Tennis Camps for Adults vs Padel Retreats: Which Suits You?

I've noticed that people rarely book a racket-sport holiday just to play more sport. They book it to learn something new, to feel properly energised again, and to take a week for themselves without having to explain why. I play padel, and I host padel retreats, so I'm not neutral. I've tried to keep this comparison honest anyway.

The question I get asked most is simple: should I go on one of the tennis camps for adults I keep seeing, or try a padel retreat? Both are good ways to spend a week. Which one suits you depends on three things: what you want to get better at, what your body is comfortable with, and how you like to spend the hours when you're not on court.

Below is a quick comparison table, a closer look at each format, and a clear "choose this if" section at the end.

At a glance: tennis camps vs padel retreats

	Adult tennis camp	Padel retreat
Typical format	Singles or doubles drills, technique blocks, match play	Almost always doubles, 4 players per court, coaching plus social play
Group size	From small clinics to large academy weeks	Usually small, often under ten people
Court time per day	Often morning and afternoon sessions; can be demanding	Usually a daily session or two, with free time built in
Learning curve for beginners	Steep: serving and rallying take time	Gentle: most people rally in their first session
Social feel	Can be individual and focused	Naturally social, because you always play in pairs
Physical load and joint strain	More running and overhead serving; harder on shoulders and elbows	Less court to cover, underhand serve; often feels less demanding, though elbow, shoulder and calf injuries still occur
Kind of venue	Resorts, academies, tennis clubs	Hosted retreats, boutique stays, padel clubs
Typical rand cost	From an affordable local weekend to a costly week overseas	Varies; still a newer format with fewer price points to compare
Who it suits best	Existing players wanting technical progress	Beginners, social players and people after a balanced week

Prices and inclusions vary widely between providers and change from season to season. Always check the detail with each one before you compare.

What tennis camps for adults usually look like

Most adult tennis holidays follow a familiar rhythm. You do drills and technique work in the morning, often grouped by level. Match play or point situations come in the afternoon, and some camps add video analysis of your stroke. They usually run at resorts or dedicated tennis academies, and they range from a long weekend to a full week.

Group sizes vary a lot. Some camps keep small ratios, sometimes as few as four players per coach. Larger academy weeks may have many players rotating across several courts.

Where tennis camps shine

Established coaching pathways. Tennis has a mature coaching structure, with qualifications such as PTR certification and Tennis South Africa's coaching courses. You can ask about credentials and get a clear answer.
Clear technical progression. If you want to fix your backhand or build a reliable second serve, a good camp will take you through it step by step.
Ideal if you already play. Club and league players often get the most out of the structure.

Where they can fall short

Beginners face a steep curve. Serving and sustaining a rally take time. Your first days can be more frustrating than fun.
They can feel intense. Some camps are drill-heavy or competitive in tone, which is great for some people and draining for others.
They ask a lot of your shoulders and elbows, especially over several days in a row.

Where South Africans find them: mostly at academies and resorts in Gauteng and the Western Cape, at club-run clinics, and at the many Europe-based camps that take international bookings.

What a padel retreat usually looks like

If you haven't played padel yet, here's the short version. It is almost always played as doubles, on a smaller court enclosed by glass walls and mesh. You serve underhand, and the scoring is the same as tennis. The racket is short and solid, with no strings. The ball can come off the walls, a bit like squash, which is what makes the game so distinctive.

A padel retreat tends to balance coaching with life off court. A typical day might include a coaching session, play with local coaches, then rest, a shared meal and perhaps an excursion. There is less drilling and more breathing room.

Why beginners rally so quickly: the court is smaller, the serve is gentle, and the walls give you a second chance at balls you'd have missed in tennis. Points last longer, so even complete novices usually find themselves in proper rallies within the first session. That early sense of "I can do this" sets the tone for the whole week.

Where padel retreats shine

Very social. You're always part of a pair and a foursome.
An easy start for novices. No experience is needed to enjoy it from day one.
Often feels gentler on the body, though padel has its own common injuries, such as elbow, shoulder, calf and Achilles problems.

Where they can fall short

It's a newer format. There are fewer established providers, and quality varies, so do your homework.
Tennis players need to adjust. The walls, the shorter swing and shots like the bandeja (a controlled, sliced overhead) take some unlearning.

Head-to-head: the differences that shape your week

Learning curve and skill level

In tennis, a newcomer can spend days just getting the ball back reliably. In padel, most people are enjoying rallies within an hour or two.

Can tennis players switch easily to padel? Mostly, yes. Your hand-eye coordination, footwork and feel for the ball carry over well. What gets in the way is habit. Long tennis swings send balls into the back glass, and instinct tells you to hit the ball before it reaches the wall, when the better shot is often to let it come off the wall first. Most tennis players adapt within a few sessions.

Are tennis camps for adults suitable for beginners? Some are, especially those with dedicated beginner groups. Just expect slower early progress.

Verdict: if you're starting from scratch, padel gets you playing faster.

Intensity, body and injury risk

Tennis asks you to cover a bigger court, sprint more, and serve overhead repeatedly. Over a week of daily sessions, that adds up. Overuse problems such as tennis elbow and shoulder strain are familiar complaints among tennis players. Padel's smaller court and underhand serve generally mean less load, although it still involves twisting, quick stops and overhead shots.

Neither sport is risk-free. If you have an existing injury or a joint you're careful with, check with your doctor before booking either.

Verdict: many adults find padel the less demanding week, but it has its own common injuries, so listen to your own body.

Social feel and group dynamics

Padel is almost always played as doubles, so connection is built into the game. You're constantly talking tactics, swapping partners and laughing at the shots that come back off the glass. Tennis camps can be more individual, especially when the focus is singles technique.

