Beach Tennis, Padel, and Tennis Expand Racquet Options in the Hamptons
Three racquet sports are shaping seasonal programming across the East End, offering clubs, resorts, and event hosts new ways to attract players and visitors. Clear cost, court, and programming guidance helps organizers decide whether to add beach tennis, install padel courts, or stick with traditional tennis offerings.
The Hamptons racquet scene is diversifying. Traditional tennis remains the backbone of coaching, camps, and competitive play, while beach tennis and padel are emerging as high value additions for social events, resort activations, and membership growth. For club managers, event producers, and players, the choice among these sports comes down to space, budget, and the audience you want to reach.
Beach tennis thrives on visibility and social appeal. Played on sand with specialized rackets and pressure reduced or soft balls, it uses a court 16 meters by 8 meters for doubles and a net around 1.7 meters high. Minimal infrastructure is required, making it ideal for seaside socials, charity matches, and beach parties. Temporary activations that use existing beach space and volunteer staff can run under $2,000. Permanent conversions from beach volleyball require more sand management and higher upfront costs.
Padel offers a small footprint and strong booking returns when site and budget allow. A standard padel court measures 10 meters by 20 meters and features glass or wall panels with synthetic turf and sand infill. Full installation ranges approximately from $40,000 to $120,000 or more, depending on materials and site preparation. Lighting, spectator rails, and local permitting are additional considerations. Padel is typically a doubles game with compact, stringless rackets and heavy use of wall rebounds, making it approachable and fast paced for social players and those transitioning from tennis and pickleball.
Traditional tennis remains essential for skill development and high performance programming. Clubs that keep regular hour long blocks for camps and clinics can layer in padel and beach tennis sessions to boost family participation and cross training opportunities. Hosting mixed events such as sunset beach tennis socials with a pro demo and a 30 to 45 minute beginner clinic, or vineyard padel evenings with pro exhibitions and pro am charity matches, taps into the Hamptons lifestyle and hospitality economy.
Practical setup details matter for safety and playability. For beach tennis maintain sand depth of 30 to 40 centimeters and avoid hard packed layers beneath, which increase ankle injury risk. Padel glass panels must be secured and inspected regularly. Coaching should include side specific drills, ankle stabilization, and short burst sprint work to match each surface and movement pattern.
Marketing partnerships with local vineyards, restaurants, and hotels increase reach and add hospitality value. Short shareable video clips of beginners having fun, combo membership packages that pair tennis and padel, and weekend beach tennis passes are effective recruitment tools for seasonal players and second home owners.
Immediate checklist for hosts includes site measurement, local permits for public beaches, liability insurance, a basic first aid kit, certified instructor booking, and demo rackets for rentals. Suggested starter costs range from $1,000 to $5,000 for a temporary beach tennis activation, $40,000 or more for a single padel court installation, and $500 to $2,000 to stock demo rackets and balls. Thoughtful programming balances performance pathways for juniors with lighter social play for adults and visitors, expanding both participation and revenue across the East End.
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