What Are LTA Padel Grades?
LTA Padel grades are the competition structure that organises every official padel tournament in Great Britain. There are five grades, numbered 1 to 5, with Grade 5 being the entry level for club players competing for the first time and Grade 1 being the top of the domestic game — and understanding where you fit is the first thing you need to know before entering any LTA-sanctioned event in the UK in 2026. The LTA is the governing body for padel in Great Britain, and all official competitions run through their system. To enter any graded event you need a free LTA Advantage membership, which gives you an LTA membership number used to register for tournaments through the competitions portal.
The Five LTA Padel Grades at a Glance
| Grade | Name | Entry | Format | Ranking? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 | Local Tour | First come, first served | Compass draw, 3+ matches | No |
| Grade 4 | County Tour | LTA Ranking-based | Compass draw, 3+ matches | Yes |
| Grade 3 | Regional Tour | LTA Ranking-based | Main draw + qualifying | Yes |
| Grade 2 | British Tour | LTA Ranking-based | Main draw + qualifying | Yes |
| Grade 1 | British Tour Elite | FIP Ranking first, then LTA | Main draw + qualifying | Yes (FIP/LTA) |
Grade 5 — Local Tour
Entry level. Held at local venues. Entry is first come, first served — no ranking required. Draws of 8 to 16 pairs, compass draw format guaranteeing every pair at least three matches. The right starting point for any club player entering competition for the first time. Full breakdown: LTA Padel Grade 5 explained.
Grade 4 — County Tour
One step up. Still played at local venues but acceptance is based on LTA Padel Rankings rather than speed of entry. Draws of 8 to 16 pairs. Once you have a working ranking from Grade 5 results, Grade 4 is the natural next step. Full breakdown: LTA Padel Grade 4 explained.
Grade 3 — Regional Tour
Intermediate to advanced standard. Played at regional venues around the UK. Acceptance is based on LTA Padel Rankings. The standard rises meaningfully here — you’ll regularly encounter players inside the top 100 in the country.
Grade 2 — LTA Padel British Tour
Advanced. National venues across the UK. Acceptance is based on LTA Padel Rankings. Grade 2 is part of the official British Tour and in 2026 runs 21 events across England, Scotland, and Wales. Prize money is offered at some events.
Grade 1 — LTA Padel British Tour
The top of domestic competition in Great Britain. Acceptance is based on FIP (international) ranking first, then LTA Padel Ranking. Seven Grade 1 events are scheduled across the 2026 season, with venues including London, Exeter, Guernsey, and a Pro Finals event at Padium Canary Wharf in November. Prize money is available.
How Acceptance Works at Each Grade
This is the practical detail that confuses most players. The acceptance mechanism is different at every level of the structure.
At Grade 5, entry is purely first come, first served. The moment the entry window opens, places fill in date and time order until the draw is complete. No ranking required. Players who don’t get a spot go onto a reserve list and move in if someone withdraws.
At Grades 3 and 4, acceptance is based on LTA Padel Rankings. You and your partner’s combined ranking determines whether you’re accepted into the draw and where you’re seeded. Players without a ranking can still enter but will be unseeded and placed in the draw after ranked pairs.
At Grades 1 and 2, acceptance is based on the combined FIP (international) ranking of each pair first, followed by combined LTA Padel Ranking. This means international ranking takes precedence at the highest domestic level — a reflection of the fact that Grade 1 and 2 events attract players who compete on the European circuit as well as domestic players.
Seeding across all grades follows the same priority order as acceptance — the higher your ranking, the more favourable your draw position.
How LTA Padel Rankings Are Built
Your LTA Padel Ranking is calculated from your best six results in any rolling 52-week period. Every time you compete in an LTA-sanctioned event, you earn ranking points based on how far you progress in the draw — and those points vary by grade. Grade 1 and 2 events award significantly more points than Grade 4 and 5 events, which is part of what makes the higher grades more competitive.
You earn one set of points per event regardless of whether you competed in qualifying and the main draw. Your ranking is recalculated continuously as results enter and exit the 52-week window, so a strong result from a year ago will drop out of your ranking once it passes that point.
