Berkshire


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-lowdown">THE LOWDOWN</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="2000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/11/padel-maidenhead-1.jpg" alt="padel maidenhead" class="wp-image-73399" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/11/padel-maidenhead-1.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/11/padel-maidenhead-1-600x800.jpg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/11/padel-maidenhead-1-750x1000.jpg 750w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/11/padel-maidenhead-1-300x400.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/11/padel-maidenhead-1-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/11/padel-maidenhead-1-1152x1536.jpg 1152w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>If you haven&#8217;t heard the buzz about padel, honestly, where have you been hiding? Right now, padel is the hottest racket sport around, best described as a crossover between tennis and squash that can be played both indoors and outdoors. Vogue calls it, “the addictive racket sport set to be your next fitness obsession”, The Prince and Princess of Wales are fans, plus Andy Murray, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Serena Williams have all taken a swing at it too. Safe to say, it’s taken the sporting world by storm, loved for its calorie-busting health benefits, social play, and the fact it’s actually, well, pretty darn fun.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="2000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/11/padel-maidenheadPHOTO-2024-11-09-12-17-52.jpg" alt="padel maidenhead padel near me" class="wp-image-73397" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/11/padel-maidenheadPHOTO-2024-11-09-12-17-52.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/11/padel-maidenheadPHOTO-2024-11-09-12-17-52-600x800.jpg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/11/padel-maidenheadPHOTO-2024-11-09-12-17-52-750x1000.jpg 750w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/11/padel-maidenheadPHOTO-2024-11-09-12-17-52-300x400.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/11/padel-maidenheadPHOTO-2024-11-09-12-17-52-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/11/padel-maidenheadPHOTO-2024-11-09-12-17-52-1152x1536.jpg 1152w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>To quench the growing thirst for the sport, over the past few years, padel clubs have been cropping up all across the country. And quite frankly, it doesn&#8217;t get more exciting than the opening of the brand new <a href="https://padelberkshire.com/padel-maidenhead/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Padel Maidenhead</a> who swung open their doors this summer. On site, located just off Braywick Sports and Recreation Ground, you’ll find 7 state-of-the-art outdoor courts (of which 6 will have canopies from 2025), 1 indoor court, social areas, café, bar, shop, changing rooms, and a conference room available for hire.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1125" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/11/padel-maidenhead-copy.jpg" alt="padel maidenhead" class="wp-image-73460" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/11/padel-maidenhead-copy.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/11/padel-maidenhead-copy-800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/11/padel-maidenhead-copy-1000x750.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/11/padel-maidenhead-copy-400x300.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/11/padel-maidenhead-copy-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Clearly a lot of thought has been poured into the refurb. It&#8217;s slick. The light-flooded Deuce Bar is decked out with cool pendant lighting, ferns hanging from the ceilings, and dozens of comfy chairs to sink back into with a post-padel pint. The space also leads out onto a sweeping patio area with outdoor seating which I can only imagine will hit all the right notes come summer. Plus, with the show court sitting pretty directly in front, you may even be treated to a pro padel spectacle while you&#8217;re at it.</p>



<p>The best part? You don&#8217;t even need to be a member to enjoy it. Visitors are welcome to kick back with a refreshment, and the bar has Sky Sports and TNT meaning you&#8217;ll be able to catch pretty much all the major sporting events too.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/11/padel-maidenhead-DSC_0259.jpg" alt="padel maidenhead" class="wp-image-73142" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/11/padel-maidenhead-DSC_0259.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/11/padel-maidenhead-DSC_0259-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/11/padel-maidenhead-DSC_0259-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/11/padel-maidenhead-DSC_0259-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/11/padel-maidenhead-DSC_0259-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>If you need to nab yourself a new racket, the adjacent shop is nifty, selling trendy gear for men and women, rackets, and all your sporty bits and bobs. I took a snoop at the indoor singles court which was pretty impressive. But honestly, that goes for all their courts &#8211; each made from high-performance, well-draining surfacing for optimal match conditions. Outside, there&#8217;s LED lighting making after-work play on mizzy winter nights still possible. Even better, the courts are adapted for disability access, and there are fantastic changing room facilities for those with additional needs.</p>



<p>In terms of actual game play, there’s a range of classes, sessions, and socials to get stuck into. On the weekly timetable, you&#8217;ll find everything from coffee and play to cardio padel, and ladies&#8217; night to a kids and teens club. There are sessions for all abilities, and if you&#8217;re flying solo, you can simply turn up and get playing in a range of classes. I&#8217;m told it&#8217;s very social, with most games ending with a quick drink in the bar (naturally). In fact, it&#8217;s something guaranteed at the Padel &amp; a Pint night. Definitely my kinda exercise motivation.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/11/padel-paddle-tennis-6612340_1280.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-73172" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/11/padel-paddle-tennis-6612340_1280.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/11/padel-paddle-tennis-6612340_1280-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/11/padel-paddle-tennis-6612340_1280-400x266.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/11/padel-paddle-tennis-6612340_1280-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>If you&#8217;ve got a group of mates to play with, the Playtomic app makes it super easy to book a court, plus you can also pop your name down if there&#8217;s only a couple of you and be matched with another pair. Each person is given a rating on the app based on their ability, so you are joined by those of a similar level, determined by how often you play and match results. Then, if you want to level up your game, experienced coaches are on hand to do just that.</p>



