Padel is no longer a niche sport in the United Kingdom. By the end of 2025, the UK had surpassed 400 dedicated padel courts, up from fewer than 180 in 2023 — a growth rate that outpaces almost every other country entering the sport outside of Spain and Argentina.
But as courts multiply, so does competition. The clubs that are thriving aren't just the ones with the newest facilities — they're the ones that figured out how to fill them.
The Numbers That Matter
According to data from the Lawn Tennis Association and independent booking platform reports:
- Playtomic UK bookings grew 190% year-on-year between 2024 and 2025
- The average padel player books 2.7 sessions per week during peak season (April–October)
- Member churn remains the industry's biggest challenge, with the average club retaining just 58% of members beyond their first year
- Clubs using automated follow-up sequences retain members at rates 34% higher than those relying on manual contact
The opportunity is enormous. The challenge is execution.
Who's Winning — and Why
The clubs seeing the strongest growth share three characteristics:
1. They Treat Every Enquiry Like It Expires in 24 Hours
A lead that isn't followed up within 24 hours converts at roughly half the rate of one contacted within an hour. Most clubs don't have the staffing to make that happen manually — which is exactly why automation has become essential.
Clubs running Rally AI CRM, for example, have automated WhatsApp and email sequences that fire the moment a new enquiry lands, regardless of whether the club manager is on court or off duty. The follow-up happens — every time, at the right moment — without anyone lifting a finger.
2. They've Joined Up Their Booking Data With Their Marketing
A player who books three times in a month but then goes quiet is a churn risk. Clubs that can identify this pattern and send a re-engagement message before the player leaves are retaining members their competitors are losing.
This is the insight behind Racket Sync — connecting Playtomic, Matchi, and Padel Mates booking data directly into a CRM so clubs can see the full picture and act on it automatically.
3. They're Running Paid Advertising Properly
Organic social posts reach an increasingly small slice of your audience. The clubs generating consistent court bookings and membership sign-ups are running Meta and Google Ads with proper conversion tracking — not boosted posts, but structured campaigns with audience targeting, retargeting, and measurable cost-per-lead.
The best performing campaigns we've run in the past 12 months have delivered leads at £3–£12 per contact, with conversion rates to booked court sessions between 18% and 31%.
The Window Is Open — But Not Forever
The padel boom is real, but the window of early-mover advantage is narrowing. As more clubs open and the market matures, the cost of customer acquisition will rise. The clubs investing in marketing infrastructure and member management systems today will be far better positioned in two years than those waiting to see what happens.
If you're a padel club operator thinking about how to grow your membership base and reduce churn, the starting point is always the same: understand where your leads come from, automate your follow-up, and measure what works.
Matt Burnett is the founder of Ace Rally Media, a digital marketing agency specialising in padel, golf, and racket sport clubs across the UK. Get in touch at ace rally media to discuss how we can help your club grow.