Questions & Answers
Whether you’ve played before or you’re picking up a racquet for the first time, here’s everything you need to know before stepping onto the court.
Padel is a racquet sport played in doubles or singles on an enclosed court roughly a third the size of a tennis court, surrounded by glass walls and metal mesh fencing. Doubles is played on a standard 10-metre-wide court, while singles courts are the same length but narrower at 6 metres wide. In the UK, padel is governed by the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), which follows the rules set by the International Padel Federation (FIP). It blends elements of tennis and squash, with the walls forming part of the game and most rallies won through placement and patience rather than power.
Padel is genuinely easy to pick up. Most players are rallying within their first session, and you don’t need a tennis or squash background to enjoy it.
The basics, in line with LTA and FIP rules:
• Padel is always played in doubles, with two players a side.
• The serve is underarm. The ball must bounce on the ground before you strike it, you must hit it below waist height with at least one foot behind the service line, and it must be served diagonally into the opposite service box.
• If the serve lands in the box and then hits the side or back glass, play continues. If it hits the wire fencing after bouncing in the box, it’s a fault.
• During a rally, the ball must bounce on the ground before it hits a wall or fence. If it hits the wall or fence without bouncing first, the point is lost. You can play the ball off your own back glass after it bounces, and the walls are used tactically throughout the rally.
• You’re allowed one bounce on your side before returning the ball.
• Scoring follows tennis: 15, 30, 40, game, with six games to a set and best of three sets. At 6-6, a tie-break to seven points is played.
Pickleball is a paddle sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis. It’s played on a badminton-sized court with a slightly modified tennis net, using solid paddles and a lightweight perforated plastic ball. It can be played as singles or doubles, though doubles is by far the most common format.
It’s easy to learn, low impact, and suited to players of all ages and abilities, which is part of why it’s grown so quickly in the UK.
In line with the Pickleball England rulebook:
• The server stands behind the baseline and hits the ball underhand, with paddle contact below waist height. The serve is hit diagonally into the opposite service box.
• The ball must bounce once on each side before either team can begin to volley. This is known as the two-bounce rule.
• The area closest to the net on each side is the non-volley zone, known as the kitchen. If you play a shot while standing in the kitchen, you must let the ball bounce first.
• Only the serving side can score points. You continue serving until you lose a point, then the serve passes.
• Games are usually played to 11 points, win by two clear points.
Both sports are genuinely open to everyone, which is one of the best things about them.
Children are welcome from age six upwards at both sites, and must be accompanied by an adult. For younger children, pickleball is the easier of the two to get going with.
Padel suits all ages and abilities. Junior racquets are available, which are lighter and easier for younger players to handle. Adults and older players make up the majority of regular bookings, with plenty of players in their sixties and seventies enjoying the game weekly.
Pickleball is even more accessible, and is often the easiest racquet sport to pick up from scratch. It’s low impact, social, and suited to families, beginners, and anyone returning to sport after a break. There’s no upper age limit. If you have any concerns about mobility, fitness, or injury, a coached session is the easiest way to start.
You don’t need to arrive with much.
• Racquets and paddles are available to hire at Sedgefield and are free to use at Leeming Bar.
• Balls can be purchased on site through our vending machines.
• Wear comfortable sports clothing and trainers with non-marking soles.
• Water, soft drinks, energy drinks and snacks are available to purchase from the vending machines at both venues.
• Coffee machines and comfortable seating are also available for socialising before or after playing.
• If you already own your own racquet or paddle, you’re welcome to bring it.
• There is a changing room at both Sedgefield and Leeming Bar.
Qualified coaches are available for one-to-one and group sessions at both venues. To book a lesson, call Steve Anderson on 07850 765734 or Mike Robinson on 07734 171907.
Join our WhatsApp group to keep up to date with the latest news, venue information and announcements.
Rallies, competitions, tournaments, club fixtures, parties and private events are all welcome at both sites, and there is a larger space available to book. Padel at Leeming Bar, and padel and pickleball at Sedgefield. Get in touch and we’ll talk through the options with you.
We run group hire and summer camps through the school holidays. Get in touch for dates and availability.
Courts can be booked online through our website. On arrival, you’ll use our self check-in system to access your court without needing to wait at a desk.
You can also use the Playtomic app to find and request games with players of a similar level, making it easier to meet new people while improving your skills.
Sedgefield (near Durham)
- Two double padel courts
- Two single padel courts, ideal for one-on-one play
- Four standard pickleball courts, designed to be fully inclusive and accessible to all
Leeming Bar
- One indoor double court
- One indoor single court
Double courts are 10m wide and single courts are 6m wide at both sites.
Both sites are open seven days a week.
- Monday to Friday: 07:00 to 22:00
- Saturday and Sunday: 07:00 to 21:00
- Bank holidays: 07:00 to 21:00
Courts can be booked online through our website. On arrival, you’ll use our self check-in system to access your court without needing to wait at a desk.
[Confirm cancellation window before launch, e.g. up to 24 hours before booking.]
Free parking is available at both Sedgefield and Leeming Bar.