Padel Court Definition
A Padel Court is a type of sports Court used to play Padel. If you aren’t familiar with this sport, it’s a cross between tennis, racquetball, and squash. Today we’re going to look at everything you need to know about the requirements for a Padel Court, including its structure and installation.
A Padel Court is used to play Padel and is an outdoor Court that measures 20 meters by 10 meters. The center of the Court has a net across the middle. Walls surround the outside of the Court.
When setting up a paddle Court, there are many specific requirements that you’ll want to keep in mind. Keep reading to learn more about Padel Courts and these Courts’ materials and structure for this unique sport.
The history of Padel Court
Before we take a deeper look at the Padel Court, it’s interesting to learn a little bit more about the sport itself. The sport is relatively new and was invented in 1969 by Enrique Corcuera in Mexico.
In 2005, the Padel Pro Tour (PPT) was created, the first professional Padel championship. Top players now compete in the World Padel Tour, which originated in Spain and has traveled to Argentina and Dubai.
Where is Padel most commonly played?
Padel is most commonly played in countries including Mexico, UK, Italy, Spain, and Sweden. It is now starting to spread throughout Latin America and across Europe, with Padel Courts becoming more commonly found in these regions.
The sport has recently increased in popularity in the UK after many visitors noticed it on their vacation to southern Spain and Portugal. It led to the UK Padel Foundation’s launch in 2011 and more Padel Courts opening up throughout the country.
The UK is currently home to 88 Padel Courts spread over 46 locations. As you can see, they are still a pretty rare occurrence, but we expect to see the number of Courts continue to increase in upcoming years.
What are the requirements for a Padel Court?
As with any racquet sport, a Padel has its requirements when it comes to building a Padel Court. A Padel Court is 20 meters long by 10 meters wide and is an enclosed Court.
The Padel Court is marked out with two service lines, and there’s a centerline that crosses over the service line. You’ll also have an out-of-Court space surrounding the Court, which will need to be considered by anyone assessing if they have enough space to install a Padel Court.
As well as the ground dimensions, height is another consideration when building a Padel Court. There will need to be a minimum of 6 meters of clear height above the area of play, which can allow floodlights to be added to the structure. Today, many new Courts try to add 8 meters of clearance, which offers more flexibility for lighting designs.
Either side of the Court will need to have central access points. There shouldn’t be any obstacles surrounding the Court for safety reasons.
What material is the enclosure made?
All Padel Courts are enclosed due to the fast-paced nature of the game. The enclosure is created from Glass or concrete walls and uses fence panels that are supported by steel posts. These are placed into a concrete foundation, and the section is a permanent feature of the Padel Court.
The Padel Court’s back walls will need to be 10 meters across and then 3 meters high. Above the solid glass or concrete wall, you’ll also add a 1-meter high fence that’s made from wire mesh. Therefore, 4 meters of clearance is needed for this structure.
The sidewalls of the enclosure can also be made from solid wall material and wire meshing.
What type of glass is a Padel Court enclosure made?
You are probably wondering what type of glass can be used for a Padel Court enclosure, and that’s a general question. 10mm or 12mm toughened glass is usually adopted, as it’s a vital form of safety glass. Single piece size will be 1995*2900mm and 1995*2995mm, with Countersunk Holes in the edge.
In the rare case that the glass does shatter, it will break into small, blunt parts as opposed to sharp shards like regular glass. The glass and mesh panels are supported by steel panels or posts, which are then fixed into the ring beam.
Access points must be added throughout the Court on either one or both sides. There are specific regulations in place in different countries about this. You’ll also want to consider offering the space for a wheelchair to enter the Court with a broader access point.
What is the perimeter ring made?
The posts which support your framed panels are held in place with base plates. These are bolted into the ground via the perimeter reinforced concrete ring beam. They won’t stick out of the land and will be level to the sub-base construction.
A rectangular concrete ring beam is the best option, and they are generally kept to as small a size as possible. It helps to reduce the cost of the installation while still providing the support that’s needed. However, you don’t want to make them too small, as this increases the chance of failing in the future.
Suppose you live in an area that experiences inclement weather and heavy winds. In that case, you’ll want to take this into account when building a new Padel Court. It can influence the Court’s materials and construction, as you’ll want to ensure it is reinforced appropriately for potentially hazardous conditions.
Suppose you are installing a Padel Court in a public location for open use. In that case, you’ll want to ensure a structural engineer or someone with similar experience assesses your Court ahead of its construction. It will be backed up with their professional insurance.
What is the playing surface of a Padel Court made?
As with any sport, the playing surface is crucial for the success of the game. It can help give players the optimum Padel conditions and prevent injury from occurring during play.
You have a choice of surface options when constructing a Padel Court. Still, the surface will need to offer a good bounce for the ball and minimal water accumulation.
The surface material needs to be porous and could be concrete, cement, artificial grass, or a synthetic material. As far as the color of the surface, it must be terracotta, blue, or green to follow regulations in most countries.
The choice of materials helps to make Padel a more accessible sport. It is one of the reasons the game is continuing to expand around the world. While the glossy cement and synthetic surfaces were more popular in the past, artificial turf is often the material of choice today.
Artificial turf offers comfort for players and is an excellent playing surface for Padel. However, you’ll want to ensure that the manufacturers are aware of the sport and conditions it requires if you opt for this surface material. It will guarantee you a high-quality playing surface with the correct biomechanical properties.
