As padel continues its rapid growth across the UK, more players are entering competitive tournaments. But for many club players, understanding how the UK tournament structure works can be confusing.
What exactly is a Grade 5 tournament? How do rankings work? And how do players progress through the system?
Here’s a clear breakdown of how competitive padel works in Britain under the structure run by the Lawn Tennis Association.
The LTA Padel Tournament Grades
LTA-sanctioned tournaments are organised into five grades, which create a pathway from beginner competition to elite national events.
Grade 5 – Local Tour
Grade 5 events are the entry point into competitive padel.
These tournaments are designed for players who are new to competition and want to experience tournament play for the first time. They are typically hosted at local clubs and entry is generally first-come, first-served, meaning rankings are not required to enter.
Most players entering their first LTA event will begin here.
Typical characteristics:
Local club tournaments, Beginner to improving club level, Open entry until the draw is full.
Grade 4 – County Tour
Grade 4 tournaments sit one step above entry-level competitions.
These events are often referred to as part of the County Tour, attracting stronger club players from across a region rather than just one club. Entry and seeding are usually based on LTA padel rankings, meaning higher ranked players receive priority for places in the draw.
Typical characteristics:
Competitive club-level tournaments Regional players rather than purely local Rankings influence entry and seeding.
Grade 3 – Regional / Major Domestic Events
Grade 3 competitions represent a higher level of domestic competition and are often larger events with stronger fields.
Some major UK events and competitions such as county championships are sanctioned at Grade 3 level, giving players the opportunity to earn significant ranking points.
Typical characteristics:
Strong regional competition Larger draws and stronger player fields Important ranking point opportunities
Grade 2 – National Tour Events
Grade 2 tournaments form part of the national LTA Padel Tour calendar.
These events attract many of the top players in the country and offer significant ranking points. While they sit just below the very top tier of domestic competition, they are considered high-level national tournaments.
Players entering these events usually already hold strong national rankings.
Grade 1 – Elite National Events
Grade 1 tournaments represent the highest level of domestic competition in Britain.
These events sit at the top of the LTA tournament pyramid and are part of the LTA Padel Tour, featuring the strongest British players and sometimes internationally ranked competitors.
Grade 1 tournaments typically offer:
The highest ranking points Prize money professional-level organisation and officiating
How LTA Padel Rankings Work
Alongside the graded tournament system, the Lawn Tennis Association also operates a national ranking system.
Players earn ranking points from results in LTA tournaments, and those points determine their national position. Different tournament grades award different numbers of points depending on their level. A player’s ranking is calculated using their best six tournament results within a 52-week period.
Rankings are important because they help determine:
Entry into tournaments Seeding within draws Qualification for higher-level events
For higher-grade tournaments, international rankings from the International Padel Federation may also be considered during player acceptance and seeding.
How Players Enter LTA Tournaments
Players looking to compete in an official tournament must register with the Lawn Tennis Association and enter events through the LTA Competitions Portal.
Most tournaments are doubles events, and players enter as a pair. Once entries close, players are accepted based on:
Ranking (Grades 1–4), Entry time for Grade 5 events
If a tournament draw fills up, additional teams may be placed on a reserve list.
The Competitive Pathway
The grading system creates a clear pathway for players progressing through competitive padel in Britain.
For most players the journey looks something like this:
Grade 5 → Grade 4 → Grade 3 → National Tour (Grade 2) → Elite events (Grade 1)
As players improve and earn ranking points, they gradually move into stronger tournaments and face higher-level opposition.
A Growing Competitive Landscape
As padel continues to expand across the UK, the number of tournaments is increasing rapidly. The structured pathway developed by the Lawn Tennis Association is designed to ensure that players of all levels—from first-time competitors to elite professionals—have a clear route into competition.
For many club players, entering a Grade 5 or Grade 4 tournament is the first step into the competitive side of one of Britain’s fastest-growing sports.
Keep your eyes peeled for our ‘Road to LTA Grade 5 Win’ coming very soon to all social platforms.
Proper Padel 
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