Padel has been in the UK for almost a quarter of a century now, and this is the place where we think it all began for UK Padel. Not only is it unique for that reason, the original Padel court at Rye is also one of a kind on these shores in that it is a block construction and made not from re-enforced glass but concrete and render, and a project of passion for members John Farmer and Freddie Menzies who had fallen for the game when on holiday in Spain.
Is the playing experience different? Yes, but is it worse, absolutely not so much so that it is perhaps slightly surprising that this template for court construction didn’t catch on anywhere else in the UK as these block courts are popular on the continent, and may be an idea to bring up in urban regeneration plans. Whilst it might not be a question of economics ( we got the quotes and bricks and mortar are the same price as 12mil glass) and taste, we do admit the viewing aspect for intrigued passers by is not as good as on the glass courts.
Rye Lawn Tennis club was 100 years old in 2022 and just to make sure it is moving with the times, they have constructed a brand new glass portico court which opened for play in April 2022.
The Padel courts are set amongst a staggeringly good grass court complex, often the ones that perhaps succumb to Padel developments. But not here, all forms of tennis look set to co-exist happily for another 100 years. We don’t write this in jest, the UK has many protected games that are seasonal like lawn tennis, like lawn green bowls, but increasingly our sporting and leisure habits are less seasonal and as our impatience to wait grows, so will the number of multisport games like Padel.
Often voted the best seaside town in Sussex, quaint doesn’t quite do the Rye Tennis and Padel club justice, as this is a beast of a club in possibly one of the best settings in the UK. And of course if you can find a member, or crack the nod from the secretary at Rye Golf Club, then you can be sure of one of the best golf/ Padel days available in the UK.
Padel has been in the UK for almost a quarter of a century now, and this is the place where we think it all began for UK Padel. Not only is it unique for that reason, the original Padel court at Rye is also one of a kind on these shores in that it is a block construction and made not from re-enforced glass but concrete and render, and a project of passion for members John Farmer and Freddie Menzies who had fallen for the game when on holiday in Spain.
Is the playing experience different? Yes, but is it worse, absolutely not so much so that it is perhaps slightly surprising that this template for court construction didn’t catch on anywhere else in the UK as these block courts are popular on the continent, and may be an idea to bring up in urban regeneration plans. Whilst it might not be a question of economics ( we got the quotes and bricks and mortar are the same price as 12mil glass) and taste, we do admit the viewing aspect for intrigued passers by is not as good as on the glass courts.
Rye Lawn Tennis club was 100 years old in 2022 and just to make sure it is moving with the times, they have constructed a brand new glass portico court which opened for play in April 2022.
The Padel courts are set amongst a staggeringly good grass court complex, often the ones that perhaps succumb to Padel developments. But not here, all forms of tennis look set to co-exist happily for another 100 years. We don’t write this in jest, the UK has many protected games that are seasonal like lawn tennis, like lawn green bowls, but increasingly our sporting and leisure habits are less seasonal and as our impatience to wait grows, so will the number of multisport games like Padel.
Often voted the best seaside town in Sussex, quaint doesn’t quite do the Rye Tennis and Padel club justice, as this is a beast of a club in possibly one of the best settings in the UK. And of course if you can find a member, or crack the nod from the secretary at Rye Golf Club, then you can be sure of one of the best golf/ Padel days available in the UK.
Explore the map feature to easily find Padel clubs accross the UK
LATEST NEWS
EAST SCOTLAND, YORKSHIRE AND SURREY CROWNED OVER 60 PADEL COUNTY CUP CHAMPIONS
The first event under the new Padel County Cup banner concluded at Rocket Padel Bristol on Sunday, with East Scotland, Yorkshire and Surrey taking the three main Over 60 titles. Delivered by UK PADEL in partnership with the LTA, the three-day competition brought...
UK PADEL: Your 15:30 Newsletter is Here!
Community Circles: Ripping up the Rankings Playbook As we’ve touched on before, the traditional padel rating system can be a barrier to enjoyment, rewarding power over tactics, and turning a social sport into something that’s altogether more judgmental. Now it’s time...
