Never played padel before? Good.
Some of my favourite sessions are with people who have never held a padel racket. Padel is one of the most welcoming sports there is. The court is small, the rallies are long, and most beginners are hitting the ball back and forth within the first ten minutes.
If you are thinking about booking your first lesson, here is everything you need to know before you step on court.
What to bring
You don't need much, and you definitely don't need to buy a racket before your first lesson.
Comfortable sportswear. Whatever you would wear to the gym is fine.
The right shoes. This matters more than people expect. Padel courts have a sandy artificial grass surface, and running shoes can slip on it. Tennis shoes with a herringbone or clay/omni sole are ideal. If you only have trainers, wear them and we will talk about shoes after the session.
Water. Padel is more of a workout than it looks.
A racket, if you have one. If not, don't worry. My starter session includes helping you choose the right first racket, so you are not guessing in a shop.
Padel in one minute
Padel is usually played as doubles, two against two, on a court about a third the size of a tennis court. The court is surrounded by glass walls and metal fencing, and the walls are part of the game: the ball can bounce off them on your side and you can still play it.
You serve underarm, scoring works just like tennis, and the racket is solid with small holes instead of strings. That is all you need to know to start. The rest you will pick up on court, and if you want a head start on the rules that confuse most beginners, read 5 padel rules that confuse beginners.
What happens in your first lesson
Every first session is relaxed and built around you. A typical one looks like this.
A quick chat. I'll ask whether you've played tennis, squash or any racket sport before, and what you'd like to get out of padel. Some people want a fun way to keep fit, others want to join a league. Both are great.
Grip and ready position. We start with how to hold the racket and where to stand, because these two things make everything else easier.
Forehand, backhand and volleys. Short, simple drills so you get a feel for the ball. Most people are rallying with me very quickly.
Your first shots off the glass. This is the moment padel clicks for most beginners. Letting the ball come off the back wall feels strange at first, then becomes the most fun part of the game.
A mini game. We finish by putting it all together in a short, friendly game so you leave knowing how a real point feels.
Good to know before you book
Lessons take place at David Lloyd Shawfair, so you'll need a David Lloyd membership or a valid guest pass. Please cancel at least 24 hours before your session if your plans change.
If you're brand new, the starter session is the best place to begin. It's 55 minutes for £105 and includes helping you pick the right first racket. If you already have a racket, a one-hour lesson is £45.50, and you can bring up to three friends at no extra cost.
See you on court.
NJ, Level 4 LTA accredited and Padel MBA certified coach