How to create a successful padel facility

The first hurdle that a new visitor must overcome is booking a court. This must feel easy and secure.

1. You need a representative and user-friendly website. This is the store where your visitor enters and creates their first impression.
2.  If your target audience consists of visitors from different countries, you should be able to accommodate them in their own language.
3. Easy online booking – padel players expect to be able to find and then book available times using their phone. A mobile-adapted website with easy booking is a must.
4. A mobile app for booking can be good, but keep in mind that temporary visitors may be resistant to downloading, understanding, creating an account, and providing credit card information to make a booking with you.

The first impression is powerful. You can influence this by meeting your visitor’s practical needs and aesthetic expectations. You want to offer an environment that feels appealing and easy to navigate.

1. Access – When a player arrives at a padel court, they want to be able to park and find the right location easily.
2. Reception – If there is staff at the facility, they welcome and guide the visitor correctly. If the facility is unstaffed, the visitor must receive clear instructions before and during their visit. This means sending clear information in the booking confirmation and having good signage at the facility.
3. Environment – It is important to consider that a padel experience is greatly influenced by the environment in which it takes place. Everything being intact and clean is a minimum for a three-star experience.
4. For those who want to offer their visitors a four or five-star experience, it is about providing an aesthetically pleasing and comfortable environment without visible flaws. On an unstaffed facility, focusing on the environment can compensate for the service loss due to the lack of personal reception.
5. Service Facilities – Padel players expect access to restrooms, as well as the sale of water, balls, grips, and rental of padel rackets before their match.

The game experience on a padel court consists of the court’s quality and condition.

1. A good quality court has a consistent bounce across the entire surface with very few uneven areas where the ball bounces unpredictably.
2. The court should have an even layer of sand that is well-distributed. Areas with a lot of sand on the surface affect the ball’s bounce and increase the risk of slipping and injuries.
3. The nets should be intact and well-tensioned. A wider tape at the top of the net has no practical effect but contributes to a premium feel.
4. The court’s glass should be well-polished, and the court should be free of debris.
5. The courts should not have any defects in fittings, fences, net installations, or anything else that could increase the risk of injuries during play.
6. The courts should be well-marked with numbers and any rules for its use. Information about booking and other services should also be available on each court.
7. A protection net that reduces the number of balls hit out of the court should be installed at the short side of the court but also on the long side if necessary. Especially if there is a risk of lost balls. This reduces interruptions in play on both your own and adjacent courts.
8. Outside the court’s entrance, there should be access to four seats. A bonus is if there is also access to shade and a table.
9. The better the visual condition of a court, the better the game experience. Try to eliminate all visible damage such as rust stains, uneven fences, net repairs, loose cables, and other things that can disturb the eye.

Padel is a social sport, and many padel players place great value on what happens off the court.

Creating an environment and atmosphere that contributes to a great after-padel experience enhances the sense of community and contributes to the overall experience.

1. A nice bar and restaurant with a view of the courts is a dream for any thirsty and social padel player.
2. In the absence of a bar and restaurant, there should instead be another nice gathering place with tables, chairs, and access to shade. The more appealing this environment is, the more special your visitors will feel.