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Padel equipment is competitively priced. Entry-level rackets start at around £40–£60, with balls costing £5–£8 per can.

Beginner sessions are widely available, often run in small groups focusing on technique, rules, and court awareness.

The ball must bounce behind the service line before being struck underarm into the opposite diagonal box.

Matches are usually best of 3 sets. The team that wins 2 sets first wins the match.

Yes, a legal serve may bounce and hit the back glass. If it hits the cage after bouncing, it’s a fault.

A padel court is 20 metres long by 10 metres wide, enclosed with glass and mesh fencing.

Yes, the ball must bounce before you hit your serve — no direct-hit serves are allowed.

A point begins with a serve — underarm and diagonal into the opponent’s service box.

Yes, coaches can list their services, availability, and credentials on the TrustPadel platform to connect with students across the UK.

Most venues show live or upcoming availability online via their website or booking platforms.

Courts can be either indoor or outdoor. In the UK, both types are common depending on the club.

Points are scored just like in tennis: 15, 30, 40, and game. You must win by two clear points.

TrustPadel partners with clubs to promote and help organise leagues, tournaments, and social events for players of all levels.

Yes, core features such as club search, directory access, and beginner resources are free. Some premium services may be available for clubs or event organisers.

Yes, many padel clubs run WhatsApp groups to connect players, share updates, and organise friendly games.

Most beginners use a round-shaped racket, which offers control and ease of use. As players progress, they may choose diamond or teardrop shapes for more power.

LTA Padel ratings are a numeric system (1.0–7.0) reflecting your competitive level, used to ensure fair match play and track progress.

At this time, result logging is not available on TrustPadel.

Register for an LTA Advantage account and play in rated events or leagues — your performance will determine your initial rating.

Each venue has its own policy, but most allow free cancellations up to 24 hours before play.

In the UK, competitions include LTA-sanctioned tournaments, local club leagues, regional events, and national championships.

Yes, most clubs have on-site or partner shops offering rackets, balls, and padel-specific apparel.

A 'live' ball is still in play; a 'dead' ball has either bounced twice, gone out, or violated a rule and ends the point.

Padel is relatively affordable compared to other sports, especially since costs are shared between four players.

Not always. Many clubs offer pay-and-play options for non-members.

The final winner is the team that wins 2 out of 3 sets in standard match formats.

TrustPadel offers beginner guides, FAQs, video tutorials, and easy-to-use tools to get players started and find games that match their level.

Yes, an LTA Advantage account is required for anyone looking to compete in rated events or track their official progress.

A tiebreak is played when the set reaches 6–6. The winner is the first to 7 points with a 2-point margin.

A 'let' serve is one that touches the net but lands correctly in the service box — the server re-serves the point.

No, you can’t intentionally block a shot with the wall. The walls are passive — rebounds are allowed, but not for blocking.

You can find courts using websites like the LTA Padel Finder, Playtomic app, or your local club’s site.

A ball is out if it hits the cage or wall without first bouncing in the court, or if it bounces twice before a return.

Yes, Playtomic is widely used in the UK to find, book, and join padel games at affiliated clubs.

Players serve alternately every two points during a tiebreak. The first to 7 with a 2-point lead wins.

As of 2024, there are estimated to be over 150,000 active padel players in the UK.

Social mix-ins are organised group play sessions where players are rotated to mix experience and meet others.

Yes, after the ball bounces, you can let it hit your own glass wall before playing your return.

Yes, social games and drop-in sessions are ideal for casual players and newcomers.

Enrique Corcuera from Mexico is credited with inventing padel in 1969.

Ratings are calculated based on match results in official competitions, taking into account the level of your opponents.

Ratings range from 1.0 (beginner) to 7.0 (elite). Most recreational players are rated between 2.0 and 4.5.

Yes, most clubs are now cashless and use online systems for bookings and payments.

You can self-rate initially when joining a league, but your rating becomes official after verified match results are recorded.

Yes, many venues allow non-members to book courts, though availability may be limited.

Yes, TrustPadel features one of the most up-to-date directories of padel venues across the UK, including both public and private clubs.

Yes, beginners can start immediately with basic guidance. It’s very accessible and easy to learn the fundamentals.

Clubs use ratings to organise fair matches, seed tournaments, and place players in the correct box leagues or divisions.

Join leagues, take group coaching, and use club memberships or apps to reduce costs with bundled pricing or offers.

Yes, as long as the ball has only bounced once, you can return it from outside the court after retrieving it through the door.

Yes, padel is increasingly being introduced in school sports programs as part of its development strategy across the UK.

Padel is played with four players — two per team. Singles is uncommon and requires a smaller court.

Yes, many venues offer concessions or discounted pricing for juniors, students, and senior players.

The ball can legally hit the walls after it has bounced on the ground. You may also play shots off your own glass to reach the other side.

Yes, TrustPadel integrates with the LTA padel rating system and supports tracking your progress through linked matches and events.

