Padel Smash Academy

RacquetX is back for year three and it’s bigger, sharper, and more on-court than ever. In this interview, Robyn Duda (Co-Founder & CEO of RacquetX) walks us through what’s new for RacquetX 2026, including 10 total courts, a deeper Club Summit, the VIP Club Apex, and how the show is building a true “home court” for racquet sports - Padel, tennis, and pickleball.You’ll hear how RacquetX iterates each year through a sponsor + attendee feedback loop, why the show moved to Fort Lauderdale, what activations to expect across the floor, and how their AI matchmaking app helps businesses schedule real meetings on site.RacquetX 2026 Details (from Robyn):📍 Broward County Convention Center (Fort Lauderdale, FL)📅 March 13–15🕙 Fri–Sat: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM🕙 Sun: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM🎟️ General Admission: $50👧 Kids (under ~14): Free🏟️ Club Summit: $699 (includes perks + party access)🤝 Business Pass: $195 (matchmaking app access)🎫 Joint ticket (with facilities content): $799If you’re a player, coach, club operator, investor, brand, or tech company, this is one of the best weekends of the year to see the industry in one place.✅ Subscribe for more interviews, club coverage, and the business side of Padel.

Racket sports clubs everywhere face the same challenge: prime-time is packed, but mid-day court time sits empty. In this episode, we sit down with Daren Hornig (CourtsApp) to break down a platform built to solve that exact problem.CourtsApp isn’t a court management system. It’s a court marketing marketplace — the “Expedia layer” that sits on top of tools like CourtReserve and PlayByPoint to help facilities promote availability, drive bookings, and increase revenue from perishable court inventory.In this interview, we cover:✅ Why most racket facilities struggle with digital marketing✅ CourtsApp’s “Expedia for racket sports” model (search, map view, price comparison)✅ Dynamic pricing to shift player habits and fill the 11am–4pm window ✅ How CourtsApp integrates with existing booking platforms via API ✅ The performance-only model for clubs (no long-term contract, paid only when courts fill) ✅ Why discovery matters for padel as it grows in the U.S. ✅ The future: analytics, open play matchmaking, and AI booking tools like “Hey Courtney”If you’re a club owner, operator, or player who wants easier access to courts — this is one of the most practical conversations we’ve had about growth, monetization, and the tech stack behind modern racket facilities.Subscribe for more interviews with founders, club operators, and the people building the future of padel.

Padel is scaling fast  but building a great club is harder than people think. In this episode, Cesc & Julian sit down with Patricio Misitrano (CEO of Racket Social Club, Founder/CEO of Misitrano Consulting, and part of the Racquet 360 ecosystem) to break down what’s actually happening behind the scenes of U.S. padel growth.Patricio explains Racquet 360:Racket Social Club (multi-location padel clubs)RacquetX (the industry convention & trade show)Racket Central (e-commerce marketplace)National Padel League (NPL) (amateur leagues + interclub competition)We also dive into his interactive data dashboard tracking courts, pricing, indoor vs outdoor trends, booking platforms, and how club economics are shifting. If you’re a club owner, investor, coach, brand, or entrepreneur, this is a must-watch.Topics covered:Scaling clubs across Denver, Atlanta, and Houston (plus Katy)The truth about permits, municipalities, and build delaysWhy coaches + community decide whether clubs winWhy country clubs and tennis clubs will drive the next wave of padel growthHow data changes the game for investors and operators00:00 – Rack 360 explained00:58 – What is Racket Social Club? (clubs + operations)01:10 – The locations: Denver, Atlanta, Houston, Katy02:31 – The Atlanta acquisition (Windward Lake: tennis, pools, marina)03:14 – Sports Haus (CT) origin story + why Patricio sold05:01 – The 4 Rack 360 business units (RacquetX, Racket Central, NPL)06:03 – Misitrano Consulting + advisory work for club builders08:00 – The padel data mission: tracking every court in the U.S.11:34 – The interactive dashboard: pricing, indoor/outdoor, growth, platforms14:26 – Indoor padel trend + growth acceleration numbers18:00 – Club pricing mistakes + dynamic pricing future20:10 – Why country clubs/tennis clubs will drive padel growth21:44 – Scaling challenge: leadership + local community differences24:07 – Permitting/inspection delays + how to avoid losing months26:43 – Best advice to new club owners (hire the right experts)27:15 – Staffing structure + director roles + systems before opening29:28 – The coach shortage problem (and how he hires)30:25 – Risks of importing coaches (culture, language, retention)35:54 – “No juicy news” + focus on member experience + retention37:00 – Payment platforms + processing fees + alternatives39:31 – Why different clubs use different platforms41:40 – Building internal dashboards + CRM + automations44:14 – Closing thoughts + padel ecosystem collaboration

