Padel is one of the easiest racket sports to pick up. Most people are rallying within their first hour, and because it is always played in doubles, it is as social as it is sporty. If you are curious about padel in Thailand but unsure how to begin, this guide walks you through it.
Pad Thai Padel runs clubs in Bangkok and Bali, each with its own academy. Whether you have never held a racket or are switching from tennis, the path is the same: play, find your level, learn, then join the community.
What padel is (in one minute)
Padel is played on a court enclosed by glass walls and mesh fencing, smaller than a tennis court. You play in pairs, four to a court, with a solid perforated racket and a ball much like a tennis ball. The serve is underarm, and the ball can be played off the walls, which keeps rallies going far longer than in tennis.
Scoring works like tennis: 15, 30, 40, game, with sets to six. The walls reward positioning over raw power, which is why beginners enjoy it right away.
Step 1: play your first session
The best way to start is simply to book a court and play. Rackets and balls can be rented or provided at the clubs, so all you need is sportswear and non-marking court shoes.
- Book through The Padel Society app or the club's online checkout, in Bangkok or Bali.
- Sessions typically run 60, 90 or 120 minutes. For a first game, 90 minutes leaves time to warm up and play a few games.
- Evenings are the busiest. For a quieter first hit, aim for the morning or early afternoon.
- No group of four? The app matches players by level, and events are the fastest way to find a game.
Step 2: know your level
The clubs use a numeric level scale so that matches are fair and coaching groups are balanced. The Padel Society app tracks your level as you play, and the academies use the same scale for placement.
- Beginner (1.0 to 1.7): new to padel, learning to rally and read the walls.
- High Beginner (1.8 to 2.4): can keep a rally going and play basic points.
- Low Intermediate (2.5 to 2.9) and Intermediate (3.0 to 3.5): consistent play, using the walls and net on purpose.
- Advanced (3.5 and above): tactical, competitive doubles.
In Bali, academy groups are called Iron, Bronze, Silver and Gold, covering the same range from 1.0 to 4.49. Do not worry about the number on day one. Play a few sessions and it will settle naturally.
Step 3: take lessons
A few lessons early on save months of bad habits, and coaching puts you in a group at your level, which makes finding regular partners easier.
The Bangkok academy offers monthly plans built around 90-minute group sessions, with individual lessons and video analysis on the higher tiers, plus credit packs, single sessions and a ball machine by the hour. The coaches are former professionals from the Premier Padel and World Padel Tour circuits.
The Bali academy runs hourly and 90-minute lessons for one or two players, with multi-hour packages for a longer stay. Every lesson includes court, balls, racket, water refill and wellness access, so you can walk in with nothing. Head coaches come from the professional circuit.
A group session is the most affordable and sociable way in. For faster results, add an individual lesson to fix your serve, volleys and wall play.
Step 4: join events and find partners
Events are the quickest way into the padel community. Both clubs run Americanos, Mexicanos, King of the Court, round robins, clinics and tournaments. Formats like the Americano rotate partners every round, so you meet plenty of players in one evening without arriving as a four.
Browse the events page or join directly in The Padel Society app. Events are grouped by level, so beginners play with beginners, and after a couple you will have a list of people to message for your next booking.
What to bring and what the club provides
- Bring: sportswear, non-marking court shoes, a towel and a change of clothes for afterwards.
- Provided or rentable: rackets and balls at both clubs. Bali lessons also include water refill and wellness access.
- Weather: indoor courts matter in the rainy season. Bangkok has indoor and outdoor courts, and Bali is fully indoor.
- Afterwards: Bangkok has a café with fresh salads, pressed sandwiches, juices, craft beers and natural wines, plus yoga and ice baths. Bali has a café and bar and a wellness space.
Where to start: Bangkok, Bali, and soon Phuket
Pad Thai Padel Rama 4 is the Bangkok home, on Rama IV Road in Khlong Toei, open early until late every day with a retro tennis-club feel. Bangkok's first premium padel club has a big, active community, so there is always a game to find, and the academy is on site.
Pad Thai Padel Canggu sits in Pererenan with five indoor courts, a café and bar, a wellness space and a spectator terrace. It is ideal for visitors who want to learn quickly through the Bali academy.
Two more clubs are coming: Pad Thai Padel Cloud 11 in Bangkok, opening November 2026, and Pad Thai Padel Rawai in Phuket, opening in 2027.
Starting padel in Thailand is as simple as booking one session. Rent a racket, play 90 minutes, let the app find your level, and take a lesson when you are ready to improve. Within a few weeks you will have partners, a favourite slot and a level to chase. See you on court.
Sources: The Padel Society app on the App Store · Pad Thai Padel on Instagram
Tags: beginners · levels · lessons
