padel Court UK - March 17, 2025
- A Guide to Floating Padel Tennis Courts - November 5, 2024
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