Booked a beginner padel lesson and not sure what you've signed up for? Below is a sample hour, block by block, built from what real UK beginner classes say they cover. Then five questions worth asking the coach before you pay.
In one hour you'll learn how to hold the racket, hit the basic shots, meet the glass, try the serve and finish with some points. Nobody expects you to be any good.
What a beginner group lesson usually looks like
Lots of UK intro classes run for one hour in a small group on a full court. Two real examples, both listed on Playtomic in October 2026:
- Pure Padel, Nottingham. "Intro to Padel", 60 minutes, four places, level 0 to 1, £11. Rackets and balls free. It covers the basic shots, scoring, positioning and movement.
- Brakepoint Padel Club, Canterbury. "Beginners Group Lesson & Levelling", 60 minutes, four places, level 0 to 2, £17.50. Rackets free if you need one. It covers forehands, backhands, serves, positioning and using the glass. The coach also reviews your level and adjusts it in the app at the end.
Cambridge University Sport describes its one-hour intro in two halves: rules and technique first, then game play. So picture one coach, a handful of players, one hour, with the playing saved for the end.
A sample hour, block by block
This split is our illustration, not any one club's timetable. Every coach runs things their own way, so treat the minutes as a rough guide to the order, not a promise.
0 to 5 minutes: hello and how to hold the racket
Names first, then the racket. Slazenger Padel Club in Exeter lists "how to hold and use the racket" as part of its intro, and it's a natural place to start. Mention any injuries, and any tennis or squash you've played, before you hit a ball.
The grip feels fussy at first. Getting it right early saves you from bad habits later.
5 to 15 minutes: getting a feel for the ball
Before any proper technique, expect some gentle hitting just to get used to the solid racket and how the ball comes off it. Balls in the net are normal here. Laughing about it is encouraged.
15 to 25 minutes: forehand and backhand
The basic shots are on every beginner listing above. Forehands, then backhands, usually with turns so nobody stands still for long. Focus on clean contact and your feet, not on where the ball ends up. Half of them going long is fine.
25 to 35 minutes: the glass
This is the bit that makes padel feel strange. Brakepoint names "using the glass walls" as a key thing its beginners class teaches, and the LTA's Padel Xpress course lists it too.
The LTA rule is simple: if the ball bounces on your side and then hits the back glass, it's still live, and you can play it as it comes back out. If your own shot hits their glass or the cage before it bounces, it's out. Your brain will want to hit everything before the wall. Expect to be talked out of that, slowly.
35 to 45 minutes: the serve
Good news: it's underarm. Under the LTA rules you stand behind the service line, bounce the ball first, hit it below waist height, keep one foot on the ground, and aim cross-court into the opposite box. You get a second serve, like tennis.
Once serves start landing, returns usually follow, so one pair serves and the other sends it back.
45 to 55 minutes: where to stand, then points
Positioning and scoring both appear on the Pure Padel listing, and this is where they come together. You'll hear where the two of you should stand as a team, then play some points.
It won't be pretty. It should be fun.
55 to 60 minutes: wrap-up
A quick recap of what to work on. In a levelling class like Brakepoint's, this is when the coach sets your app level.
For the full rules in one place, read our padel rules guide. For what to practise afterwards, try our padel tips for beginners.
Five questions to ask a coach before you book
A good beginner lesson is mostly about the coach. These five questions sort out most of the surprises.
1. Are you LTA accredited?
The LTA says padel coaches at registered venues should be accredited, or actively working towards it. In the meantime they need an LTA DBS check, first aid training and safeguarding training. You can check for yourself on the LTA's Find a Coach tool: search your area, then filter by Qualification and choose Padel.
2. How many players, and for how long?
Both Playtomic examples above cap it at four players for an hour. Some sessions are bigger: Slazenger's Exeter intro has eight places. More players can be sociable, but it means fewer balls each. Ask before you book so you know which you're getting.
3. Who is it actually for?
"Beginner" means different things at different clubs. Pure Padel lists its intro at level 0 to 1. Brakepoint goes 0 to 2. If you've never held a racket, look for the lowest band, and ask whether the class will change your level in the booking app.
4. Is it one session, or a course?
A one-off class is a taster. A course builds week on week. The LTA's Padel Xpress is a six-week course for adults, whether they've played a handful of times or never picked up a racket. Virgin Active's Padel Foundations runs over six to eight weeks, and you can drop in at any time. Ask which format your club offers.
5. What's included in the price?
Rackets and balls are not always bundled. Pure Padel includes both. Brakepoint lends rackets free if you need one. Virgin Active lists a racquet under what you'll need. Cambridge includes racket hire with the court but sells balls at £7 a tube. Ask what's covered, and what happens if you have to cancel.
For what to pack, the beginner's guide to padel has you covered.
After the lesson
You'll walk off a bit sweaty and probably keen to book again. Padel has given me some really close friends, and it all starts with an hour like this one.
Going back next week? Our grip socks (£14, in UK 4-7 and UK 8-11) have a non-slip grip to reduce movement inside your shoe, and our padel grip socks guide explains when they're worth it.
Staying for a drink with your new group? That's the bit we dress. The Essentials puts our core off-court pieces on one page, a hoodie, a sweatshirt, joggers and a tee, and any order of £75 or more ships free in the UK.
FAQ
Can I book a beginner padel lesson on my own? Yes. Group classes on Playtomic are priced and booked per person, and the listing shows how many places are left. You don't need to bring three friends.
Is a group lesson or a private lesson better for a first go? A group lesson lets you play points with people at your level and share the coach. A private lesson gives you all of the coach's attention. For a first go, a group class is an easy way to find out if you like it.
Will a beginner lesson change my Playtomic level? Only if it's set up that way. Brakepoint's levelling class has the coach review you and adjust your level at the end. Not every intro class says it does this, so ask when you book.
What should I tell the coach before we start? Any injuries, any racket sports you've played, and if you're left-handed. It helps the coach set you up properly from the first ball.
