Padel is a sport amassing in popularity and mainstream recognition. It is an enclosed battle between four players, two on a team each with a racket and split step. The general rules of the game follow squash and tennis, one bounce allowed between hits and each hit tries to get the opponent running into space. It’s an energetic and tactical game.
History of the sport
Padel became a sport in 1969 when a businessman Enrique Corcuera invented the sport. Cocuera wanted to build a tennis court at his home but did not have enough room so he opted for small, enclosed court with walls. He changed the rules of tennis and squash to create a new game which fit the layout of the court. The sport initially appealed to tennis players because it used the same scoring system with points counted as 15, 30, 40 and game. In 1974, Cocuera’s friend, Spanish prince Alfonso de Hohenlohe, built the first two padel courts in Spain at the Marbella Club, Spain now has over 20,000 courts making it the second most popular sport after football.
It’s easy for new payers to get started, a low learning curve as people start rallying within minutes, the accessibility of this sport is what draws many people to it. The professional side to the sport is developing just as quickly, the Premier Padel Circuit runs 26 tournaments across 18 countries in 2026. Organising company tournaments has democratised participation leading to corporate tournaments and the growth of amateur padel. Premier Padel has been structured with the aim of maximising paid professionalism not only in management but in media impact and prize purse.
Therefore, leading brands such as Adidas, Nox and Head create products for non-professional players. Today, Reebok has partnered with GLDN PNT and is making exclusive apparel for men and women. By partnering with a brand deeply rooted in the sport, this moves with its changing identity as a lifestyle sport.
Rafael Nadal, 22 Grand Slam Single tennis champion, has invested in the padel/tennis court booking app, Playtomic, the app uses algorithms to improve the accessibility of the game by matching players with similar abilities. The fastest growing racket sport built on community, the padel-specific apps Padel Mates and Matchi also allow you to link and find a court.
A business idea
This sport has one word scribbled over. Innovation. Technical clothing and equipment with new products in materials, technology and design are changing the amateur circuit, professionalising it and new sponsors are taking it to new heights in visibility. A
Padel has become more than the UK’s fastest growing sport, it’s an intelligent, low-risk investment with high returns. Padel is helping councils, universities and leisure centres unlock the full value of underused land. PDL Padel United is the UK’s fastest-growing name in community-first padel development and has made it commercially aware that with 500 sqm or more you could generate consistent revenue and community value through Padel. Carbon footprint is also low, and local footfall means disused courts or parking areas can make it a new way to generate revenue and scale.
