Slams Stories
Insights from the sport
Market figures, club practice and product development. Not a corporate blog, but content that actually says something.
King of the Court at Silva's Padel: 20 players, 5 courts, one evening
Silva's Padel ran a King of the Court evening with 20 players across 5 courts. QR scoring per court, automatic ladder rotation, and credits landing straight in every player profile.
More stories
Padel summer league: how Silva's Padel keeps 54 teams playing all summer long
Most padel clubs go quiet in summer. Silva's Padel does the opposite, running a league of 54 teams across three levels all summer long. Here's how they did it.
More than 330,000 Dutch players play pay & play. What does that mean for clubs?
Nearly 40 percent of active padel players play through informal, flexible formats. It's a growing group that clubs don't want to lose, but don't always know how to keep engaged.
How to build a padel club that keeps players coming back
A tournament draws players. A league keeps them. The clubs that grow best build structure that runs all year, not just at the moments when there is something to win.
The padel market is scaling up. Clubs that think in single locations are falling behind
The Netherlands has 780 padel venues with an average of 4.5 courts each. Scaling up is a fact of life. Here is what that means for clubs that grow bigger than they ever planned to.
1,042 padel tournaments in 2025. The organization isn't scaling with it
The number of padel tournaments rose by 35 percent. Nearly 68,000 players took part. But the volunteers who run it all didn't grow by 35 percent.
How to organize a padel ladder league: the complete guide
A ladder league is the most popular way to play competitive padel all year round. In this guide you'll learn what a ladder actually is, which formats work best and how to set one up for your own club.
Padel skill levels: how to figure out your own level
What does skill level mean in padel, what levels are there, and how do you gauge your own? A practical guide, plus why a rating that moves with you is more accurate than a fixed label.
How does a padel rating work? The DSS system explained
A fair rating system is the difference between a lively competition and one where the strongest players always win and everyone else drops out. Read how the DSS rating system works and why Slams.app uses it.
Americano ladder or one-off tournaments: what works better for your padel club?
An ongoing ladder competition or the occasional standalone tournament? Both formats have their strengths. In this article we compare them honestly, so you can make the best choice for your club.
Padel Americano: rules, variations and tips for organizers
Padel Americano is the most popular club format in the Netherlands. But how does it actually work? We explain the rules, cover the most common variations and share practical tips for every organizer.
How to boost player engagement in your padel club
Engaged players stay members longer, bring their friends along and keep a club healthy. Discover the concrete steps you can take to boost engagement in your padel club.
Planning a full padel season: from setup to final standings
A well-planned season runs itself. In this article you'll learn how to set up a padel season, which format fits your club best, and how to handle drop-outs and late registrations.
Comparing padel club software in 2026: what are your options?
Spreadsheets fall short the moment your competition grows. We line up the main options for padel club software, from generic membership admin to specialised competition tools.
Mexicano padel: rules, formats and tips for clubs
Mexicano is one of the most popular tournament formats for padel clubs. Dynamic pairing based on the live standings keeps matches exciting right to the end. Here is everything you need to know.
New: automatic group assignment by skill level
Slams is introducing skill-based matchmaking: 50 registrations automatically sorted into groups by DSS rating using a snake draft. Fair groups, a preview for the organizer, and transparent communication to players.
Padel as team building: 5 reasons companies choose padel
Padel has grown into the most popular team building format for companies. Easy to pick up, social and demonstrably effective. Five concrete reasons why more and more HR managers are choosing padel.
Americano explained for companies: the most popular tournament format
Americano is the most-played format at corporate tournaments. Everyone plays with and against everyone, no one gets knocked out, and the social mix is maximised. Here is exactly how it works and why it fits so well.
What does it cost to organize a corporate padel tournament?
What are the real costs of a corporate padel tournament? Court hire, catering and organizing costs: an honest overview of what to expect.
How to organise a corporate padel tournament: step by step
Organise a corporate padel tournament in five steps. From choosing a venue and picking a format to handling registrations and running the day itself.
What is pickleball? The complete beginner's guide
Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the world, and now it's taking off in the Netherlands too. What it is, how it works, why it's so popular and how to get started yourself.
Pickleball rules: how the game works
The serve, the two-bounce rule, the kitchen and the scoring. A clear explanation of all the pickleball rules for beginners and clubs.
Pickleball levels and skill rating: how to figure out your level
What does skill level mean in pickleball, which levels are there and how do you gauge your own? A clear look at the scale, DUPR and how an automatic rating works.
Pickleball Americano: rules, schedule and how to run it
Americano is the perfect social format for pickleball: rotating partners, individual points, and everyone plays with and against everyone. Here is how it works and how to organize it.
Organizing a Pickleball Competition in the Netherlands: The Complete Starter Guide (2026)
Pickleball is growing fast in the Netherlands, but there is almost no content on how to set up a serious internal competition. This is the first starter guide for clubs of 8 to 80 players.
Running a fall tennis competition alongside your KNLTB team
KNLTB competitions run from April to June. So what does your tennis club do from September to March? An internal fall competition keeps players active, opens the door to new formats, and keeps members engaged without competing with the KNLTB.
Charging entry fees for a padel tournament: how it works with iDEAL
Payment requests get ignored. People forget bank transfers. iDEAL through a registration page gives you a 95 percent payment rate without chasing anyone. Here is how to set it up.
Setting up a pickleball ladder for your club: step by step
For pickleball clubs, a ladder is the perfect way in. No fixed playing slot, players arrange their own matches, and the rankings keep everyone sharp. Here's how to set one up.
Running a tennis winter league in the Netherlands: indoor or outdoor?
Tennis clubs face a winter paradox: players want to keep playing, but the courts are wet or closed. A winter league can work both indoors and outdoors, as long as you set it up smartly.
Automate your padel group draws: stop shuffling by hand
Building the groups for 16 or 32 pairs in Excel takes a volunteer two to three hours on average. With automatic group seeding it takes ten seconds. Here's how it works and what you get back.
Mexicano vs Americano vs King of the Court: when do you pick which format?
Three of the most-played padel formats look alike but work very differently. When do you go for Americano, when for Mexicano, and when does King of the Court fit better?
Padel winter league: which formats work for indoor clubs
Indoor padel makes a winter league possible where tennis clubs shut their courts. Which formats work best indoors, and how do you spread limited court time across a large group of players?
Tennis spring league 2027: planning, KNLTB and what your club handles itself
The KNLTB spring league 2027 is coming up. What your club needs to plan, when registration opens, and how to keep the players engaged who aren't on a competition team.
Padel spring league 2027: how to get a head start in September
The 2027 spring league feels a long way off, but the clubs that start planning now are the ones with a full tournament come March. Here's how to prepare without letting it swallow your whole summer.