If you do opt for artificial grass, ensure it’s a highly durable option that will last for many years. The potential tearing of the fiber should be tested by the manufacturer and its aging and UV resistance.
Creating a good Padel Court sub-base
Before the ground itself can be added to your Padel Court, the base is the first part of the process. A high-quality sub-base will determine how easily the Padel Court surface will be put in place.
If you are using artificial turf, you’ll need a crushed stone base of around 30 cm underneath the grass, which is installed in layers. For this process, you’ll generally want to use a company that is experienced in road construction.
It’s a very physically challenging task. This part of the process is generally the most time-consuming part of installing a new Padel Court.
The existing soil will need to be stripped and removed from the ground. From there, the backfill can be installed into space. Backfill is made of crushed stone or sand and helps to ensure your Court’s surface remains above the ground. It can also stop water from getting stuck on the top layer of the sub-base.
The next layer is the geo-textile and the baseload. These layers sit on the existing surface and separate the backfill level you’ve just installed with the sub-base level. This layering is crucial to ensure nothing becomes combined later on in the process.
Around the perimeter, you’ll then install reinforced concrete before adding a middle layer of more delicate crushed stone material. Finally, a top layer of grit or draining asphalt is installed.
As you can see, this is not a process that will come together overnight and requires many weeks of preparation. A professional team of construction experts is crucial for this task to ensure you lay a good foundation for your surface.
Adding the service lines
Once your surface is installed, the service lines will need to be added. These lines will be 5 cm wide throughout the Court. Parallel to the very back of the Court on either side, located 3 meters from the back, you’ll find the service lines. There should be a distance of 6.95 meters from the front of the line to the net.
The area between the net and service line is split in two with a central service line. It equally divides the Court in two.
Padel Court – what type of net do you need?
Once the ground is in place and the service lines are added, your next consideration is the net. The net looks very similar in design to a tennis net and is 10 meters long to stretch the Court’s width.
A Padel Court net is 88 cm high in the center, increasing to 92 cm tall at either end. The main difference between this type of net and a tennis net is that it doesn’t stretch beyond the Court’s sides, which a tennis net does.
The ribbon at the top of the net must be between 5 cm and 6.3 cm. It’s always white so that it stands out against the rest of the Court.
The posts that support your net are a maximum of 1.05 m in height. For World Padel Tour matches, these will always be padded to avoid injuring themselves on the posts.
Does a Padel Court have a roof?
In countries such as the UK, many Padel Courts are constructed with canopies on top. Due to the inclement weather throughout the year, players can continue enjoying a game of Padel in any weather conditions.
Multiple options are available to enclose the structure, which usually features a steel frame that will sit outside your Padel Court’s fence. They may cover the roof of the design or drop down to include walls on a couple or all sides.
When opting to add a canopy to the top of the structure, it’s essential to understand the minimum height requirements will be much higher. The support columns’ positioning is another consideration, as these should not interfere with the construction or the match taking place inside the Court.
A good canopy roof and its accompanying wall membrane should last for at least 15 years when installed by a professional.
Adding floodlights to a Padel Court
As well as adding a canopy roof to your Padel Court, you may want to consider the option of floodlights. It is one of the best additions to make to a Padel Court, as it allows players to continue enjoying a game until late at night. With the dark evenings in the UK and Europe throughout the winter, this adds a few extra hours of play each evening.
During a Padel game, you need to have your wits about you and be able to see the ball well. The floodlight system should offer good comfort for the players while still being energy efficient for the sports center.
Lights will generally sit 6 meters above the Court, and you have a couple of different options. For a reasonable lighting solution, choose to add eight LED spotlights, which fitted two on a mast. For more excellent light, upgrade this to three per mast, which would offer twelve in total. Of course, your lighting system can be fully customized to your area and needs.
Some older fashioned Padel Courts will still use token machines, where players opt to light themselves. A leisure center will sell these tokens, which helps them cover the electricity used. Of course, more high-tech facilities will just put these lights on at night and add this to their overall operating costs.
How should you maintain a Padel Court?
Once a Padel Court is built, and players are already using the facility, you must maintain the ground and enclosure for years to come. It is certainly not a cheap installation and is one that you need to take care of to ensure components don’t need replacing too soon.
It usually takes a couple of months to start experiencing the optimal playing conditions. If you decided to use artificial turf on the Padel Court, it would need to be sanded regularly. Without sand, the surface will last for a far shorter time.
Sand must be spread evenly across the turf, and regular brushing stops it from hardening in its place. Sweep in both directions but only when the surface is dry.
Sweeping your Court every two to three weeks at a minimum will keep the Padel Court in optimum condition. On top of that, remove fallen leaves or any other obstructions that make their way onto the Court.
In the winter, you don’t need to worry about doing anything in particular to protect your Padel Court. However, make sure you don’t pull any ice off the surface yourself, as it can pull off the turf at the same time. Allow it to melt when the weather warms up naturally.
Remember, the cost of installing your Padel Court will be much higher than essential maintenance, so keep this in mind and consistently implement a regular care routine. After all the time and money you put into a new Padel Court, you want your Padel players to enjoy using it for many years.
Conclusion
A Padel Court is an excellent facility for any sports center or leisure center in the world to offer. Padel is an exciting sport that’s only increasing in popularity and makes a great alternative to tennis.
While there are many considerations for constructing a Padel Court, you’ll create a high-quality Court that will provide players with years of use by following the regulations and dimensions listed above.
