How SmashBase
works.

Who is behind it

SmashBase is an independent, validation-stage project built by an active padel player and software engineer who spends time between Bangkok and Europe. It combines practical destination research with small tools that help travelling players choose a club, estimate a budget and plan a better week.

The project is not presented as a large editorial team, a travel agency or a complete global directory. The immediate goal is to learn which information players genuinely use and whether there is responsible demand for small-group padel escapes.

What the evidence labels mean

Personally played. This label is reserved for a venue where the editor has played. Firsthand observations may cover the arrival experience, court environment, facilities and practical rhythm of a visit. Prices, opening hours and booking rules are still checked against the operator because they can change.

Source-checked. This means operational facts were checked against a club’s official website, booking platform, published price list or direct operator channel. It does not mean the venue has necessarily been visited in person.

Where a profile has no “Personally played” label, readers should treat its operational information as source-checked rather than as a disguised firsthand review. “Verified” on SmashBase means checked against an identifiable source; it does not imply an anonymous inspection or endorsement.

How clubs are researched

Research starts with the operator wherever possible: the club website, its official booking page, app listing or published social channel. SmashBase records the useful traveller-facing facts—location, booking method, public price, court coverage, coaching, open games and facilities—then describes the kind of trip for which the venue appears most useful.

Profiles are not ranked by an undisclosed score. A central visitor-friendly court, a coaching academy and a recovery-focused club solve different problems, so the guide explains their use cases instead of forcing them into one “best club” list.

Community tips can help identify a change or a venue worth researching, but they are not treated as confirmed operational facts until an appropriate source is found.

Updates and changing information

Each destination guide displays when its facts were last checked. The current Bangkok guide and Bali guide were checked on 16 July 2026. The date is a research timestamp, not a guarantee that a price or timetable remains unchanged.

Always confirm live availability, price, rental equipment and coaching directly with the club before travelling across a city or making a non-refundable booking.

Affiliate links and sponsorships

There are currently no paid club rankings. If SmashBase later earns a commission from a hotel, retailer, booking link or other partner, the commercial relationship will be labelled near the relevant recommendation. A hosted visit or sponsored placement will also be disclosed.

Payment does not buy an undisclosed editorial ranking. Sponsored visibility and independent guidance must remain distinguishable, and material criticism will not be removed solely because a commercial partner dislikes it.

The retreat boundary

Retreats shown on SmashBase are proposed concepts used to validate destination, timing, level mix and budget. They are not currently bookable, no deposit is taken and SmashBase does not collect travel-package payments.

If a concept becomes a real trip, the travel package will be sold and operated with an appropriately licensed local partner. The operator, inclusions, exclusions, terms and cancellation responsibilities will be identified before any payment is requested. Editorial coverage of a club does not imply that the club has agreed to participate in a future retreat.

Corrections are welcome

Padel venues evolve quickly. If a court count, price, booking link, facility or description is wrong, email hello@smashbase.co. Please include the page, the correction and, when possible, an official source. Substantive corrections are checked before publication.

Explore SmashBase

Start with the Bangkok padel guide, compare Canggu and Ubud in the Bali padel guide, read the Bangkok versus Bali comparison, or save the tropical padel packing list. The court finder, destination matcher and budget planner are available on the home planning section.

For information about interest forms, analytics and browser storage, read the privacy note.