For doubles, the combined ranking of a pair is what determines acceptance and seeding at Grades 3, 4, and above. This prevents mismatched pairings distorting draws — a high-ranked player cannot simply partner a beginner to gain access to a higher-grade draw. The full detail on how points are calculated and how the rolling window works is covered in the LTA Padel Rankings explained guide.
Which Grade Should You Enter?
If you’ve never competed before: Grade 5. No ranking required, guaranteed three matches, compass draw format, local venue. Slots fill fast when entry opens, so set up your LTA Advantage account in advance. Full breakdown: LTA Padel Grade 5 explained.
If you have some tournament experience and a working LTA ranking: Grade 4. The County Tour step up is meaningful — acceptance is ranking-based, so the standard is more consistent than the open-entry Grade 5 draw.
If you’re a competitive club player who regularly beats ranked players: Grade 3. Regional standard. You’ll need a solid ranking to get in, and you’ll face players who treat padel seriously.
If you’re one of the best amateur players in the UK: Grade 2. British Tour level. Full weekend events, prize money available, broadcast-quality venues.
If you compete internationally or are inside the national top 20: Grade 1. Seven events in 2026, structured around the professional calendar.
When in doubt, start one grade below where you think you belong. The standard in UK padel has risen sharply in recent years and it’s better to perform well at Grade 5 or 4 and move up than to enter Grade 3 underprepared.
What Equipment Do You Need for LTA Competition?
At all grades, your racket must be FIP-legal — any padel racket sold by a legitimate brand will meet this standard. At Grades 1 and 2, the LTA provides official Dunlop padel balls and all matches must use them. At Grades 3 to 5, the tournament organiser selects the balls — you don’t need to bring your own. Court shoes are mandatory at all grades; running shoes are not permitted on padel courts.
If you’re not sure which racket to bring to your first tournament, the Racket Intelligence analysis will match you to the right option based on how you play. For specific recommendations by level: best beginner padel rackets 2026, best intermediate padel rackets 2026, and best advanced padel rackets 2026.
The 2026 British Tour Calendar
The 2026 LTA Padel Performance Calendar is the most extensive in the sport’s UK history — 35 weeks of domestic and international competition. For Grade 1 and 2 players, seven Grade 1 events and 21 Grade 2 events are spread across England, Scotland, and Wales, including the first-ever Premier Padel event to be held in Britain, scheduled for London in August. For Grade 3 to 5 players, events run on most weekends through spring and summer at local and regional venues. The full competition calendar is searchable on the LTA competitions portal — filter by grade and postcode to find events near you.
How to Enter Your First LTA Padel Tournament
For a step-by-step walkthrough of how to create your LTA Advantage account, find an event, enter with a partner, and know what to expect on the day, see how to enter an LTA Padel tournament.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the LTA Padel grades?
There are five LTA Padel grades, numbered 1 to 5. Grade 5 (Local Tour) is the entry level — open to any player, no ranking required, first come first served entry. Grade 4 (County Tour) and Grade 3 (Regional Tour) require an LTA Padel Ranking. Grades 1 and 2 form the British Tour, with Grade 1 acceptance based on FIP international ranking first.
What is the difference between LTA Padel Grade 4 and Grade 5?
The main difference is how entry works. Grade 5 entry is first come, first served — no ranking needed. Grade 4 entry is ranking-based: your combined pair ranking determines whether you are accepted into the draw. The standard of play is also more consistent at Grade 4, as unranked or beginner players cannot enter.
Which LTA Padel grade should I enter first?
If you have never competed before, start at Grade 5. No ranking is required, entry is first come first served, and the compass draw format guarantees you at least three matches. Once you have built a working LTA Padel Ranking from Grade 5 results, Grade 4 is the natural next step.
Do all LTA Padel grades use the same format?
No. Grades 4 and 5 use a compass draw format, guaranteeing every pair at least three matches. Grades 1, 2, and 3 use a main draw with qualifying rounds, and do not guarantee the same number of matches. Prize money is available at Grades 1 and 2.
