Padel is the fastest growing racket sport in the world, and the most common question we get in the North East is still the simplest one: what actually is it? Here is the complete beginner's guide, and where to play it near Newcastle.
What is padel?
Padel is a racket sport played in doubles on an enclosed court, roughly a third the size of a tennis court. It is surrounded by glass walls and mesh fencing, and, crucially, you are allowed to play the ball off the walls. Rackets are solid and stringless with a perforated face, and the ball looks like a tennis ball but with slightly less pressure.
It was invented in Mexico in the late 1960s, exploded across Spain and Argentina, and has spread rapidly through Europe over the last decade. The UK is now one of the fastest-growing padel markets in the world.
Smaller court, forgiving racket, walls that keep the ball alive. That is the whole reason padel is so easy to love.
How a game of padel works
Scoring
Scoring is identical to tennis: 15, 30, 40, game. Six games wins a set, and matches are usually best of three. If you have ever watched tennis, you already understand the scoreboard.
The serve
This is the first big difference. The serve is underarm: you bounce the ball once behind the service line and hit it at or below waist height, diagonally into the opposite service box. No towering first serves, no double-fault anxiety, which is a large part of why beginners can play a real game on day one.
The walls
After the ball bounces on your side, it can come off the glass and you can still play it. Points last far longer than they would in tennis, and rallies become about position and patience rather than raw power.
Why padel is so easy to start
- The court is smaller, so there is far less ground to cover
- Rackets are short and solid, so mishits still go somewhere useful
- The underarm serve removes the hardest shot in tennis
- The walls keep the ball in play, so rallies actually happen
- It is always doubles, so there is less court each and it is more sociable
Most people who have never held a racket are playing genuine points within ten minutes. That is not true of tennis, squash or badminton, and it is why padel spreads by word of mouth.
What do you need to play?
Very little, which is the other appeal:
- Trainers and normal sportswear, nothing specialist
- A racket, though you do not need your own to start — hire is available at reception and free with every membership
- Three other players, or come alone to a mix-in night and we will pair you up
Where to play padel in the North East
Until recently the honest answer was "not many places". Provision across Newcastle, Northumberland and Tyneside has lagged well behind the south, usually a single court bolted onto another facility.
Padelsphere in Blyth is Northumberland's first venue built for padel from the ground up: three full panoramic glass courts, indoors and heated, so nothing gets rained off. We are on Spencer Road, minutes from the coast:
- Seaton Delaval — 5 minutes
- Cramlington — 7 minutes
- Ashington — 10 minutes
- Whitley Bay — 15 minutes
- Newcastle — 20 minutes
Free on-site parking, rackets and balls to hire at reception, a licensed bar and cafe with live sport, and two infrared saunas for afterwards. Full details are on the courts and pricing page, or read more about what we are building in Blyth.
Coming from tennis?
Plenty of our players do, and the crossover is real but not total. We have written a full comparison in padel vs tennis: what's the difference, worth a read if you already play.
Ready to try it?
You can book a court and split it between players from just £7 each off-peak, or lock in launch pricing as one of our first 100 members. Still got questions? The FAQs cover almost everything, and you can always message us.
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