Padel, squash and badminton are three racquet sports that people who have never played them often confuse. Yet they differ significantly in terms of difficulty, cost and how easy it is to find an available court in Prague. Let us compare them fairly, without praising one at the expense of another.
Physical demands
Squash It is unequivocally the most demanding of the trio. Played on a small enclosed court, the ball rebounds very quickly and the player is practically constantly running, dodging and changing direction sharply. It is excellent cardio training, but places high demands on joints and injuries are more likely if you are not properly warmed up.
Padel It is played on a larger court by four players; the pace is slower and rallies last longer, but there is less side-to-side running and more focus on positioning and tactics. It is physically demanding but much gentler on the joints than squash.
Badminton Badminton is a sport with an enormous range: a recreational game in the garden is undemanding and requires almost nothing, but club-level badminton with fast smashes and constant movement across the entire court ranks among the most demanding racket sports of all. It mainly depends on how seriously you take it.
Risk of injury
Squash carries the highest risk of knee and ankle injuries among the three sports due to sharp changes of direction in a confined space. It pays to warm up properly and not go full out from the first minute. Padel is gentler on the body as it is played on a larger court at a slower pace, yet occasional elbow overuse similar to tennis elbow can still occur. Badminton poses a risk comparable to squash when played at a competitive level, however, recreational play in a garden or hall is the most gentle on the body of the three.
Price in Prague
According to the overview we maintain on sportovistepraha.cz, the indicative hourly court prices in Prague vary considerably.
| Sportoviště Praha | Indicative price | Number of sports facilities in the register |
|---|---|---|
| 🟡 Squash | 130-350 Kč/h | 10 centres |
| 🏸 Badminton | 180-380 Kč/h | 12 halls |
| 🎾 Padel | 300-600 Kč/h | 9 curtains |
Prices are indicative, aggregated from our own overview of sports venues in Prague (2025/2026). Please verify the exact current price with the operator.
Squash is usually the cheapest option and is played by two people only, so the court fee is not shared among as many players as in padel. Badminton is similarly affordable and has more halls in Prague than either of the other two sports. Padel is the most expensive per hour of court time, but since it is standardly played by four people, the cost per player is often comparable to the others.
Availability of courts in Prague
Badminton has the most locations in our overview, 12 halls across Prague, so it is easiest to find an available slot even during peak times. We track squash at 10 centres. Padel currently has the fewest courts, just 9, but it is growing faster than all three sports, so we expect the offering to expand significantly in the coming years.
What search interest reveals
According to search data we track for individual sports, badminton has approximately 2 400 searches per month and squash around 880; both are therefore established, consistently demanded sports. For padel we record approximately 3 600 searches per month, even though it has the fewest courts of the three. This is precisely the imbalance between demand and supply that causes padel centres in Prague to increase rapidly while making it harder to find an available slot.
Which sport suits whom
- Padel - for groups of four who prefer fun, tactics and a social experience over pure physical exertion and don't mind paying extra for it. It also suits couples and mixed groups, as the court reveals fewer differences in fitness levels than squash does.
- Squash - for those seeking fast, intense and affordable training in pairs who are not afraid to sweat. However, it demands a solid level of fitness, and injury is more likely if you overestimate your pace right from the first session.
- Badminton - the most versatile option for any age and skill level, from family afternoons to club training, and at the same time the most accessible of the three sports in this comparison due to the lowest entry cost and the highest number of halls in Prague.
If padel has caught your interest, read our introduction. Padel for beginners in PragueWould you like to see prices for all sports in one place, including CrossFit, tennis and climbing? Check out Sportoviště Praha at sportovistepraha.cz. Price overview for sports facilities in Prague.