What is padel?
Padel is an all action hybrid of tennis and squash. It’s as much to do with skill and craft as it is social - it’s almost always doubles, so it’s a chance to get together with friends, compete, train or just have a good workout. It’s a great sport for players of all ages and skills, as it's quick and easy to pick up.
Padel is fairly new on the block so it's important you're up to speed. We have a tailored coaching programme designed by our Head of Padel that we encourage you to take part in. There's something for everyone from the beginner to the seasoned pro.
Get started
Most players get the basics within the first half an hour of playing, so after a short session you’ll be ready to play with others. Padel is not as dominated by strength, technique and serve, like tennis. It’s a game for all ages, shapes and sizes as most points are won with smart strategy rather than by brute force and power. We would recommend all newcomers join one of our Intro to Padel sessions - a brilliant way to learn the ropes and get the foundations of the game.
Meet our padel team
Our padel team has been put together by our brilliant Head of Padel, Jack Hazlewood. A former high-level tennis player and coach, Jack discovered padel over 5 years ago and hasn’t looked back. Since then, he has been ranked inside the top 30 in the UK as a player, earned a Distinction in his LTA Level 2 qualification (the highest currently available in the UK), as well as certifications from the renowned Hello Padel Academy and Spain’s RPT.
Jack has also spent time training with some of Europe’s leading coaches, continuously refining his craft. Whether you're picking up a racket for the first time or pushing for competitive success, Jack has the knowledge, passion, and experience to elevate your game.
The golden rules of padel
A light overview of the game, but to truly master the rules book into our Intro to Padel
Our Padel Programme
Our Padel Programme has been put together by our Head of Padel. Jack has ensured there's something for everyone in there. Below is a snapshot of our activities - for the full list, visit MATCHi.
Jack is currently ranked inside the top 40 players in the UK and is looking to establish himself in the top 15. He was a high level tennis player and coach, but got the bug for padel 5 years ago and hasn’t looked back since. He has worked for two major operators in the UK as Head Coach and Coaching Consultant, but now he’s full time with Padel Shift and ready to build an amazing padel community here at The Club by Bamford. No matter what your level is, Jack has the expertise and experience to develop your game.
This activity will be run by one of our coaches and is aimed to give you an understanding of how the game is played, the rules and the key skills to go out and play for yourselves. The session is 1 hour long and by the end, you'll have all the tools to go and challenge your friends and family to a match on our courts!
We run weekly coaching sessions tailored to every skill level (Improvers, Intermediate, Advanced) Each week, our expert coaches focus on a specific tactical or technical area—designed to sharpen your game and help you climb the padel ladder with confidence.
This session will be focussed on match play, tactics and positioning. The coach will set up game scenarios, conditioned points and drills that will improve your understanding of tactics and decision making on the court.
The grading system
We want you to get the most from your padel journey with us. By giving us an idea of your grading we can match you to the right groups and training partners so you can go from zero to hero in no time.
Not sure where you fit in? Don’t worry, email our team hello@padelshift.com who will get you on court and grade you. This is NOT a test, we just want you to get the best out of your padel.
Everyone has to start somewhere! So you’re a level 1.0 - you’re just starting your padel journey, we’ve all been there.
You’ve started to feel more comfortable having some gentle rallies with your mates, but you're still finding accuracy and consistency tricky.
You're starting to feel more comfortable rallying and aiming the ball, but still struggling if the ball hits the glass, or the mesh. You can rally with a coach to over 15 shots.
Things are heating up and you're growing in confidence - You can rally at a medium pace more consistently.
You’re coming in hot! You’ve played racket sports before and have an idea about controlling the ball and mixing up the pace your shots.
We’re starting to get competitive! You're playing matches regularly, you’re pretty consistent and starting to understand how to construct padel points. Boom!
You’re officially advanced. Vamos! You’re training and playing regular matches, hitting winners and forcing your opponents to miss.
Going for the win! You’re competing and winning rounds at grade 1, 2 & 3 competitions.
You’ve got it all! You’re a top ranked national player and are looking to play the pros in some professional competitions.