Adding padel to your tennis club
– without unnecessary risks
More and more tennis clubs are looking at padel as an addition to their sports offering.
The sport is growing rapidly, attracting new audiences, and helping clubs secure their future.
At the same time, we hear a lot of hesitation from boards and working groups.
Concerns about investment, noise, member and resident support, permits, and dealing with local authorities.
These concerns are valid.
Adding padel to a tennis club is no small step, it’s a strategic decision that impacts the club, the surroundings, and the long term.
That’s why we believe a padel project shouldn’t start with a quote, but with insight.
Why padel projects sometimes stall
In practice, padel projects rarely fail because of the sport itself.
What often goes wrong is the process around it.
Boards are under pressure. Members see padel at other clubs, commercial providers move quickly, and the sport seems to be everywhere. Meanwhile, there are valid concerns about noise, cost, permits and resistance from neighbors.
We often see projects stall because:
- Decisions are made too quickly, without sufficient research
- Noise and surroundings are taken into consideration too late
- The focus is mainly on the lowest investment, not the long term
- The municipal approval process and timeline are underestimated
This can lead to delays, extra costs or conflicts with members and neighbors. In some cases, it can even cause division within the club.
That is why padel at a tennis club calls for a careful approach with realistic expectations from the start.
What club boards really want
In our discussions with tennis clubs, we see that boards rarely look for “the nicest” or “the cheapest” padel court.
What they are looking for is certainty.
- Certainty that the investment is responsible.
- That noise and surroundings have been properly considered.
- That members are involved in the process.
- And that the decision will still make sense ten or fifteen years from now.
Boards want peace of mind. No trouble afterward, no surprises during construction and no long discussions with neighbors or the municipality.
A padel project should contribute to the club, not create extra worries.
Our approach: better researched than quickly sold
At I-Padel, we believe not every location is automatically suitable for padel.
And not every plan can be executed within regulations without adjustments.
That is why we choose an approach where we first think along with the club before building.
Together with the board, we explore questions such as:
“Does padel fit this location?”
“What does this mean for noise and surroundings?”
“Which permits are needed, and what timeline is realistic?”
“What will the project look like in 10 to 15 years?”
If we identify risks, we mention them, even if that means a project needs more time or additional measures. That honesty may slow the process down, but it makes it much more reliable.
Why I-Padel offers a 15-year warranty
- S350 structural steel
- Hot-dip galvanizing
- Duplex system
- More than 40 years of steel experience from Jonkers Bouwmetaal
I-Padel produces padel courts entirely in-house, from construction and material selection to coating and assembly.We use S350 structural steel and protect it with a hot-dip galvanized duplex system that combines galvanization with a protective coating. This method is known for its durability in outdoor conditions.
I-Padel was founded from Jonkers Bouwmetaal, a Dutch family company with over 40 years of experience in steel construction.
Because we know exactly which steel we use, how it is protected and how it behaves over time, we can take responsibility for the long term. That is why we offer a 15-year warranty on our padel courts.
“We know our steel inside and out.”
Noise: a key condition, not a side issue
Noise is often the first concern when padel is considered at a tennis club. We understand that very well. Padel is played intensively and often near homes or other sports facilities.
That is why we look at the noise situation on and around the sports park at an early stage. Depending on the location, we can:
- Commission a noise report
- Advise on court positioning
- Use noise barriers or sound-absorbing panels
It is important to note that noise reduction measures also affect the structure. Additional panels or walls increase wind load, which means the structure must be adjusted accordingly. We always take this into account in our calculations and advice.
This prevents short-term solutions from becoming long-term problems.
A safe first step
A padel project does not start with a quote but with a conversation.
In a no-obligation meeting, we think along with your plans, location and the specific aspects of your club. Not a sales pitch, but an honest look at possibilities and risks.
Based on that, a board can make a well-founded decision with realistic expectations.