Padel Tennis

Located At The Essex Club

Find your PLAY place this summer

Padel is an easy sport to master and is easily accessible for a broad range of ages, abilities and fitness levels. For The Club Company, this makes it a great addition to the Country Club offerings, suitable for adults and juniors.

As a member of Benton Hall you have access to the padel tennis facilities at The Essex. Two outdoor ‘starter courts’ have been installed to introduce this activity to the Club, with a view to installing permanent courts once we have gauged uptake and popularity.

About Padel Tennis

Padel tennis is a racket sport of Mexican origin, typically played in doubles on a 20x10 metres enclosed court.

It is a short-handled racket sport often described as a mixture between squash and tennis. Although Padel shares the same scoring system as tennis, the rules, strokes, and technique differ.

The balls used are similar but are low-bouncing balls with less pressure. The main differences are that the court has walls and the balls can be played off them, similar to a game of squash where solid, stringless bats are used. The other main difference to tennis is that the serve is underarm and therefore easier to master.

Book A Padel Tennis Court

Download the Playtomic app and book your session today.

We have partnered with Playtomic, the biggest padel booking app in Europe that offers an easy way to book and manage your padel tennis bookings at The Essex Club.

With the tap of a button, the app offers ease for all your padel tennis needs, you can even pay for sessions under one player or split the payment between 4, for members and non-members.

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Pricing

All members will benefit from an introductory 50% discount on court fees.

Non-members - £28 per hour
Members - £14 per hour
Split groups – member pays £3.50, non-member pays £7 (based on 4 players)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Padel Tennis?

Padel tennis is often described as a cross between tennis and squash. It is played using a solid racket with holes and balls with lower compression than those used for tennis. It is played in doubles on an enclosed court that is about a third the size of a tennis court.

What are the rules of padel?

Padel is scored similarly to tennis but with different rules. It involves underarm serves and basic forehand and backhand shots. The ball can also be played off the back wall. Learn more here: https://www.lta.org.uk/play/ways-to-play/padel/how-to-get-started-playing-padel/

Is padel hard to learn?

Padel is easier than other racket sports to master, with an underarm serve and basic forehand/backhand shots. After learning the basics, most people will be able to have a basic rally soon after. Harder shots involve hitting the ball off the glass/perspex at the back of the court, which may take a little longer to master.

What courts are being put in at my club?

To assess the popularity of padel at the Club we have installed two ‘starter’ courts. These do not require planning and can be constructed in a day. These courts offer a good playing experience and a great introduction to the sport.

Is padel open to members and non-members?

Yes. Both members and non-members will have access to the padel courts. Members will have the opportunity to bring friends and family along to play with them.

How much does it cost?

Members will benefit from an initial introductory 50% discount. Cost per court will be £28 per hour (£7 per player for a group of 4).

Is there a discount for members?

Yes – All members will be offered an introductory 50% discount on court fees. Members with full access will be able to access the member discount at any time. Those on restricted-hour memberships will be able to access the discount during their membership hours, but will still be able to book courts outside those hours at the standard rate.

How can courts be booked?

Members and non-members can book courts and make single or split payments for private and group bookings by downloading and creating an account on the Playtomic App. Members can access this via The Club Company App where membership information will pull through to the App for access to member only sessions and to apply the discount.

Will I be able to hire equipment?

Yes, we will have rackets and balls available for hire.

What do you wear for padel?

Players can wear any suitable sportswear and should use non-marking soled trainers.