Hereford Squash, Tennis & Racketball Centre

The Hereford Squash, Tennis and Racketball Centre on Whitecross Road is home to what it bills as the only padel courts in Herefordshire: two floodlit outdoor courts playable all year round. Pay-and-play hire is twenty-eight pounds an hour at peak times and twenty off-peak, while members pay much less, with racket hire available for a small fee. A Thursday club night and a coaching programme welcome players of every level. Courts are booked through the centre’s ClubSpark system via a free LTA account. The thriving club also offers squash and tennis courts, a bar and lounge, free WiFi and changing rooms with showers.

New to padel? What you need for your first session

Most UK padel venues hire rackets by the hour, so you do not need to buy anything before your first game. Check this club’s booking page for hire availability and prices.

Once you have played a few times and want your own kit, this is the order we would buy in.

• Court shoes first. Clubs hire rackets, they do not hire shoes, and running trainers slide on padel courts. This is the single purchase that most improves your first month. See our best padel shoes for UK players.
• Then a racket. Once your technique has settled you will know whether you want control or power. Start with our best beginner padel rackets, or read how to choose your first padel racket.
• Balls last. Most clubs provide balls for casual sessions. When you start playing regularly, see our best padel balls for UK courts.

🛒 Shop padel kit on Amazon UK →

Never played before? Read the rules of padel and how padel differs from tennis before you turn up.

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