<p>Also handy is the free parking just outside, and the club is located in striking distance of the M4 and A404. Trust me, it&#8217;s worth travelling for. But in case you&#8217;re sitting there thinking it&#8217;s still just a tad too far to go for a local hit around, I bear good news. There are plans already in place to open further <a href="https://padelberkshire.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sites</a> in Ascot and Windsor in the coming years. So, yes, ears to the ground, people.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-experience">THE EXPERIENCE</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/11/padel-sidespin-padel-H2Tovc3FmdI-unsplash.jpg" alt="where to play padel in berkshire" class="wp-image-73177" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/11/padel-sidespin-padel-H2Tovc3FmdI-unsplash.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/11/padel-sidespin-padel-H2Tovc3FmdI-unsplash-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/11/padel-sidespin-padel-H2Tovc3FmdI-unsplash-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/11/padel-sidespin-padel-H2Tovc3FmdI-unsplash-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/11/padel-sidespin-padel-H2Tovc3FmdI-unsplash-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>After a tour of the facilities, it was time to get my padel on. Having never played before, unsurprisingly, I didn&#8217;t have my own racket. Thankfully, rackets are available to hire from the club for £5 a pop, until you inevitably catch the bug and invest in your own. For today, I would be joining the hour-long Intro to Padel session with the lovely Sam as my coach. Pretty much what it says on the tin, the lesson would cover all the basics &#8211; from the rules, strokes, positioning, and just generally getting a feel for the game.</p>



<p>Now, I wouldn&#8217;t necessarily call myself a racket sport novice as someone who plays badminton and used to play tennis. But still, the thought of taking up a whole new sport can be pretty daunting. The session completely took away any nerves I had, and with two other ladies in the group, it was nice knowing everyone was in the same boat, starting from ground zero. We began by learning where to stand on court and how to hold the racket before having a hit around with the ball to get a sense of its weight and how the racket felt. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/11/padel-sidespin-padel-ZsHEJEznWyw-unsplash.jpg" alt="where to play padel near me berkshire" class="wp-image-73179" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/11/padel-sidespin-padel-ZsHEJEznWyw-unsplash.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/11/padel-sidespin-padel-ZsHEJEznWyw-unsplash-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/11/padel-sidespin-padel-ZsHEJEznWyw-unsplash-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/11/padel-sidespin-padel-ZsHEJEznWyw-unsplash-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/11/padel-sidespin-padel-ZsHEJEznWyw-unsplash-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>We then practiced different kinds of shots, namely learning how to hit the ball after it bounces off the glass located either end of the court. This is where the squash-like element comes into play. Definitely the trickiest aspect of the game for me, there&#8217;s clearly a knack to it that would come with practice. However, Sam helped with tactics and positioning to ensure we knew how to get the ball back. We then perfected our serving techniques to a tee (I can dream), before becoming match ready.</p>



<p>To start with, I was paired with Sam, who can I say, was fully carrying the team as I floundered around like a fish out a water. Throughout the session he was incredibly patient and supportive with all of us, no matter how far we lobbed the ball out of the court (that racket really is more powerful than you think!) It was great getting the actual gameplay experience and went to show just how much you learn while simply just giving it a go. After a few matches, with that, the lesson came to a close.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-verdict">THE VERDICT</h2>



<p>An absolute ball (sorry, couldn&#8217;t help it!) The hour absolutely zoomed by, easily done when you&#8217;re having fun. I came away feeling confident enough to join an actual padel session, and honestly, I want to. Just generally being outside playing sport at this time of year is really refreshing and the social side of it was a massive boost. It was easy to see how you could make friends by joining in the various classes and socials. I think if you&#8217;re coming from other racket sports, it will definitely take a little time to get used to the game. That being said, the Intro to Padel Session is a really fantastic place to start for those wanting to pick up padel, but not really knowing where to turn.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-damage">THE DAMAGE</h2>



<p>The Intro to Padel session is £10. Memberships range from £40 a month to £219 a month, with four different options to choose from depending on how often you plan to go. If you want to play as you go, it&#8217;s £50 (£12.50 per person) for a court for the hour.</p>



<p><em><a href="https://padelberkshire.com/padel-maidenhead/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Padel Maidenhead</a>, Padel Pavilion, Braywick Rd, Maidenhead, SL6 1BN</em></p>


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