Yes, many clubs run junior classes tailored to age and skill level to introduce children to padel.

Yes, padel is suitable for all ages and is easy to pick up, making it ideal for families and beginners.

Padel uses pressurised balls that are similar to tennis balls but with slightly less bounce, tailored for the smaller court and wall interaction.

Yes, junior coaching is available at most active padel venues and follows age-based progression.

Yes, group coaching is common and typically more affordable than private lessons.

Padel-specific shoes with a herringbone sole are best, providing grip for the sand-covered artificial turf found on padel courts.

You can view your rating by logging into your LTA Advantage account and checking your player profile.

Playtomic is a popular padel app used in the UK and globally to book courts, join matches, track stats, and manage club access.

If the ball hits the cage before bouncing on the court, it's out and the point is lost.

Yes, apps like Playtomic and club systems often include tools to find players at similar levels or post open games.

The UK has more than 1,000 padel courts, with dozens more under development each year.

At 40–40, it’s called deuce. To win the game, a team must win two consecutive points: advantage, then game.

No, tennis balls bounce too high and are not suitable for the pace and style of padel.

Yes, clubs frequently host tournaments ranging from social fun formats to competitive events.

A set consists of a minimum of 6 games, and must be won by at least 2 games (e.g., 6–4).

Basic fitness helps, but padel is not overly demanding and is often played for fun and social engagement.

Only one bounce is allowed before returning the ball. A second bounce ends the point in favor of your opponent.

Some clubs and shops offer demo rackets so you can test before purchasing — check with your local venue.

TrustPadel is a UK-based platform dedicated to promoting padel through club listings, verified directories, events, player matching, and educational content.

The underarm serve must be executed after the ball bounces once, and the ball must be struck below waist height.

Padel is growing rapidly due to its social, accessible, and fun nature. It requires minimal learning time and suits all ages.

Yes, players can exit the court through the side doors to chase and return a ball that has bounced and exited.

You can book courts, join games, and receive notifications about availability using padel-specific apps like Playtomic.

The Golden Point rule is an alternative to standard deuce. At 40–40, a single point decides the game. The receiving team chooses who receives the serve.

Sets end when one team reaches 6 games with at least a 2-game lead or wins the tiebreak at 6–6.

Padel is played in doubles, uses walls as part of play, and involves underarm serves, unlike tennis which is often singles and has no wall interaction.

Most clubs welcome players from age 6 and up, with no upper age limit — padel is suitable for all generations.

Yes, only competitive match results (not social play) influence your rating within the LTA system.

Most padel sets use a tiebreak if the score reaches 6–6, particularly in competitive play.

Some apps and club platforms let you track match history, personal performance, and progress over time.

Balls typically need replacing every few sessions depending on frequency of play and surface wear.

No, padel rackets are solid (no strings) and perforated to reduce air resistance.

Wear light, breathable sportswear and supportive footwear. Standard tennis or gym clothing works well.

Padel originated in Mexico in 1969, when Enrique Corcuera adapted his squash court to create the sport.

Padel is played with solid rackets and walls are part of the game, while pickleball uses a perforated plastic ball and is played on a flat court with no walls.

No, serves must be underarm and struck below waist height after the ball bounces once.

Yes, volleys are allowed in padel — you can strike the ball out of the air except on the serve.

TrustPadel offers one of the UK's most comprehensive padel directories, featuring verified clubs, public and private courts, coaching services, events, and player matchmaking tools. The directory is updated regularly to ensure accuracy and is designed to help players of all levels find the best places to play across the UK.

Padel is primarily played in doubles format; singles is possible but rare and requires a smaller court.

This varies by club, but many allow bookings 7–21 days in advance.

There is active lobbying by the FIP and national federations to include padel in future Olympic Games.

Yes, apps like Playtomic and others offer matchmaking features based on your rating, location, and preferred times.

Yes, many clubs use digital management systems for court bookings, memberships, payments, and scheduling coaching sessions.

If your booking is outdoors and weather-dependent, many clubs offer rebooking or cancellation credits.

If the serve hits the net and lands legally in the service box, it’s a 'let' and is replayed with no penalty.

A few high-end clubs may offer court cameras for performance review or streaming matches, but it’s not standard.

TrustPadel helps players by offering a complete guide to UK clubs, booking tools, rating insights, coaching resources, and ways to connect with partners of similar ability.

Padel is a racket sport that combines elements of tennis and squash, played in doubles on an enclosed court about one-third the size of a tennis court.

Most players can enjoy padel after just one session, though mastering the use of walls and tactics takes more time.

Costs vary, but a typical court rental is around £20–£40 per hour (split between four players).

A serve is a fault if it lands outside the box, hits the cage after bouncing, or is struck above the waist.

Yes, ratings update automatically based on performance, so they can rise or fall depending on match outcomes.

Yes, many padel venues offer racket hire for a small fee, ideal for beginners or casual players.

TrustPadel is mobile-optimised and will launch a dedicated app in future phases to enhance booking, tracking, and social features.