What is padel and why is it popular around the world?

Padel combines elements of tennis and squash. It is played in doubles on a smaller enclosed court with glass walls and a solid paddle racket. The glass walls form part of the game, so you can play the ball off them much like in squash. Rallies last longer, points are more dynamic and the learning curve is far less steep than most people expect.

The social element is central to padel's appeal. A standard game involves four players, so the sport naturally brings people together. Friends, couples, corporate groups and competitive club players share the same courts, often booking back-to-back sessions because one game is rarely enough.

South African venues have invested heavily in new courts to meet demand. Partners in the Discovery Vitality Padel network include Africa Padel, Net Set Padel and 10by20, alongside individual clubs across the country. If you are new to the sport, these are good places to start.

How does the Vitality padel network discount work?

Qualifying Vitality members get an automatic 20% discount on court bookings made at any facility within the Discovery Vitality Padel network. The discount is applied in the Playtomic app at the time of booking, so there is no voucher code to enter and no claim process to follow afterwards.

Members also get four weeks of priority access when booking courts. When demand is high and popular time slots fill quickly, being able to secure your court further ahead makes it easier to plan a regular game around your week.

To qualify, you need an active Vitality membership and you must be 18 years or older. Once your Vitality Padel benefit is activated, the discount applies automatically whenever you book at a participating facility.

All bookings and payments must be made through the Playtomic app for the discount to apply. Playtomic manages bookings for every facility in the Discovery Vitality Padel network.

The benefit applies to court bookings only. It does not include padel equipment, classes, tournaments, private or group coaching lessons, or any booking or service fees charged. It is also independent of any padel club discounts and cannot be combined with other offers, discounts or promotions.

Where can you play padel with the Vitality padel benefit?

The Discovery Vitality Padel network includes partners such as Africa Padel, Net Set Padel and 10by20, along with individual clubs across South Africa. Courts are available in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and other major centres.

Before booking, check that the court you have chosen is part of the Discovery Vitality Padel network. You can identify participating clubs by looking for the Vitality indicator in the Playtomic app, and a full list of participating facilities is published in the Discovery Vitality Padel network list.

Playtomic also lists padel facilities that are not part of the network. The discount applies only at participating Discovery Vitality Padel facilities, so it is worth confirming before you book.

How do you get the most value from Vitality as a padel player?

Padel is one of several ways to stay active and earn Vitality fitness points through the programme. Playing regularly means the games you already enjoy contribute to your progress rather than sitting separately from it.

Your padel sessions count towards closing your weekly exercise goal on Vitality Active Rewards. Achieving that goal each week gives you the choice between an instant reward or a gameboard play, so a standing Tuesday evening game becomes part of what you earn.

Remember that Vitality awards points for one fitness activity a day, and the highest value applies. . Tracking a session with a Vitality-linked fitness device can earn between 100 and 300 Vitality points a day, based on your age-related heart rate. If you do both for the same session, you receive the higher amount rather than both.

Members who also run or cycle can join Team Vitality, South Africa's largest running and cycling club. Mixing padel with other activities during the week gives you more ways to reach your weekly exercise goal and keeps your training varied.

Vitality offers a range of other fitness benefits, each with its own requirements and qualifying rules. It is worth checking which ones suit your routine in the Discovery app.

Whether you play socially once a week or compete regularly, your time on court contributes to your fitness and to the rewards available through your Vitality membership.

Ready to play? Activate the Discovery Vitality Padel benefit in the Discovery app, then book your court through Playtomic to get your 20% discount and four weeks of priority access.