US Padel Faces Its Biggest Supply Chain Blocker Yet: No Domestic Court Manufacturing

With nearly all courts imported from Europe, US padel operators face tariffs, delays, high prices and crews lacking padel expertise. Epic Padel’s rapid expansion highlights the urgent need for domestic manufacturing and distribution.

Why Operators Say the US Model Must Change—Fast

The US padel boom is entering a new phase—and its growth ceiling is becoming painfully visible. With nearly all courts shipped from Europe, import friction is now the industry’s biggest drag factor.

Epic Padel COO Tim Bainton says the current system simply doesn’t work at scale. Tariffs inflate costs, installations run late, and local crews hired by overseas manufacturers “don’t necessarily know padel courts at all.”

The US is paying a premium as a result. With limited competition, Bainton calls the current pricing environment “price gouging,” though he expects this to ease as more suppliers enter the market.

Epic Padel’s plan to build 100+ courts by 2026 underscores the sector’s urgency. For Bainton, the roadmap is clear:

1. US manufacturing,

2. US distribution,

3. US-trained installation crews.

Only then can the market shift from improvisation to reliable infrastructure. Still, Bainton remains optimistic: growing pains are normal in young industries, and competition will eventually raise standards across the board.