How Much Does Padel Cost in South Africa?

In Cape Town and Johannesburg, court hire runs between R150 and R350 per hour. Pretoria and Durban tend to be slightly cheaper. Smaller towns with fewer facilities may charge less, though options are limited.

Peak hours — weekday evenings and Saturday mornings — are the most expensive everywhere. Weekday mornings are consistently the cheapest window, with some clubs dropping below R150. Split four ways, even a R350 peak-hour court works out to under R90 per person.

Outdoor courts are generally 20 to 30 percent cheaper than indoor, which makes sense given the lower overhead. For much of the year, outdoor is the obvious choice — the weather allows it and your wallet prefers it.

Indoor courts earn their premium during Cape Town's winter rains and when the south-easter makes outdoor play miserable. In Joburg, afternoon thunderstorms from October to March are the main reason players book indoor. If you're flexible about timing, you can mostly avoid paying the indoor premium by playing mornings or choosing your days.

Monthly memberships at South African padel clubs range from R300 to R800. The typical package includes discounted court rates, priority booking, and entry to club leagues.

Annual commitments save 10 to 20 percent over monthly billing. Whether a membership makes sense depends on how often you play. Twice a week or more and it usually pays for itself. Once a week or less, pay-as-you-go is probably simpler.

Some clubs — particularly newer ones in residential estates — operate exclusively on a membership model. Others use a hybrid where members get preferential rates but non-members can still book.

A beginner racket costs between R500 and R1,500. That's enough to get something decent from brands like Head, Nox, or Bullpadel. Mid-range rackets (R1,500 to R3,500) are worth the step up once you're playing regularly, but there's no reason to spend more than R1,000 on your first one.

Balls cost R80 to R120 per tin of three. Most clubs supply them for casual play. Racket rental is available at most clubs for R50 to R100 per session.

Shoes are the one area worth investing in early. Any court shoe with good lateral grip works, but dedicated padel shoes (R800 to R2,000) make a noticeable difference on artificial turf, especially when changing direction.

Group coaching costs R100 to R250 per person per session. Private lessons run between R350 and R600 per hour. The quality is generally solid — many South African padel coaches have trained or played in Spain, Argentina, or Portugal, where the sport has decades of history.

Most clubs run beginner introduction packages: a few group sessions, sometimes with racket rental included. These are the best way in if you're completely new. Even players who have a background in tennis or squash find that a coached introduction saves weeks of figuring out the basics alone.

Play off-peak. Weekday mornings are the cheapest slots at virtually every club, and courts are easier to get.

Club social sessions and Americano-format events are typically cheaper per person than booking a private court, and you don't need to organise four players yourself. These are worth seeking out, especially if you're new and building a regular group.

Outdoor courts are cheaper than indoor. If the weather cooperates, play outside. Get a membership only if you play at least twice a week. And rent a racket until you're sure you want your own — there's no point buying gear for a sport you've played three times.