Welcome to a brand-new Padel Smash Academy Club Review—today Cesc & Julian are in Palm Beach with Florencia Roncatti (General Manager) and Guillermo Amor Torres (Operations Manager) at Padel Club Palm Beach.This club may be small and cozy, but it’s packed with personality—from tiered clinics (Intro → Beginner → Intermediate → Advanced), to community-first open play nights where they literally bring pizza and get people to stay after the match. We also break down how the club approaches a seasonal market like Palm Beach, their membership structure (including a new monthly option launching), pricing, coaching lineup, and what expansion could look like next.If you’re a player, coach, club operator, or just love seeing how padel is growing in the U.S.this episode is full of real insight.Follow/Connect: Padel Club Palm Beach — (add links) Padel Smash Academy — (add links)Chapters: 00:00 Programs + clinics overview 00:20 Palm Beach club review intro 01:10 Flo’s journey + tennis → padel 03:10 Guillermo’s role + Barcelona padel roots 05:00 Courts, ceilings, platform (PlayByPoint) 05:45 Pricing + memberships (annual + monthly) 07:30 Coaches + lesson/clinic pricing 08:20 Hospitality: coffee, smoothies, beer/wine 09:10 Expansion plans (more indoor courts) 10:00 Programming ladder + open play “pizza nights” 11:25 Community challenges vs Miami culture 12:40 Seasonality + summer pivots 13:45 USPA tournament plans 14:20 Why the “details” make this club special 15:25 Wellness + Halloween events + season timing 16:05 On-court challenge: Julian wants revenge 😄

Kevin Ye breaks down how PATL Atlanta grew padel in a tennis/pickle market by building community-first programming, then scaling via smart facility partnerships and expansion (Charleston next).Kevin Ye (PATL Atlanta) breaks down the real blueprint for growing padel in the U.S.—starting with a small early community, converting tennis + pickleball players, and building programming that keeps people coming back.In this conversation, Kevin shares how he discovered padel through social media, how PATL Atlanta built momentum with beginner clinics and Americanos, and what it takes to scale—staffing, coaching pipelines, zoning/permitting, and choosing the right locations. We also talk pricing strategy, membership value, and PATL’s next move: a fully indoor Charleston facility built for year-round play.If you’re a club operator, coach, investor, or a player looking for a thriving padel community—this episode is loaded with practical insight.Follow/Connect:PATL Atlanta — https://playpatl.com/atlanta-chamblee/Padel Smash Academy — https://www.padelsmashacademy.com/Chapters:00:00 Kevin’s background + discovering padel03:30 How PATL Atlanta built community05:30 Bootstrapping + partnering with existing facilities08:30 Pricing + membership strategy11:20 Expansion: Charleston plans14:30 Staffing, coaching gap, and growth challenges17:40 Programming: clinics, levels, Americanos, tournaments20:40 Final thoughts

We’re on a West Coast road trip visiting padel clubs across the United States — and this stop takes us all the way south to San Diego, California at Kingdom of Padel. In this episode, we sit down with Fernando Sotelo (Co-Founder/Owner) to talk about his padel journey, how the club evolved from the previous location, and what it takes to build an indoor padel facility that players actually choose over outdoor courts.Kingdom of Padel is built like a full lifestyle hub: 6 padel courts + 3 pickleball courts, a sports bar + restaurant, golf simulators, locker rooms & showers, and even fitness programming coming online (Pilates, yoga, and more). Fernando also breaks down why indoor padel matters in San Diego (fog, wind, humidity, comfort, guaranteed court time), how pickleball is helping introduce new players to padel, and what memberships and pay-to-play pricing look like.If you’re a player, a club owner, or someone exploring the business side of padel in the U.S., this is a must-watch.Follow/Subscribe for more club reviews, interviews, and behind-the-scenes padel growth stories.

