What is padel, and where can we play it in Charlotte? Here’s what to know
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Epic Padel invests $1.2M to launch new padel club at Charlotte's Prosperity Athletic.
- Epic Padel targets 120 U.S. courts by 2026, with Charlotte as its pilot market.
- Padel blends tennis and squash, attracting social, strategy-focused players.
If you’re a fan of racquet sports and looking to get in on the latest trend popping up and poised to go big in the U.S., give padel a try.
Padel (pronounced as either “paddle” or “pah-del,” depending on who you ask) combines elements of tennis and squash and is one of the fastest growing sports in the world, with an estimated 30 million players globally.
But right now, there are only about 500+ courts across the entire United States. Growth here is expected to happen at an exponential pace during the next few years, with experts predicting the number of courts jumping to 30,000 by 2030.
Epic Padel, the world’s largest investor in the padel sports ecosystem — from tech and pro leagues to tournaments and collegiate leagues — is working to expand the sport rapidly with new courts in cities across the U.S., beginning with Charlotte.
On Sept. 8, Epic will launch a brand new padel club in North Charlotte through a partnership with Prosperity Athletic Club, a local facility for racquet sports and fitness. Epic is investing about $1.2 million in the new additions and property upgrades.
What padel is all about
Padel is “absolutely contagious,” said Tim Bainton, chief operating officer and co-founder of Epic Padel, who was a nationally ranked junior tennis player in his native England prior to a career in sports management.
“People love it. And it’s a rewarding sport, it’s fun … when you play tennis and you suck at it, you can see people look really insecure on the court … It’s not like that in padel. … If someone misses a ball or something, it’s met with more smiles — and I can’t really quantify why that is, if I’m being honest. I think it maybe just doesn’t take itself as seriously.”
Bainton said the sport is easy to learn, welcoming and inherently social, since it’s usually played in doubles. It shares the same health benefits as other racquet sports, he said, and involves more strategy than pickleball. He compares it to playing chess.
New padel club in Charlotte
CharlotteFive got a preview of the 260,000-square-foot grounds where Epic Padel will open, so you know what to expect.
What you’ll find now at the renovated club:
- Five brand new outdoor padel courts with lights for nighttime play
- 10 clay tennis courts
- Six pickleball courts
- A newly upgraded and renovated fitness center
- A new welcome center and pro shop
- There’s a swimming pool on the property, too, but it operates independently from the rest of the club.
Phase 2 expected in early 2026:
- New all-weather canopies over the padel courts for year-round play
- New food and beverage options
Other possible future upgrades include indoor golf simulators and an outdoor soccer field.
The new club in Charlotte is a first step toward Epic Padel’s mission of becoming the largest supplier of courts in North America.
Epic, which has also invested in major operators in cities like New York, Miami and Austin, plans to open its own standalone padel clubs in Milwaukee, Salt Lake City, Utah and Tyson’s Corner, Virginia in the next five months. By the end of 2026, the company aims to have 120 courts in operation, Bainton said.
“Charlotte is known nationwide to be one of the fastest growing cities,” he told CharlotteFive.
“We want to hit the sweet spot when the sport explodes that we also have the accessibility and a little bit more of your typical 2.4 children families, middle class [neighborhoods.] You know, we’re not trying to be the Nobu of this sport.”
Bainton is very proud of the courts being installed in Charlotte. Imported from Padel Galis in Valencia, Spain, (and delayed by at least a month due to the new tariff regulations) Bainton describes their quality as “Mercedes Benz” level versus the “Fords” that may be found at other clubs.
Bainton called the current push to bring padel courts to the U.S. an “arms race.”
Epic isn’t the first to enter the Charlotte market, either. Charlotte Padel Club has been here since 2022, operating two indoor courts in South Charlotte, with six more covered courts being built, and six outdoor courts in Matthews. Plans are also underway for an expansion project in North Charlotte.
What’s behind padel’s growth?
Padel isn’t a new sport. It was started by a Mexican businessman in 1969, who built the first court in his backyard. By the 1970s, it had spread to Spain and Argentina, then continued to expand around the world.
Bainton said things started to change in 2020. In the same way pickleball took off in the U.S. at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, in other countries it was padel that was catching fire. (This summer in southern France, where new courts are rapidly opening, my family got a glimpse of the excitement around the sport.)
Other current hot spots, according to the 2025 Global Padel Report, an annual study issued by Playtomic, a leading app for racquet sports, in conjunction with Strategy& (part of the PwC network), are popping up in countries as diverse as the UK and Germany to Brazil, South Africa and Indonesia.
How do you play padel?
Padel uses a special racquet, usually made of carbon fiber or fiberglass. There are no strings, but the head of the racquet is perforated. The ball resembles those used for tennis, but it’s a little smaller and bounces less, due to a lower internal pressure.
A padel court is also smaller than a tennis court. It’s only 66 feet long vs. 78 feet long court for tennis and slightly narrower.
The game starts with an underhand serve cross court. The ball must bounce on the court once before it can hit the back wall. If it hits the side fence during the serve, the ball is out.
After that, players can use the back walls, side fence or court to play. During regular play, the ball has to bounce on the court before it can hit a side wall. Scoring follows the same pattern as tennis: Love, 15, 30, 40, etc.
“Charlotte’s a big sports market. And I think it’s definitely a big tennis and pickleball market. So why on earth not throw padel into the mix, too?” Bainton said.
Epic Padel is currently promoting founding memberships for the first 150 new members at a price of $149 per month. Benefits include access to advance booking on courts, no booking fees for padel, $1,000 worth of merchandise, discounts on lessons, clinics, tournaments and leagues.
After those first 150 slots are full, the price will go up to $279 per month. Legacy members of Prosperity Athletic Club can add on padel privileges for an additional $69 monthly.
At Charlotte Padel Club, individual memberships range from $60 to $195 monthly, plus an initiation fee that’s currently on special for $150.
Other unusual sports
If you want to expand your international sports repertoire but you’re not into racquet sports, here are a few other options you can find in and around Charlotte.
- Carolina Petanque: Petanque (“Pay-tonk”) is extremely popular in France. My French husband will kill me for saying it’s similar to bocce ball, but it’s a helpful reference for the non-initiated. Petanque balls or “boules” are much heavier than those used in bocce and typically made of metal. Carolina Petanque has been hosting meet-ups and events since 2007. There are also public courts available at Nevin Park.
- Charlotte Curling Association: Located at an ice rink on Old Statesville Road, Charlotte Curling has been in operation since 2010 and operates from September through May. Its programs include league play, cocktails and curling events, junior curling and adaptive curling.
- Mountain View FootGolf Club: In Hickory, Mountain View FootGolf Club is a 9-hole course, where kids and adults can play the game kicking a soccer ball toward large holes in place of a traditional golf course. Lessons and league play are also available.
This story was originally published September 2, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
