9. April 2026

Saving Tennis: A Coach's Perspective of Padel and Tennis...

I run a tennis club that’s done well. Over the years, I’ve coached thousands, built programs from nothing, and watched whole families grow up on these courts and old enough to coach the children of the youngsters i once coached. And let me say this straight up: I don’t hate padel. Actually, I think it’s ok, its fun.

But tennis is home for me. It’s who I am.

Right now, though, I see a lot of coaches feeling like tennis is slipping away, I had a conversation only this morning with my friend David who actually refuses to join an outdoor club as it isn’t fun anymore. It’s not because the game itself is broken, but because the whole experience around it just hasn’t kept up with what people want.

This isn’t just a complaint. It’s an honest look at what’s really happening out there, why padel is pulling people in, and how we can turn things around for tennis by making it friendly, modern, and fun again.

Why Coaches Think Tennis Is Struggling...

1. Tennis Lost Its Social Heart

When I first started playing tennis, the club was the place to be. People hung around for hours. As kids we stayed around played (until the seniors kicked us off) eat lunch and played again until it got dark. Adults chatted and made friends. Now? Most clubs feel like a quick stop: book a court, play, then head out.

Padel’s a different story. Four people packed onto a small court, always interacting, laughing, feeling like they belong. Coaches see that and wonder, “Why doesn’t tennis feel like this anymore?”

2. Tennis Is Hard To Learn But Do We Make It Easier

Tennis is beautiful, but honestly, it can be tough for beginners. Some coaches pile on technique, footwork, grips, scoring, rules the whole list. It’s overwhelming. Of course there are coaches who can get people playing in one lesson like the great late Dennis Van Der Meer.

Padel? You’re playing in minutes.

Tennis could be and actually is just as easier to start, but somewhere along the way, we forgot how to keep it simple. With the correct balls and modified sizes we can get beginners playing doubles within 6-weeks quite easily.

3. Life Changed. Tennis Didn’t.

People want things quick now, short sessions, flexible formats, a chance to connect, no big commitments. Tennis still expects long matches, strict leagues, old-school club rules.

Padel feels fresh and modern. Tennis? Are many clubs hanging onto tradition?

4. Coaches Are Worn Out

I hear it all the time: “I’m wiped out.” “Nobody values what I do.” “I’m busy with everything except actual coaching.”

Padel clubs usually offer better pay, simpler sessions, more players per court, and a lively, fun vibe.

I’m Not Worried About Padel, I’m Learning From It.

Padel is a sport that a lot of the NGB's are going all out to run alongside tennis, this is like a wake-up call. We should change from tennis governing bodes to tennis and padel governing bodies as that is the truth right now.

It reminds us that people crave connection, simplicity, fun, and community. Tennis has all that in its DNA and we as people and coaches just need to bring it back.

How We Save Tennis...

1. Make Tennis Social Again

This is the big one. When tennis is just a booking system, it fades away. When it’s a real community, it comes alive.

At my club, the best moments come from mix-ins, team challenge days, family doubles, Friday night socials, ladder leagues for singles and doubles. Admittedly the winter weather can put a downer on things but that’s the same for all sports. People don’t fall in love with tennis for the forehands they fall in love with the people and the social side and for others the competitive team side.

2. Make It Easier To Start

We need formats that feel like padel: short sets, quick rotations, simple scoring, fun games, rally challenges. Let beginners just play before we teach them the “right” way. Fun first. Technique later.

3. Build A Real Club Culture

A tennis club should feel like a second home. Create welcoming spaces, hang up photos, spotlight members, celebrate achievements, start some traditions. People stick around where they feel noticed.

4. Support The Coaches

When coaches are thriving, tennis thrives. Give them fair pay, real freedom to try new things, chances to run social events, recognition, and a say in club decisions. A coach who feels valued is the best promotion tennis can get.

5. Offer Tennis That Fits Modern Life

Make tennis fit into people’s busy schedules. Try 30-minute express sessions, cardio tennis, lunchtime leagues, pop-up clinics, or WhatsApp groups for quick games. Make it feel spontaneous and relaxed not stiff or formal.

6. Tell Tennis’s Story And Mean It

Padel is fun, sure. But tennis is both fun and meaningful. It teaches resilience, patience, emotional control, independence, problem-solving. Parents need to hear this. Players need to feel it. Clubs need to share it, loud and clear.

If we update our culture, make starting easy, and put the social heart back into our clubs, tennis won’t just hang on it’ll grow.