We’re on location in Sint Maarten at SXM Padel Club with Ricardo Perez, Managing Director of SXM Padel Group, breaking down how a “crazy idea” turned into one of the most active padel communities in the Caribbean.In this interview, Ricardo shares the real story behind launching the club with no clear market data, converting an abandoned tennis court into a modern padel facility, and building demand through PR, open houses, and a youth program that made padel accessible from day one. We also get into the business side funding the build with a $100,000 grant + $50,000 loan, reinvesting into the club, and reaching ROI in about two years.Plus: SXM Padel’s next chapter is huge! Ricardo reveals plans for a new 7-court facility (including stadium-style pro courts) designed to host international-level tournaments, expand wellness amenities, and grow padel across the Caribbean.

In this episode of Padel Smash Academy, we’re in San Francisco for a full club review at Park Padel, one of Northern California’s most iconic padel clubs. We sit down with Katie Lampert—co-founder, co-owner, and the ultimate “do-everything” operator—to break down how Park Padel was built and why it’s become a true padel lifestyle destination.Katie shares the vision behind their indoor facility: a place where you can spend the entire day—play padel, take a work call in a pod, hit a quick workout, recover with Hyperice and NormaTec, then grab a coffee… or a beer. The goal was simple: even indoors, make it feel alive and green—like a park.We also get super tactical on what makes the business work:How their first location at Embarcadero / Market Street created “built-in marketing” with constant foot trafficWhy their second indoor location required old-school outreach + corporate offsitesThe big unlock: shifting memberships from per-location to access across locationsTheir programming flywheel: Intro to Padel, clinics, socials, Americanos, leagues, tournamentsThe tech stack: moving from PlayByPoint to Playtomic, and why rating + open matches matterTheir facility details: 6 courts, locker rooms & showers, lounge space, gym, work pods, and moreThe camera system: Clutch—livestreaming, match review, and coaching with videoPark Padel has grown to three locations across the Bay Area region and has real expansion momentum—while staying focused on the one thing that matters most: community.📍Learn more about Park Padel: parkpadel.com 🎧 Listen to the Padel Smash Academy Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

In this episode of Padel Smash Academy, we head to Los Angeles to visit Padel Up and sit down with Abraham Alvarez, the club’s Head Padel Coach, to talk about what it really takes to build padel from the ground up on the West Coast.Abraham shares his journey starting padel in Miami in 2021, getting instantly hooked after transitioning from tennis, and witnessing the Miami padel boom as clubs started opening fast. Then he moved to LA where padel was basically only happening in private homes—and began teaching house-to-house before helping grow what became one of the most important padel communities in the region.We get into how Padel Up built community through programming, clinics, leagues, and events, and how that effort turned into a 450-person WhatsApp group. Abraham also breaks down the model: memberships, court pricing, lesson rates, amenities, and why education is a huge part of converting racquet-sport players into real padel players.If you’re building a padel club, coaching, investing, or you’re just obsessed with the sport’s growth in the US—this one’s for you.

Padel doesn’t grow by accident—and San Diego is proof. In this episode, we sit down with Ryan Redondo, CEO of Tactica Padel, to break down how one coach’s idea turned into a real padel ecosystem—starting with three courts and scaling into one of the most active padel communities in the country.Ryan shares how Taktika built momentum through an international player base, why access and affordability are non-negotiable for growth, and what it takes to bring padel into public facilities, universities, and new markets. We also talk business: joint ventures, shared revenue models, partnerships, and why infrastructure is the missing link if padel wants to follow the tennis blueprint in the United States.If you’re building a club, investing in padel, coaching, or just trying to understand where US padel is headed—this is one of the clearest playbooks you’ll hear.Listen / watch and follow Padel Smash Academy for more club stories, founders, and the business of padel.

