❔ Question ❔
Are cheap padel courts from China or Mexico actually worth it?
I’m currently researching the cost of building a padel court, and I keep noticing that some courts from China or Mexico are a lot cheaper than many European suppliers.
Some quotes I’ve seen are around €35k–€45k per court, but then I also see complete courts advertised for much less. Obviously that got my attention.
At the same time, I’ve also come across some posts and comments where people shared their experiences saying certain cheaper courts started rusting pretty quickly, or the structure didn’t handle wind very well, especially for outdoor installations. That part made me a bit worried.
https://preview.redd.it/lfdsd4nxqxng1.png?width=630&format=png&auto=webp&s=01db5da36c9172f0691c43888dd9242a3d90f535
https://preview.redd.it/j1gdv35wqxng1.jpg?width=1280&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4dad12419f38b20690bb5d9338b59bb5a77c3a2a
My biggest concern is that saving money upfront might actually cause bigger losses later if the structure has problems or needs major repairs.
I’m not necessarily looking for the absolute cheapest option. I’d rather pay a bit more if it means the court lasts longer and doesn’t become a headache after a year or two.
So I’m curious if anyone here has real experience with this.
Have you installed or played on a padel court sourced from China or Mexico?
Did you notice any issues over time, or was the quality actually fine?
Would really appreciate hearing some real experiences before making a decision.
Comments (16)
u/KaypohBoomer1w ago
My main consideration would be player safety rather than structural repairs
10
Totally agree!Safety over everything!
2
u/Trovies1w ago
The one from Europe is also made in China. But with proper standards. Court from China does not mean bad quality. They make high quality padel courts too.
4
u/fedeboddah1w ago
No, don't save money for the courts.
Keep the best solution available.
Consider that if a glass broke or the structur collapse (at least in Italy) there are legal consequences.
So.
DO NOT SAVE MONEY for the courts.
Also, consider the after sales service, if a glass broke or something have an issue in 1-2 days usually you can fix the problem.
I can tell a direct experience.
I live in Italy, in Piedmont, really close to Mondo factory (who relaize the best turf in the world) .
A friend of mine who run a small club order the turf from Alibaba (he doesn't consider the customs duties, the delivery and the unloading on site).
Result?
He pay 500€ less than bring the best turf available, and the quality was soooo bad.
3
u/BATARIDER21w ago
Just a bit curious. When you say you can order a court from China or Mexico, does it mean that the supplier ships you all the raw material of the court i.e glass, structure, turf which costs 35-45k? Then you have to pay to get it constructed?I’m in Pakistan and the best courts costs you round 18k euros with imported turf. Some people manage to do it for cheaper because All the material is locally sourced and readily available. cost of labour is low. Was just thinking how the larger manufacturers are missing out on export potential. Also to add on, I don’t recall any safety incidents even though I’m quite active in the padel community.
1
The cost excluding installation is about $20k, of course not including the roof, other supporting facilities, or installation costs.
Have there been any cases where the court was bent or damaged by strong winds? However, rusting is probably a problem that most places will face.
1
u/BATARIDER21w ago
Haven’t heard of any incidents regarding the actual frame. A few courts have had issues with the glass cracking due to pressure changes because temperature in my city is very variable and there is extreme heat throughout the day during the summer months but thats about it.
1
u/Mohinder_DE1w ago
Prepairing is floor for outdoor courts and fixing the fence, glas, net posts to the floor properly needs some experience. Or you will do it twice.
1
u/HairyCallahan1w ago
padel is expensive, players expect high quality courts. I would only play on inferior courts when there is nothing else available
1
u/BerJaa1w ago
Please for the love of God just go for the renowned courts and not some cheap version. They are cheap for a reason. It’s not something mass produced so them being cheap means definitely inferior quality.
1
u/cefell1w ago
The quality of all product out of China is hugely variable, so finding a quality manufacturer is the key. As for the expensive European suppliers, you’ll find that a large proportion of those are the quality Chinese ones with their brand and mark up applied!!
1