Padel is one of the fastest-growing sports in the UK, yet only a third of players are women. A journalist's introductory session in a mixed group highlighted feelings of discomfort and minimal instruction. Organizations like Empower Padel are working to address these issues by creating welcoming environments for women and girls.
Padel has seen rapid growth in the UK, with courts increasing from about 100 before the Covid-19 pandemic to nearly 1,600. Despite this boom, participation remains skewed, with only a third of players being women and some clubs showing a 70-30 split favoring men.
A recent introductory session, lasting 30 minutes for £15, involved minimal warm-up and rules explanation before a mixed-gender match. The sole female participant, who had prior racket sports experience, described the environment as un-fun, reminiscent of a high-pressure trial, with men hitting hard and few rallies. She received a 2.5 rating, indicating lower-intermediate level, but left relieved the session ended. Observations at the club revealed mostly male players, with just two women in matches and three in private lessons.
In contrast, Empower Padel, founded by Pepita Stonor, focuses on encouraging women and girls through beginner-friendly sessions emphasizing learning over competition. At a Slough session, newcomers practiced drills and played short games in a supportive setting. Stonor noted, “Padel has this once-in-a-generation opportunity for a new sport to really start from the beginning equally, because it’s new to the UK.” She highlighted emerging disparities, such as an October FIP Promises event in Stratford lacking a girls’ under-14 category (30 boys participated) and having only six girls in under-18s (versus 32 boys). An upcoming LTA event faces insufficient entries for girls’ under-14s and under-16s.
Stonor added, “Women we’ve done quite a good job on [encouraging into padel], but with girls it [the difference] is already starting to show and some recent tournaments have had no registrations at all.” Efforts include offering free spots to young girls in adult tournaments. Another club circulated a video advising intermediate players to avoid smashing the ball at women, promoting skill over power for a friendly atmosphere.
Judy Murray, collaborating with Empower Padel, attributed lower female involvement to visibility: “Most of the clips that come through my Instagram are of guys playing padel... It’s hugely entertaining, but you don’t see very much of the women. So it goes back to visibility, if you can see it, then perhaps you can be it.”
Additional barriers include high court costs, up to £100 per hour in London (national off-peak average £28), and booking apps requiring self-ratings where women often undersell their abilities. Stonor, an experienced player, self-rated as a 1.8 beginner despite her skills, while her less-experienced husband rated 4, necessitating a paid reassessment. Price hikes by operators like Padel Hub raise concerns, drawing parallels to Sweden's 2023 padel bankruptcies.
For sustained growth, initiatives aim to attract and retain more women in the sport.