❔ Question ❔

Is a ~7m ceiling a dealbreaker for indoor padel?

Hi everyone — quick question for regular padel players. We’re looking to build a new indoor padel club. The space has: • Lowest point around 6.7–7m (truss) • Higher clearance up to 9.6m • Side-mounted lighting (nothing hanging below 6m) There’s only one other indoor club in the city and it’s \~45 mins away so limited supply. For non-pro players: • Would \~7m feel okay? • Dealbreaker or still playable? • Roughly what % of players do you think would avoid a club because of this? Not aiming for pro tournaments — more high-quality, social, premium vibe. Thanks in advance 🙏

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Comments (30)

u/pablobirukov7w ago

I would play if there are no other clubs nearby, and every time we would have beer and talk how low the ceilings are and wish there’d be a better club nearby

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u/MarokkosFavPerson7w ago

this. but 6-7m is crazy. we have one club in our area with that spec and it suffers a lot because there are 6-7 better options around. but if you the only one, go for it. better than nothing.

u/IIIIIlIIIIIlIIIII7w ago

Just dont lob that high, problem solved /s

u/No_Masterpiece397w ago

We have a club here that has 8m ceiling. Everyone is always complaining but the club is always fully booked…

u/Environmental-Path327w ago

If the only place available I'd will go. If there is competition I never put my feet there. That is my brutal honest opinion

u/Aquarius19757w ago

It's definitely playable. If there are no other convenient options for playing padel, then it is fine. But if another facility offers a higher ceiling, then I would choose to play there instead.

u/TopEntrepreneur60767w ago

Depend on the nearby availability. But no one who takes the game seriously will play in 7m ceiling courts.

u/Haunting_Village3727w ago

lol 7m is absolute fine… people on here talking like there Tapia. Building the bibs and community will win long term….

u/Mag01uk7w ago

I work at an Indoor Padel centre that has 15m high ceilings. I think in our 3 months of being open I’ve seen someone hit the ceiling once. 7m would be a dealbreaker for me, players would hit the ceiling all the time.

u/FlatulistMaster7w ago

I've played in places like that. You learn to adapt, and it can be viewed as an interesting factor as long as you don't play with super good smashers. But realistically speaking people will choose another place if they have options.

u/rbrown19917w ago

I suspect there is a contradiction between the low ceiling and the aim for a premium feel. If I'm paying premium prices I want premium facilities, that doesn't mean just having a changing room, coffee shop and a banging soundtrack. It also means premium playing facilities. A low ceiling sounds more suited to a no frills budget mass market situation. With beginners and and casuals the main market. (No shame in that by the way!)

u/bachaterol7w ago

It might work better as a pickleball court. Jokes aside, FIP allows minimum 8 meters for professional tournaments. So it's a meter less than that. It should work for most amateur or semi-pro players.

u/Top_Paint74427w ago

I personally would not play there. However beginners may not notice it.

u/deakr7w ago

7m wouldn’t be a dealbreaker for the majority of recreational players. Most likely, only around 10–20% of higher-level player would take issue with it.

u/BSheep_7w ago

That target group keeps increasing though, eventually some people quit, and other will become more advanced and care about good lobs

u/deakr7w ago

True, but the number of beginners in padel is also constantly increasing. So the recreational base keeps refreshing itself. And mastering padel isn’t easy, it takes quite a loooooong time to reach an advanced level.

u/Material-Clock-44317w ago

7m is fine for lobs. It's people with poor control and precision who will struggle on low ceiling.

u/HomeFreeNomad7w ago

I wouldnt play there unless that was the only option, and if demand is high someone will end up opening better options.

u/zemvpferreira7w ago

If you're out in an industrial area where people are driving to play at your club you're eventually fucked with ceilings that low. If you're the most convenient option for the nearby player base however, that's a lasting business. Really worth thinking about where competition could grow near you.

u/Swansfan7b7w ago

Dealbreaker

u/Sarritgato7w ago

For me definitely a deal breaker, lobbing becomes really nerfed when roof is low

u/Alone-Phrase37977w ago

There is actually one here that placed the 1v1 courts on the lower part (it’s a sloped roof) and I’ve been bitching about it a lot. It’s not a deal breaker but I would book a court somewhere else if nearby.

u/iguivi7w ago

u/PitifulElk19887w ago

What's the minimum height requirement?

u/pyrovoice7w ago

It's not the best but it's fine, plus it trains you to do faster lobs

u/Material-Clock-44317w ago

7 m is fine. I would argue it makes the game more fun than playing with 12+ m ceiling. The game just becomes too slow and boring.

u/Egor_Nedelja7w ago

https://preview.redd.it/xc3d5jv24wlg1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ebdd4fcce3bf86f6f8d26e85ba2d769dfd192a18 Here is a court I played once with the lowest point around 4 m...

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u/sleepydadbod6w ago

That is terrible haha