When it comes to choosing a Padel court, a common misconception is the distinction between Panoramic and Crystal Padel courts. In reality, both terms refer to courts made primarily of glass, but with different structures and purposes in mind. Understanding these variations will help you make a more informed decision when building a Padel court.
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Historically, the most traditional Padel courts featured back walls made of concrete. While these courts are durable and economical, they lack the aesthetic appeal of modern glass courts. Concrete courts are practical and affordable, offering a dynamic playing experience with speed and excitement. However, they are no longer recognized for competitive play like their glass counterparts.
Both Panoramic and Crystal courts provide transparency and a modern design, offering an engaging experience for players and spectators alike. Panoramic courts are highlighted for their seamless views, while Crystal courts have become the preferred option for tournaments and high-profile events.
When choosing between what’s commonly referred to as a Panoramic or Crystal Padel court, it’s important to understand the details of each.
Panoramic padel courts are often chosen for clubs and events because they provide an immersive experience for spectators. The design ensures unobstructed views, making these courts ideal for high-profile matches and clubs looking to attract players.
However, what many refer to as a «Crystal» court is best represented by our Tournament court. The Tournament court is fully made of glass and features no profiles on the sides, offering a sleek, uninterrupted view for both players and spectators. This design emphasizes aesthetics and functionality, creating an open, modern look perfect for club events and tournaments.
Both Panoramic and Tournament courts excel in maximizing spectator engagement, but the Tournament court stands out for its streamlined design.
In summary, both Panoramic and Tournament Padel courts serve similar purposes, and both are constructed primarily from glass. The choice ultimately comes down to personal preference and the specific needs of your facility, rather than significant differences in design or function. Whether you prioritize seamless spectator views or long-term durability, both options offer high-quality performance.
At Portico Sport, as expert Padel court builders, we can help you to choose the right one for you as we understand the unique requirements of each project.
The SFN has developed this comprehensive guide to planning and building padel courts in close collaboration with leading industry experts. The guide is structured into three clear parts for ease of use and practical application.
Part One briefly summarizes essential distinctions between indoor and outdoor padel courts, outlines differences between single and double courts, and covers fundamental considerations regarding space requirements, court types, and surface options.
Part Two delves deeper into critical technical and construction aspects, such as structural foundations, lighting, permitting processes, and ongoing maintenance practices.
Finally, Part Three provides an extensive and detailed checklist designed to facilitate and streamline the work of architects and investors, ensuring a smooth planning and implementation process.
The first and most important question is whether your padel court will be indoor or outdoor. At first glance, indoor and outdoor padel courts look similar, but their technical and construction requirements differ fundamentally.
Outdoor courts must withstand weather elements—intense sun, rain, temperature swings—and significant wind loads, which are often the primary reason for robust structural anchoring. Materials and finishes should be selected for maximum durability; for instance, metal structures typically require galvanization or specialized coatings to resist rust and corrosion. According to expert recommendations, outdoor court structures, especially panoramic courts, must adhere strictly to regional wind load regulations (such as the Euro-Code). This typically involves using reinforced steel profiles (up to 4 mm thickness for certain structural elements) and detailed engineering assessments by structural specialists. Indoor courts, by contrast, face fewer structural demands since they are shielded from rain, UV exposure, and wind, simplifying material and design choices.
Indoor courts rely entirely on artificial lighting, which must be well-designed to avoid glare or shadows. Outdoor courts use natural light but also need high-quality floodlights for evening play. Outdoor lighting must be positioned and possibly shielded to comply with local regulations and prevent glare to surroundings.
Whether indoor or outdoor, padel courts are subject to local regulations—but the permitting requirements can differ significantly depending on the court type and location. Indoor courts, especially those involving full enclosures or roof structures, usually require permits addressing structural engineering, fire safety, and ventilation standards.
Outdoor courts might seem simpler, but in practice, they often involve substantial regulatory differences based on the surrounding environment. Factors like noise protection, lighting limitations, integration into public spaces, residential areas, or wind loading can trigger special approval processes. Therefore, it is crucial to identify potential permitting challenges early in the project. Starting the permitting process early and consulting local zoning offices at the outset helps avoid costly delays or redesigns down the road.
Indoor courts typically require a straightforward solution: a concrete slab approximately 20 centimeters thick with a smooth, leveled screed finish, since there's no concern about wind load. The court structure can simply be anchored directly onto this slab.
Outdoor courts, however, demand a more complex approach due to wind loads and environmental conditions. A detailed geotechnical survey is essential before construction to determine soil stability and the exact depth and type of foundation required—often significantly deeper and potentially T-shaped to ensure stability. Additionally, in climates with frequent rain or freeze-thaw cycles, using drainage asphalt is recommended to maintain surface integrity and ensure proper water runoff. Skipping these steps can lead to significant cost overruns and long-term structural issues.
If you are looking for more details, kindly visit Panoramic vs Classic: Which Padel Court Structure ls Better for Your Club?.