Regional Pride At Stake: The Over 60s County Cup Returns
Just weeks after we saw Premier Padel's record-breaking sell-out crowds at Olympia London, UK PADEL's attention turns to a different kind of competition - one that showcases why padel continues to attract every age group and community in Britain. From September 4-6 at...
UK PADEL: Your 15:30 Newsletter is Here!
Building Milton Keynes: Be the Next John and Angela! When John, now in his 80s, realised failing eyesight meant an end to his days as a squash player, something had to replace the gap in his life. That gap was filled by padel which he says is “perfect for him” - and...
RULES
What Is a Padel Court?
What Is a Padel Court? A Padel court sits somewhere between a tennis court and a squash court. The ground-markings are similar to those of tennis with two service boxes on each side of a tennis-like net, and another zone at the back of the court. This zone is,...
Who and what is a Bandeja?
Who or what is a Bandeja? I hear you ask… Bandeja is the Spanish translation for the word ‘tray’. I know confusing, right? Well, actually it’s not, you see in Padel terms Bandeja means a sliced volley. In Padel, a player's aim is to keep their opponent at the back of...
The Racket
The Racket Almost uniquely among racket sports, the Padel racket has no strings. Instead, the impact surface is generally made of fiberglass or carbon fiber, resting above a rubber core in a carbon or fiberglass frame. But, as with most sport equipment, there is quite...
The Ball – What’s the difference between Tennis balls and Padel balls
The Ball. What’s the difference between Tennis balls and Padel balls? Padel balls and tennis balls have a lot in common. For a start, they are a pretty similar size, and they are both essentially an air-filled rubber bladder with fuzz on the outside, each that same...
Explore the map feature to easily find Padel clubs accross the UK
LATEST NEWS
EAST SCOTLAND, YORKSHIRE AND SURREY CROWNED OVER 60 PADEL COUNTY CUP CHAMPIONS
The first event under the new Padel County Cup banner concluded at Rocket Padel Bristol on Sunday, with East Scotland, Yorkshire and Surrey taking the three main Over 60 titles. Delivered by UK PADEL in partnership with the LTA, the three-day competition brought...
UK PADEL: Your 15:30 Newsletter is Here!
Community Circles: Ripping up the Rankings Playbook As we’ve touched on before, the traditional padel rating system can be a barrier to enjoyment, rewarding power over tactics, and turning a social sport into something that’s altogether more judgmental. Now it’s time...
Regional Pride At Stake: The Over 60s County Cup Returns
Just weeks after we saw Premier Padel's record-breaking sell-out crowds at Olympia London, UK PADEL's attention turns to a different kind of competition - one that showcases why padel continues to attract every age group and community in Britain. From September 4-6 at...
UK PADEL: Your 15:30 Newsletter is Here!
Building Milton Keynes: Be the Next John and Angela! When John, now in his 80s, realised failing eyesight meant an end to his days as a squash player, something had to replace the gap in his life. That gap was filled by padel which he says is “perfect for him” - and...
RULES
What Is a Padel Court?
What Is a Padel Court? A Padel court sits somewhere between a tennis court and a squash court. The ground-markings are similar to those of tennis with two service boxes on each side of a tennis-like net, and another zone at the back of the court. This zone is,...
Who and what is a Bandeja?
Who or what is a Bandeja? I hear you ask… Bandeja is the Spanish translation for the word ‘tray’. I know confusing, right? Well, actually it’s not, you see in Padel terms Bandeja means a sliced volley. In Padel, a player's aim is to keep their opponent at the back of...
The Racket
The Racket Almost uniquely among racket sports, the Padel racket has no strings. Instead, the impact surface is generally made of fiberglass or carbon fiber, resting above a rubber core in a carbon or fiberglass frame. But, as with most sport equipment, there is quite...
The Ball – What’s the difference between Tennis balls and Padel balls
The Ball. What’s the difference between Tennis balls and Padel balls? Padel balls and tennis balls have a lot in common. For a start, they are a pretty similar size, and they are both essentially an air-filled rubber bladder with fuzz on the outside, each that same...