A padel court: with or without sand?

When you visit padel clubs, you'll sometimes find courts with exposed sand and others without. Which is better? We try to answer your questions!

There's no such thing as sandless carpets

First, let's come back to a point we feel is important: there's no such thing as a silica-free pitch. In fact, sand is essential to prevent the carpet from coming unstuck and to reduce false bounces. Tons of sand will keep everything in place and prevent the artificial turf from shifting over time. It also helps prevent moisture from becoming embedded in the fibers. For this reason, sand must be regularly added to the runways.

New-generation carpets are mistakenly referred to as "sandless", because in reality they have no visible sand. The thickness of the fibers and the way they are arranged means that the silica remains trapped at the bottom. You can't see it on the surface. When the carpet is first laid, it must be covered with a large quantity of sand, which eventually sinks to the bottom.

New-generation carpets with a more attractive look

The first advantage of these new-generation synthetic turfs, which were first developed for the World Padel Tour, is that they are more pleasing to the eye. The homogeneity of this blue carpet is obviously more aesthetically pleasing than a carpet with exposed sand. What's more, this new turf provides a more even bounce, since there are no sand clumps on the surface, for example. The grip is also superior, and even though the WPT is offering faster carpets this year, they are still slower than traditional ones. They also take spin better than those with exposed sand, so if you're the kind of player who likes to smash with a kick, you'll be more effective on grass without exposed silica.

Old-generation carpets are faster

Carpets with a lot of sand on the surface will make the game faster, since the balls will rocket instead of being cushioned by the thick carpet. And for clay tennis fans, they're ideal for sliding. Be careful, however, when retrieving balls from the net, which can be risky. Old-fashioned carpeting is therefore generally appreciated by good tennis players who like to enjoy a fast game.

In terms of lifespan, old-generation carpets are considered more durable than new ones.

The fact that they end up containing more silica (an average of three tons versus two) will reduce their degradation, especially outdoors where humidity is high.

Not always an easy choice

Carpets with no visible sand, which are more aesthetically pleasing, slower and have fewer false bounces, generally appeal to players who want to benefit from the latest technology. More expensive, they are also less durable, which means an additional cost for the structure. Today, premium centers are not hesitating to equip themselves with the carpets used on the World Padel Tour to offer their customers the best possible playing experience.

Beware, however, as some players accustomed to faster, harder surfaces complain of muscle pain on new-generation turf. On the other hand, there's no denying that they prevent slipping accidents.

Old-fashioned carpet, with exposed silica, seems to be the most suitable for outdoor areas, and generally offers an excellent price/lifetime ratio.

It's up to you to take all these factors into account when making your decision.

If you need any advice, don't hesitate to contact 100% padel for the construction of your court.