how to find people to play padel with, and keep them

Padel is usually played as doubles on an enclosed court 10 metres wide and 20 metres long, and singles courts are uncommon (Wikipedia). That means every game needs exactly four people, and one late cancellation can sink it.

So before you start asking around, be clear about three things:

• How many you're missing. One is easy to fill the same day. Three usually takes a social night or an open match posted well ahead.
• Your level. People will ask, and a mismatched four is no fun for anyone.
• The details. Day, time, club, court cost per person and whether the court is already booked.

Many clubs run chat groups for their players, often on WhatsApp, sometimes split by level or by time of day. Ask at the desk to be added. Some clubs also keep a noticeboard or a screen where players post games that need people.

When you post, write it so someone can say yes in one message:

Thursday 19:00, court 3, booked. Need 2, level around 3. Cost split four ways.

Two habits keep people answering your posts. Say when the game is full, so nobody turns up to a complete four. And don't post the same game in five groups without updating them all.

If you're new to a club or a city, social nights are often the best place to meet players at your level. You play with a different partner every round, so you meet several new players in a single evening.

Clubs use a few formats:

• Americano. Partners and opponents rotate each round, everyone keeps their own score, and the night ends with a leaderboard and a winner.
• Mexicano. The first round is drawn at random. After that, partners and opponents are reshuffled by the live ranking, so the games get closer as the night goes on (Playtomic).
• Open play. A drop-in session with the same rotations but no score and no winner. Playtomic describes it as a format that suits people who come alone (Playtomic).

Sign up on your own; that's normal at these nights. Before you book, ask which level the night is aimed at. At the end, swap numbers with the two or three people you enjoyed playing with most. That's your next four.

In many countries, the app you use to book a court is also where players find each other. One of the most widely used is Playtomic, which as of October 2026 quotes a figure of 5,500 partner clubs in over 52 countries on its site. It says you can book padel, tennis and pickleball courts at its partner clubs, create a private match with friends, make a match public so others can find it, or join active matches nearby. Its App Store listing adds that you can pay the court yourself or split it with the other players.

Playtomic also gives each player a level on a scale from 0 to 7, which it uses to help you find matches against players of similar skill (Playtomic). Your number moves as you win and lose, so treat the first one as an estimate.

Not every club uses Playtomic. Some use other booking systems, such as MATCHi, which lists activities at racket venues and says it matches players at the same level. Find out which system your club uses, because that's where its open matches and social nights will be listed. For a wider look at the options, see /blog/playtomic-alternatives.

A few tips for open matches:

• Post early. A day or two ahead gives people time to plan around it.
• Be honest about your level. If you're unsure, pick the lower number.
• Read the cost and cancellation rules before you join, since they vary by club.

A good match is close. Before the first point, look at the four of you and set up teams that give both sides a chance.

If your club doesn't use a level scale, describe yourself plainly: how long you've played, how often, and whether you play the ball off the walls with confidence. That tells people more than "intermediate".

Front desk staff see who books, who cancels and who keeps asking for a fourth. Ask them directly: "Is anyone looking for a game Thursday evening?" Some clubs keep a list of players who want a call when a game is one short. Leave your name, level, the times you're free and a phone number.

Coaches are worth asking too. They know which of their students are at your level and looking for games outside their lessons.

Finding players once is hard work. Keeping them is easier:

• Fix a weekly slot. Same day, same time. People plan around habits.
• Keep two or three reserves. Add them to a group chat with the regular four, so a dropout gets filled in minutes.
• Rotate who books and pays, or split it every time, so no one person carries the cost.
• Say early when you can't come. A day's notice gives the others time to find someone.

If you have a court and need players, Scrim lets you post a padel game with the spots you're missing and send one link to your club group. Anyone with the link can take a spot by typing their name, with no account or install, and the same link lets them drop out. Scrim also shows public games near you, as a list or on a map, with who's playing and how many spots are left.