When considering single versus double padel courts, it’s important to understand that single courts provide an entirely different playing experience. As highlighted by industry experts, single courts significantly alter the dynamics of the game, as each player must cover a larger area, dramatically changing the pace and nature of play. Consequently, single courts are generally not suitable for regularplay or maximizing bookings in commercial facilities. Instead, their primary value lies in providing a dedicated space for personalized, one-on-one training sessions with coaches. In commercial venues, single courts should only be considered if space limitations prevent the installation of an additional double court, or specifically as a professional training space.
Padel court dimensions are standardized by international regulations, and providing sufficient extra space around the court will improve safety and functionality.
A regulation padel court’s playing area is 20 meters long by 10 meters wide. These measurements are taken to the inner court lines.
Padel involves lobs and high rebounds, so overhead clear space is vital. A minimum clear height of 6 meters above the entire court area is required, and 8 meters is recommended for new facilities to accommodate advanced play and high lighting rigs.
It’s essential to provide additional safety buffer zones around the padel court. According to expert guidelines, you should have an extra run-off area of 2 meters on each side, especially around the net posts. Specifically, this buffer should measure 8 meters in length (4 meters each direction from the net post) and 2 meters wide. Therefore, for one standard padel court (10m x 20m), the total recommended external dimensions—including safety perimeter and structural foundation—are approximately 21.8 meters by 12.8 meters.
In a multi-court layout, it is practical and common to share the safety perimeter between adjacent courts, eliminating the need for doubling the run-off space. Typically, adjacent courts can efficiently share one buffer zone. However, ensure there is ample space for player entrances, exits, and spectator areas.
While not a dimension per se, consider the court orientation if outdoors. North-south orientation is often preferred (similar to tennis) so that players aren’t facing the sun directly when it’s low in the sky. This can reduce sun glare issues and improve playability during morning or evening matches.
Padel courts are available in different design configurations, each affecting the playing experience and the engineering requirements of your project. The primary variants include club (classic) courts, panoramic courts, and super panoramic courts. These classifications refer to how the court’s enclosure—walls and structural supports—is constructed.
The classic design employs a robust steel structure with multiple support posts placed around the court. This traditional setup prioritizes durability and cost-effectiveness. While the posts slightly obstruct visibility, they provide substantial structural stability, making this design ideal for high-traffic recreational use.
Offering improved spectator experience, panoramic padel courts replace many intermediate support posts with larger glass panels, particularly on the back walls. This creates an open, visually appealing environment. However, panoramic courts require thicker glass panels and precise installation techniques, resulting in a premium cost and demanding higher engineering standards.
For maximum visual impact, the super panoramic court design eliminates nearly all visible structural posts, creating a fully glazed, open court environment. This design requires meticulous precision Outdoor super panoramic padel court with a fully glazed enclosure and no visible corner posts, featuring vibrant blue turf and sleek black framing. Located in a professional tournament setting with grandstands, flags, and lighting poles, this court offers maximum visibility for spectators under a partly cloudy sky.during installation and is generally suited for indoor or sheltered environments. Super panoramic courts significantly increase project costs but offer unparalleled aesthetic appeal and spectator visibility.
For first-time investors, the decision between club and panoramic courts usually depends on budget, intended usage, and desired aesthetic impact. Standard club courts are typically more affordable and durable, while panoramic or super panoramic courts, although more expensive, deliver premium experiences suited for high-profile locations or competitive events.
Selecting the appropriate playing surface for your padel court significantly impacts gameplay speed, player comfort, safety, and maintenance requirements. Various surfaces offer unique characteristics to match specific playing styles, climates, and operational needs.
Below is an overview of the main padel court surfaces:
Initially, padel courts utilized painted concrete or asphalt, favored for durability and easy installation. However, these hard surfaces lead to very fast gameplay, difficult ball control, and increased stress on players’ joints, heightening injury risks. As a result, these surfaces are now largely obsolete.
Some courts applied acrylic or resin coatings over concrete or asphalt to improve cushioning and slow gameplay. While these coatings provide some comfort and moderate ball control improvements, their installation complexity and less-than-ideal playability have limited their adoption.
Monofilament turf, an older-generation synthetic grass, features individual grass-like synthetic fibers available in various shapes. Although visually realistic and durable, it requires substantial silica sand infill leading to high maintenance demands, frequent replenishment, and sand redistribution. Particularly in indoor facilities, monofilament turf can generate significant dust, making it less suitable for enclosed environments.
Currently the most widely adopted system, fibrillated turf consists of ribbon-like fibers approximately 10-12 mm high that split into a mesh-like structure. Silica sand infill (around 8-10 kg per square meter) is brushed into the turf until invisible, effectively held by the curled fibers, preventing wind erosion. Suitable for both indoor and outdoor settings, fibrillated turf produces no dust indoors and requires minimal maintenance, making it highly popular.
For more information, please visit How Does a Club Choose a360°Panoramic Padel Court?.