Why We Built PadLX
I’ve been playing padel for about six months.
That’s all it took.
Like most people who discover it, the game got under my skin quickly. It’s addictive in the best way — competitive without being intimidating, social without being forced. You turn up, you play, you talk, and you leave feeling better than when you arrived.
Padel has a way of doing that.
I’ve always wanted to build something of my own. A business shaped by care rather than speed, and connected to something I genuinely enjoy. When padel entered my life, those two things naturally came together.
Building padel courts was the original long-term dream. Creating places for people to play, connect, and grow the sport properly in the UK. But that requires serious capital, and I wasn’t there yet. So I asked a simpler question:
What’s the smallest, most honest way I can start?
PadLX is the answer.
Starting small, deliberately
Early on, I noticed that most padel clothing brands weren’t UK-based. Many felt loud, generic, or too closely borrowed from tennis. Others didn’t really reflect how padel is actually experienced - the social side, the moments before and after the game, the time spent off court as much as on it.
I wanted something quieter.
Clothing designed for padel, but not shouting about it. Pieces that feel right during a match and still work afterwards. Simple, considered, and wearable.
That’s where PadLX began.
What padel has given me
I’m a casual player. Middle-aged, slightly overweight, and not pretending otherwise.
Padel has genuinely helped improve my fitness and mental health. It’s given me a reason to move more, to switch off, and to spend time with real people in the real world. That’s something I didn’t fully appreciate until I found it.
And it’s something I’d love more people - especially younger generations - to experience.
Looking forward
PadLX is a side project today, built alongside work, family, and everything else life brings. But I’d love for it to grow into something that supports the padel community, works with UK businesses, and plays a small part in helping the sport continue to grow here.
This is just the start.
If you’re curious, our first pieces are available now - designed with the court, and the moments around it, in mind.
Thanks for being here.
- Gavin