Two London-based padel coaches say padel is “absolutely booming” thanks to the unique way that Instantpadel kickstarts activity in locations where it would otherwise be impossible.
Matt Mistri and Tom Shipton both spent this summer coaching at inner-city London locations where Instantpadel’s courts revitalised previously under-utilised urban spaces, providing health and social benefits to the local community.
Instantpadel is a novel concept from Stockholm-based Instantcourts. Its courts can be constructed in under four hours – without the need for expensive and time-consuming groundworks or, crucially, planning permission. This gives operators immense flexibility, offers the potential to open up access to padel beyond the confines of its usual club environment and reinvigorate ‘dead’ urban spaces.
A classic example of this is at Crystal Palace National Sports Centre in south London which had two disused and overgrown tennis courts. Lack of funding and planning red tape would prevent permanent padel courts ever being built there, but two Instantpadel courts were put in earlier this year. Game4Padel coach Matt says it’s now “absolutely booming.”
“After I ran the first few intro sessions, it just got busier and busier,” he says. “The community has built up so quickly with people chatting, joining the Whatsapp group and getting hooked! It’s now fully booked every evening and weekend. Without InstantPadel, this just wouldn’t be possible.”
He added: “Just about every single intro day I’ve done at Crystal Palace, almost 100% of people have come back and played again. They just have the best time and soon enough they’re contacting each other to set up matches. It’s like a pyramid scheme – but a good one!”
The impact of placing Instantpadel courts on a disused basketball court in Battersea, central London, was identical. “As soon as I did a coaching or social session, it was absolutely full up,” said Matt. “It’s in one of those places where if it wasn’t for Instantpadel, no padel would have been possible there.”
Tom Shipton (pictured above at Battersea Power Station) is another padel coach who has spent the summer introducing beginners to the sport on Instantpadel courts at Battersea Power Station and in Crouch End, north London. He is also effusive about the benefits of Instantpadel courts.
“It’s a brilliant idea that helps accelerate the growth of padel by making the sport so accessible,” says Tom. “It really builds engagement and communities. It gets people into sport who may never even have played much sport before. At Battersea the courts are booked 8am-8pm every single day.
“It’s a great, easy thing to get padel going in a space that’s not being used, or in busier locations where it catches people’s eye as they’re shopping or commuting. Either way, it’s a win-win!”
For Instantpadel co-founder Christoffer Granfelt, it’s gratifying to hear the positive impact of his concept from coaches who witness it on a daily basis. Christoffer said: “It gives me goosebumps hearing this kind of feedback! Instantpadel really does enable padel for all – growing the game amongst new audiences and achieving numerous positive social impacts.”
Find out more at instantcourts.com
