About 4thPlayer
The UK's friendliest padel community — never cancel a session for the lack of a fourth again, and maybe make a few new mates along the way.
Padel is played as doubles, which means every single session needs exactly four players. 4thPlayer exists to solve the one problem every padel group in Britain runs into: one person drops out, and a booked court goes to waste. Instead of cancelling, you can browse rated players near your venue, see their ability level, years playing and genuine peer reviews, and hire one of them as your fourth for that session.
Every player sets their own hire fee, from completely free up to £50 per session. Some just want a game; others are experienced players who will happily lift the standard of your group. Payment is taken securely when the player accepts and held until you actually meet on court — you share a six-digit release code in person, and only then are the funds released. That means no paying for no-shows, and a fair, transparent deal for both sides. The hirer pays the hire fee plus a flat £2.99 booking fee, and the player keeps 95% of their hire fee.
Alongside the marketplace we maintain a verified map of real padel venues across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, city-by-city guides to playing locally, and a growing library of tutorials, drills and a full beginner rule book so newcomers can walk onto a court knowing what to expect.
4thPlayer is for anyone who plays padel in the UK — complete beginners looking for their first friendly game, club regulars filling a midweek slot, and advanced players who want more court time. It is built and run by a small independent UK team of padel players who got tired of group chats falling apart an hour before a booking.
Please note: 4thPlayer covers matchmaking and the hire of a player only. Court hire, venue fees and membership charges are not included and are paid directly to the club.