Anyone who has started playing padel has probably wondered what the sand on the courts is for, if it's like beach sand, or if it's really necessary. The answer is a resounding yes—the sand is necessary. And it must be silica sand.
To maintain artificial grass, the sand needs to be able to support it in different environments (indoor or outdoor) and various weather conditions (dry, humid, or rainy climates). Silica sand is the most recommended for padel courts because of its silica (SiO2) composition, which prevents contamination by organic organisms and fungi. It differs from beach sand in that beach sand has very low silica levels, and its granules are smaller and more uniform. Beach sand absorbs water, creating a paste, while silica sand acts as a filter, avoiding moisture retention on the court and contributing to better stability for this reason.
Interestingly, unlike football, where the rubber is used to increase the ball's bounce and fluidity on the grass, or tennis, where the goal is for the ball to bounce higher and faster, the grass on padel courts and the sand aim to control the ball's bounce so that it isn't too fast and can be managed.
For silica sand, granulometry is important; it must be able to penetrate the grass and properly protect the fibers. At MejorSet, we use sand with a granulometry between 0.2-0.5 mm, extracted from open-pit eolian dune deposits. This sand is washed with water and contains no chemical additives.
This type of sand is recommended for both monofilament and textured fibers.
Approximately 3,000 kg of silica sand is required per court, depending on the artificial grass manufacturer and their specific recommendations. For textured grass, this amount can be reduced by half due to its compact design.
For textured grass, the amount of sand used is between 7-8 kg per m², which equates to 1.4 to 1.6 tons per court. For monofilament (straight grass), it’s between 17-18 kg per m², totaling 3.3 to 3.4 tons per court.
This is particularly important when exporting courts, as the sand will occupy more or less space per container. Usually, when the court type is for outdoor use with monofilament grass, the maximum load in a container is 2 courts.
However, when the grass is textured, the same container can fit 3 padel courts.
Regular maintenance of the sand is crucial. At MejorSet Premium Padel Courts, we recommend spreading the sand weekly at a minimum, depending on the court usage, to avoid accumulation at the edges and ensure an even bounce.
This can be done manually or with special machines, depending on the court's use.
During the first six months, we recommend adding approximately 100 kg of sand per court each month. This amount may vary depending on the brand of grass. Apply force with a brush to separate the fibers and loosen the surface. Remove vegetation and debris without using herbicides or tools that could damage the grass. It is recommended to wet the grass with a rain-like effect rather than a direct jet to set the sand.
Get all the advice you need for your project to build a padel court or club with MejorSet, the official court of the Premier Padel tournaments and officially selected by the International Federation since 2020.
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