Group size matters more than people expect. In a group of six to eight, you learn everyone's name on the first evening and the coach knows your game by day two. A 30-person academy week can be energising, but it's easy to feel like a number.

Verdict: for connection, padel and small groups win. For anonymity and focus, a larger tennis camp may suit you better.

Coaching and court time

How many hours a day will you actually be on court? It varies by provider, so ask. More important than the headline figure is how much of that time you spend hitting rather than waiting in a queue for a drill. The coach-to-player ratio largely decides this.

Questions worth asking:

How many players per coach, and per court?
What qualifications do the coaches hold?
Do they know the local clubs, conditions and players?

Verdict: a smaller ratio beats more scheduled hours almost every time.

Downtime, setting and what else is included

Resort-style tennis camps often leave your free time up to you, with the resort's facilities on hand. Hosted retreats tend to shape the whole week, with shared meals, curated recommendations and optional outings.

Inclusions vary. Accommodation is usually covered. Transfers, some meals and equipment hire may or may not be. Flights, insurance and excursions such as a safari are typically extra.

Do you need your own racket for a padel camp? Usually not. Many clubs and retreats have rackets available, but confirm this with your provider. If you've already found a racket you love, bring it.

Verdict: decide whether you want a resort with tennis attached or a week that has been designed around you.

What each typically costs in South Africa

I'd rather not quote rand figures I can't stand behind, because prices shift every season. Here's the general shape instead:

A local weekend clinic at a club or academy is usually the most affordable way in, especially if you live nearby and don't need accommodation.
A week-long local tennis camp costs considerably more once accommodation, meals and full days of coaching are added.
An overseas tennis holiday is usually the most expensive option. Flights and a weaker rand against the euro or pound can make up a large share of the total.

What pushes the cost up or down:

Flights. Domestic flights are far cheaper than international ones.
Single rooms. Single supplements can add a lot unless a private room is included.
Coach ratio. Smaller groups cost more per person, but you get more attention.
Transfers. Are airport and daily transfers included, or are you hiring a car?

Before you compare totals, check for the usual exclusions: flights, travel insurance, racket hire and optional add-ons.

A local option: a padel retreat on the Garden Route

Most camp listings send South Africans to Europe. But you don't need a passport to have a proper racket-sport holiday. This is where I'll mention what I do.

I host the Padelist Cape Coast Padel Retreat, a small, week-long padel retreat on the Garden Route. Each retreat includes:

seven nights for a group of only six to eight people
a private room for every guest, so coming on your own is completely normal
daily coaching and play with local coaches
all local transfers during the week
me, present all week as your host.

The days have structure, but nothing is forced. If you'd rather sit out a session and read by the sea, you can opt out at any time without explaining yourself.

I chose the Garden Route because, outside peak holiday season, it's quieter than the busiest hotspots. It's where South Africans themselves go on holiday. And it's easy to reach: flights from Johannesburg or Cape Town into George are short. Optional adventures, including safari, are available if you want them.

It suits every level, including people who have never held a padel racket. The retreat is priced in pounds, at £2,200 per person at the time of writing, so the rand cost moves with the exchange rate. Check the website for current pricing and dates before planning around it.

Which suits you? A quick decision guide

Choose a tennis camp if you:

already play tennis and want to sharpen your technique
enjoy competitive singles or are preparing for league or club matches
like structured, repetitive drilling and measurable progress
are comfortable with a higher physical load.

Choose a padel retreat if you:

are new to racket sports, or returning after a long break
want a social, balanced week rather than a bootcamp
prefer less strain on your joints
see the week as active self-care: learning, moving and resting in equal measure.

Not sure? Try both before you commit. Padel clubs have popped up across Joburg, Cape Town and many other towns, so book a beginner session or a social game and see how it feels. Do the same with a tennis clinic.

Questions to ask any provider:

How big is the group, and what's the level mix?
What's the coach-to-player ratio?
How many hours a day are we actually on court?
What's included: accommodation, transfers, meals, rackets?
What are the deposit and cancellation terms?
Can I opt out of sessions if I need a rest?

Final thoughts

The right week isn't the one with the most hours on court or the most impressive venue. It's the one you come home from with more energy than you left with, a skill you're quietly proud of, and a bit of perspective on the rest of your life.

If tennis gives you that, book the camp. If you're curious about padel and want a gentler, more social week close to home, you're welcome to read more about the Garden Route retreat or get in touch with any questions. There's no pressure. I'm always happy to talk padel.

Frequently asked questions

Are tennis camps for adults suitable for beginners?

Some are, especially camps with dedicated beginner groups. Expect slower early progress, though, because serving and sustaining a rally take time and the first days can be more frustrating than fun.

Can tennis players switch easily to padel?

Mostly, yes. Hand-eye coordination, footwork and feel for the ball carry over well, but long tennis swings and the instinct to hit before the ball reaches the wall take some unlearning. Most tennis players adapt within a few sessions.

Is padel easier on the body than tennis?

Often, yes. Padel’s smaller court and underhand serve generally mean less load than tennis, which involves more running and repeated overhead serving. But padel has its own common injuries, such as elbow, shoulder, calf and Achilles problems, so check with your doctor if you have an existing injury.

Do I need my own racket for a padel retreat?

Usually not, as many clubs and retreats have rackets available. Confirm this with your provider, and bring your own if you already have one you love.

What affects the cost of a racket-sport holiday in South Africa?

Flights, single room supplements, the coach-to-player ratio and whether transfers are included all push the price up or down. A local weekend clinic is usually the most affordable option, while an overseas tennis holiday is typically the most expensive, partly because of the exchange rate.