In this episode of Padel Smash Academy, we sit down with Matt Gibson, VP of PlaySight, to unpack how smart-court technology and AI are transforming padel at every level. From instant highlights and automated match analytics to coach-ready performance data, Matt explains how PlaySight is changing the way players train, clubs operate, and fans engage with the sport.We dive into the real-world impact for club owners, coaches, and competitive players—why data visibility matters, how tech accelerates skill development, and what the future looks like as padel scales globally. If you care about the intersection of padel, performance, and technology, this episode is essential listening.

Padel Smash Academy sits down with Mike Dorfman, CEO of the Pro Padel League (PPL), live from Miami during Art Basel week at the Scope Art Fair. Mike breaks down the vision behind bringing the PPL Championship Court to the beach—turning the padel court into a full-on statement piece that stops people in their tracks and gets first-timers to finally experience what makes padel so special.Mike shares how the activation came to life with artist Ryan Keeley, why awareness is still the #1 mission, and the “three-lane strategy” PPL is building: showcase elite pros for a reality check, introduce complete newcomers to padel for the first time, and create iconic experiences where fans and amateurs can step onto the same court as the pros. We also get a full season recap—five events across three countries, 25,000 attendees, 100M+ video views, and “a couple hundred million” impressions—plus what’s coming next as PPL expands to new U.S. and international cities, keeps the sport accessible (no paywalls), and continues growing distribution across 16+ networks reaching hundreds of millions of households.

In this special on-location episode of Padel Smash Academy, we sit down with Ryan Keeley, the artist behind one of the most ambitious fusions of art and padel to date. Recorded during Miami Art Week, Ryan takes us inside his creative process—how he captures energy through color, environment, and movement, and why Miami’s blues, pinks, water, and sky became the foundation for this immersive padel court and mural installation.We talk about Ryan’s journey as an artist, from painting garage floors as a kid to creating large-scale murals, skate parks, music stages, and now fully functional padel courts. He shares how this project came together alongside the SCOPE Exhibition during Art Basel, the technical challenges of painting a playable court without impacting performance, and why padel is the perfect canvas for interactive, experiential art.The conversation also explores what’s next—future padel art projects in Miami, the Hamptons, Malibu, and beyond—plus the headline-grabbing $1.5M padel court artwork designed for hotels, private residences, and collectors who want functional art at the highest level.If you’re passionate about padel, creativity, culture, and where the sport is heading next, this episode is a must-listen.

In this episode of Padel Smash Academy, Cesc and Julian head back to Ballers in Philadelphia to sit down with Moustafa “Moose” Bayoumy, the club’s head coach, to talk about what it really takes to grow padel in a new U.S. market: community first.Moose breaks down how Ballers built its player base from scratch through intro clinics, consistent programming, and a welcoming pathway from “never held a racket” to beginner, intermediate, and beyond—while also sharing what’s new at the facility (full restaurant + bar, gym, recovery room, locker rooms, and more). The conversation also dives into Ballers’ membership model and tiers, how they’re filling off-peak daytime courts, where new players are coming from (tennis, squash, platform, and even pickleball), and what’s next— including upcoming tournaments and expansion plans in places like Boston and LA.If you’re a player, coach, or club operator, this one is packed with real-world insights on building momentum, designing a better player journey, and creating a padel community that keeps people coming back.

In this episode of Padel Smash Academy, we’re on location at Padel X in Boca Raton with Jaume and Lorena Rouillon—two of the leading coaches in the U.S. and the U.S. National Junior Team coaches—to break down what junior padel development really looks like behind the scenes. They walk us through the new U14 / U16 / U18 program structure for boys and girls, how the team is selected across a massive country (often starting with video evaluations), and what it takes to build competitive juniors when players are spread across the U.S. and even abroad.Jaume and Lorena also preview the team’s push toward the World Championships in Spain, explaining the qualifying format, match strategy, scouting, and why every match win matters for future ranking. We get into the real challenges—travel budgets, keeping players motivated, managing expectations with parents, and how they mentor these athletes beyond the court. If you’re a parent, junior player, or coach trying to understand the pathway to representing Team USA, this is a must-listen—plus how to get involved and connect with the junior community as it grows.

