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With interest and participation in padel increasing at a fast rate, coach and player Matty Thomas has shared his thoughts on the growth of the sport and the benefits of his links with court surface supplier Laykold.

Seen as a linchpin in the sport’s expansion across Asia and Australia, Thomas, an ambassador for Laykold, pioneered the first padel club in the UK in 2013, then along with business partner Matt Barrelle, brought the sport to Australia, establishing the first club in Sydney in 2015.

Having first encountered padel in Spain in 2002, Thomas explains that it was the sport’s “fun, skilful aspect that really appealed to me”, noting “in tennis, certain shots like lobs or drop shots are more controlled, but in padel, all those fun, creative shots are encouraged.

“It felt like a weight had been lifted … that blend of enjoyment and skill was a big part of what drew me in.

“Plus, I saw an opportunity - padel was huge in Spain, but it hadn’t yet reached the UK.”

Speaking to Laykold about growth in the sport, he explained “first and foremost, it’s easier to play than tennis, which makes it more accessible.

“You serve underarm, the court is smaller, and the game gets going right away. Second, padel is more relaxed - there’s no strict dress code or membership rules like in traditional tennis clubs. You can just show up and play.

“And third, the events are a lot more dynamic. Brands sponsor these lively tournaments with music, blacked-out courts, and a festival-like atmosphere. It’s engaging, like an NBA event, compared to the more formal atmosphere associated with tennis.”

In terms of how the sport’s physical demands differ from tennis, Thomas explains “padel is definitely easier on the body.

“The courts are smaller, so there’s less running, and you’re playing on artificial grass, which is softer on the joints. Plus, it’s always doubles, so you’ve got more coverage and don’t have to move as much.

The softer surface and shorter distances make it a sport where people can play at a high level even as they get older.”

He goes on to state “padel makes business sense because it requires less space. You can almost fit three padel courts in the space of one tennis court, which means more players and therefore a higher return.

“The setup costs might seem a bit higher because you need to prepare the surface properly, but the return on investment is typically faster - some venues recover their costs in 15 to 18 months.”

Laykold, which is the Official Surface supplier for the US Open, recently recruited Thomas as an to support its presence in the padel market.

Commenting on this, he went on to say “Laykold has a really strong reputation and has for a long time (and) what I love about Laykold is that they offer both permanent and temporary courts.

“Their pop-up courts are top-notch - you can set one up or take it down in a day, as we did at the National Sports & Physical Activity Convention in Melbourne (last) year.

“Also, Laykold’s surfaces are customisable in terms of colour and sand levels, so you can adjust them for different styles of play.

“The fact that Laykold now has a warehouse in Malaysia makes it more accessible for venues across Asia, too.”

Rising interest in padel, as well as pickleball, will be explored in a feature in the May/June 2025 issue of Australasian Leisure Management.

To find out more about Laykold surfaces, click here to contact supplier APT Asia Pacific Pty Ltd via their entry in the Australasian Leisure Management Supplier Directory. 

Images: Matty Thomas (top, third from left) at the National Sports Convention in 2024 and on court (below). Images courtesy of Laykold.

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