York St John University Padel

York St John University’s Sports Park added three outdoor padel courts on Haxby Road in New Earswick, and despite the campus setting, anyone can book through Playtomic rather than just staff and students. Floodlights run on a timed button system, giving each session a full hour of light, and four hours of free parking comes with every visit once you register at reception. The wider 57-acre site includes a cafeteria, changing rooms and disabled access, and YSJ Active runs six-week LTA Padel Xpress courses for beginners through Down the Line Tennis and Padel Academy. It’s about a mile from York city centre.

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.

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

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