About Vejay Pal

Vejay Pal first discovered padel in 2017 while on a fitness holiday in Lanzarote. At the time, it was simply a fun way to unwind after a long day of training, but the sport quickly captured his attention as he noticed just how many people were playing.

He became more serious about the game in spring 2022, when the first padel court was built in Derbyshire, followed soon after by an 11-court indoor centre nearby. With more than four decades of tennis experience, alongside a background in long-distance and marathon running, Vejay was well-prepared to channel his sporting knowledge into padel coaching.

Top Tips

For Vejay, padel is all about building strong foundations. He encourages beginners to play as many matches as possible and to seek coaching early on. Doing so helps eliminate bad habits and improves court positioning, setting players up for long-term success.

He also shares two top tips for those starting out:

1. Always play in shorts with pockets and keep the non-dominant hand on the throat of the racket. Avoid holding a ball in the other hand while playing.

2. Anyone looking to play regularly should include strength training in their routine. Padel is great fun but physically demanding, and strength work is essential to avoid injuries.

Favourite Moments

• Returning from a serious Achilles rupture and surgery to compete again – and going on to win several trophies.

• Closing in on 125 five-star coaching reviews in just over two years of coaching.

Most Excited About

• The rapid growth of padel across the UK.

• The opening of more indoor centres, including Derby’s second large venue this year.

Next For Vejay Pal

Looking ahead, Vejay plans to move more of his coaching indoors to provide consistent, year-round training. He is also set to increase his involvement with the Hook Padel racket brand in the UK, working alongside distributor Gonzalo Lorenzo at Padel Drive.