Glass or solid wall padel court: what changes
Glass returns the ball faster and more predictably than a rendered concrete wall, which absorbs part of the energy and produces slower and more irregular rebounds, so players have to adjust position and timing.
gelisted editorial team · Updated 15 August 2026
The short version
- The court measures 20 metres by 10.
- Back walls are 3 metres high plus 1 metre of mesh.
- Court glass is 10 or 12 millimetres of toughened glass.
- The artificial grass and sand surface governs the speed of the bounce.
A player who learns on solid walls and moves to glass usually arrives late on the first wall ball. Going the other way, they arrive early. The difference is real and corrects itself in two matches.
How each material rebounds
Toughened glass is a rigid, smooth surface that returns the ball with little energy loss, so the rebound is fast, long and fairly predictable. Rendered concrete absorbs more energy and carries small irregularities, producing shorter, slower bounces with occasional deviations. On a solid wall you move in earlier; on glass you wait a moment longer.
| Element | Measurement | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Court length | 20 metres | 10 per side |
| Court width | 10 metres | |
| Back wall height | 3 metres | plus 1 metre of mesh |
| Side wall height | 3 metres, stepped | by model |
| Glass thickness | 10 or 12 mm | toughened |
| Net height at the centre | 88 centimetres | |
| Net height at the posts | 92 centimetres | |
| Surface | artificial grass with sand |
Visibility
Glass lets the game be watched from outside and gives a sense of space, which helps spatial orientation inside the court. On solid walls the visual reference is reduced and some players lose their sense of distance to the back. On outdoor courts, glass adds one factor that is not minor on this island: low sun early and late in the day can dazzle at certain orientations.
The surface matters too
Artificial grass with silica sand governs bounce speed and sliding. With too little sand the surface grips more, the bounce sits higher and joint loading increases. With too much, it slides and the ball dies. Correct maintenance means periodic brushing and topping up the sand, and a club that neglects it has courts that are slower and more slippery than they should be.
The surface of an intensively used court has a life of about 5 to 8 seasons before it needs replacing.
Indoor or outdoor
On the island an outdoor court is playable most of the year, with the caveats of midday heat in July and August and of wind in exposed locations. A covered court removes those variables and the glare, at a rate usually 15 to 30 per cent higher. For summer play, the 8 to 11 window and after 19:00 are the slots that avoid the heat.
Frequently asked
+What is the difference between glass and solid walls?
Glass returns the ball faster and more predictably; a solid wall gives slower and more irregular rebounds.
+What size is a padel court?
Twenty metres by ten, with walls three metres high plus one metre of mesh.
+What height is the net?
Eighty eight centimetres at the centre and ninety two at the posts.
+Does the state of the surface matter?
Considerably. Too little sand grips and raises the bounce; too much makes it slide and kills the ball.
+Outdoor or covered?
Outdoor is playable most of the year; covered avoids heat, wind and glare for 15 to 30 per cent more.
Sources
- 1Govern de les Illes Balears, Govern de les Illes Balears (August 2026)
- 2Instituto Nacional de Estadística, INE (August 2026)