In this episode of Padel Smash Academy, we sit down with Jamie Fermosell — the reigning US Open Padel Championships champion — to unpack the real story behind his rise from elite tennis in Spain to winning the biggest tournament in the U.S. Jamie shares how he went pro in tennis at just 14, battled a career-ending wrist injury, and then rebuilt from scratch in padel by training 7–8 hours a day for a full year with zero days off.We go deep on what it actually takes to become a professional padel player: the financial reality of the tour, why most players can’t survive without sponsorships, and how the balance between results and social media impacts your earning potential. Jamie explains the path through FIP - International Padel Federation tournaments into Premier Padel, what qualifying rounds feel like, and why the economics in Europe can be brutal even when you’re winning matches.Jamie also breaks down the differences between U.S. and European padel, why he chose to move to the States, and what’s next: his mission to become the clear #1 in U.S. rankings—and his longer-term plan to help build academies and bring more world-class coaching to American clubs. Plus, we talk sponsors, gear mindset (why “it’s not the racket”), recovery, and even a fascinating sleep technology he swears by.If you’re a player, coach, or padel entrepreneur trying to understand the real roadmap - this one is for you.

In this episode, we sit down with Craig Smith, President, and Sam Caster, Founder & CEO, for a deep-dive conversation on purpose-driven business, wellness innovation, and building a company rooted in impact.Craig and Sam share the origin story behind Alovea, the science and philosophy guiding their product development, and how they’re redefining what it means to build a modern social business. From leadership lessons and long-term vision to navigating growth while staying mission-first, this conversation offers valuable insight for entrepreneurs, health advocates, and anyone interested in business as a force for good.This conversation is especially relevant for padel players and athletes, as it highlights how leadership, wellness, and intentional nutrition play a critical role in performance, recovery, longevity, and building a sustainable mindset both on and off the court.  Whether you’re curious about wellness entrepreneurship, values-based leadership, or how founders think at scale, this episode delivers perspective, transparency, and inspiration.🎧 Tune in for an honest conversation at the intersection of health, purpose, and business strategy.

In this inspiring episode of the Padel Smash Academy Podcast, Cesc and Julian sit down with Dr. Celine Thum, founder and CEO of Eterna Regeneration, a cutting-edge regenerative medicine clinic in Miami, FL.A board-certified physician with over a decade of experience, Dr. Thum has built a remarkable career spanning sports medicine, clinical ultrasound, regenerative therapies, and music therapy—and has provided on-site medical care for professional combat sports and motorsports around the world.A former nationally ranked badminton player and concert violinist, Dr. Thum shares how her athletic and artistic background shapes her philosophy on health, aesthetics, and performance. She explains how regenerative medicine can help athletes recover faster, enhance performance, and extend their longevity both on and off the court.Cesc and Julian also dive into her newfound passion for padel, exploring how the sport aligns with her belief in balance, community, and movement as medicine.🎙️ About Eterna RegenerationEterna is a physician-led clinic offering personalized regenerative therapies designed to stimulate the body’s natural healing capabilities. Their mission is to help patients look, feel, and perform their best through prevention, aesthetics, and performance optimization.https://www.eternaregeneration.com/

In this exclusive audio episode, Cesc and Julian sit down with Luis Fernando Ramirez Aristeguieta, Head of Business Development – East Coast at Bullpadel, to discuss how one of the most recognized brands in racket sports is shaping the padel’s growth in the United States.Luis shares insights on:Building strategic partnerships to expand Bullpadel’s market presenceStrengthening both B2B and B2C operations to deliver a better customer experienceThe brand’s official Amazon store and how it supports accessibility and trustHis personal recommendation for first-time padel players looking to buy their first racket with a $250 budgetWhether you’re a player, club owner, or brand enthusiast, this conversation gives you a front-row seat to how Bullpadel is elevating the game across America.🎧 Tune in now and learn how innovation, business strategy, and passion for padel are driving Bullpadel’s success.Pickup Bullpadel Rackets at:https://www.padelsmashacademy.com/collections/bullpadel-racket-collection

🎙️ In this episode of Padel Smash Academy, Cesc and Julian sit down with Jack Corbett, the Sports Director for Reserve Padel, recorded live from our studios at Reserve Padel Sole Mia. Jack shares exciting insights about the club’s upcoming events, the growth of their academy and coaching programs, and plans for future expansion. Tune in to hear how Reserve Padel continues to set the standard for padel in the USA while building a thriving community for players of all levels.