Padel Coaching Guide: Qualifications, Sessions and Equipment Advice
Contents
Getting qualified (UK)
The LTA Padel Instructor is the LTA’s entry point into padel coaching:
| LTA Padel Instructor | |
|---|---|
| Level | Level 2 (entry) |
| Format | Face-to-face |
| Length | 5 days: 4 core training days plus 1 elective (choice of two) |
| Qualifies you to | Deliver group lessons for adults and juniors on a single court, including Padel Xpress sessions |
| Formal training included | Safeguarding; competition organisation |
| Pathway | Part of the LTA Padel Coaching Pathway |
Check the LTA’s coaching pages for current prerequisites, dates and fees.
Coaching notes collected from our guides
Equipment advice for players
- Beginners and tennis converts: round shape, low balance, soft EVA or foam core. Diamond frames combined with long tennis swings cost control near the glass. (Shapes, cores)
- If a player says the ball “doesn’t come off” the racket on slow shots, the core is too hard for their swing speed.
- Players with arm pain: avoid hard cores and diamond shapes.
- Grip: padel handles aren’t sold in L0–L5 sizes, so adjust with overgrips. The FIP maximum handle is 50 × 50 mm. (Grip guide)
- Juniors: all rackets share the same 45.5 cm FIP limit, so fit on weight and balance rather than length. (Junior sizing)
Session design
- Group players by skills (volleys, back-glass returns, bandeja), not app level alone. (Levels)
- Teach the serve as the first step to taking the net, not as a weapon.
- Use golden point in group games for quicker rotations and pressure practice. (Scorer)
- Mark targets about 1 m inside the service line (6.95 m from the net) for serve drills. (Court dimensions)
- Keep drill balls separate from match balls, because flat balls distort glass rebounds. (Balls)
Tennis-to-padel conversion session
| Block | Focus | Common tennis habit to fix |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Underarm serve and move to the net | Staying back after serving |
| 2 | Back-glass returns (feed into the glass) | Hitting before the ball reaches the wall |
| 3 | Short volley swing | Long backswing |
| 4 | Lob and recover as a pair | Driving flat through the net players |
| 5 | Bandeja vs smash decision | Smashing every overhead |
Frequently asked questions
How do I become a padel coach in the UK?
The LTA’s entry qualification is the LTA Padel Instructor. It is a Level 2, face-to-face course of four core days plus one elective day that prepares you to run group lessons for adults and juniors on a single court.
Does the LTA Padel Instructor course include safeguarding?
Yes. The LTA lists safeguarding and competition organisation as formal training within the qualification.
Can tennis coaches teach padel?
Padel is a separate qualification pathway at the LTA. Tennis coaching skills transfer, but check the LTA’s current requirements before running padel sessions.