To start playing padel you need very little: a padel racket, a pair of court shoes, a few padel balls and comfortable sportswear. That is genuinely enough for your first sessions, and many clubs will even lend you a racket. As you play more often, a bag, fresh overgrips and a handful of small accessories make the game more comfortable. This guide goes through each item, what to look for and what can wait.
The essentials: what you need for your first game
If you are booking your first court or a beginner class, here is the short list:
- A padel racket — solid, perforated, no strings. Borrow or rent one at first if you like.
- Court shoes — padel shoes ideally, or clay/all-court tennis shoes. Not running shoes.
- Padel balls — usually supplied by the club for lessons; bring your own tube for social games.
- Sportswear — breathable top and shorts or leggings you can move freely in.
- Water — padel rallies are long and the exercise sneaks up on you.
Everything else is optional at the start. The rest of this guide explains each item in more detail.
The padel racket
The racket is the one piece of kit that changes how the game feels. Padel rackets are short and solid, with a perforated face made of fibreglass or carbon around a foam or EVA rubber core. They come in three main shapes:
Round, teardrop or diamond
Round rackets have a low, central sweet spot and are the most forgiving — ideal for beginners. Teardrop rackets balance control and power and suit improving players. Diamond rackets put the sweet spot high for maximum power and are best left until your technique is solid.
What a beginner should look for
Choose a round or soft teardrop shape, a soft core for comfort, and a moderate weight. A fibreglass face or entry-level carbon is perfectly adequate. Our beginner padel rackets are selected on these criteria, and our padel racket guide explains the technical details if you want to go further.
Padel shoes
After the racket, shoes make the biggest difference. Padel is played mostly on artificial grass with sand infill, with constant short sideways movements. Court shoes with a herringbone sole grip that surface and keep your foot stable when you change direction. Running shoes, with their soft raised heels, are designed for straight-line movement and feel unstable on a padel court.
If you already own clay-court or all-court tennis shoes, they will do for your first few sessions. Once you play weekly, dedicated padel shoes give better grip and last longer on sand. If you have any concerns about your feet, ankles or knees, consult a professional about the right footwear.
Padel balls and clothing
Balls
Padel balls look like tennis balls but have slightly lower pressure, which suits the smaller court and the play off the glass. Using tennis balls is not a good idea: they bounce higher and faster, changing how the walls behave.
Balls lose pressure once the tube is opened and with each session. Social players can use a tube for a few games; regular players notice the difference and open new balls more often. Browse our padel balls for match and training options.
Clothing
There is no special dress code in most UK venues. What you need is clothing that breathes and lets you move: a technical t-shirt or polo, shorts, a skirt or leggings, and sports socks that cushion and stay in place. For outdoor courts in spring and autumn, a light layer for warming up is handy; you will take it off soon enough. A cap or visor helps on bright outdoor courts. Many players also keep a small towel at the side of the court: wiping your hands between points keeps the grip dry and makes a surprising difference to control on humid evenings. Darker colours hide the sand and dust of outdoor courts better than white, which is worth knowing if you play several times a week.
Accessories worth adding as you play more
None of these are needed on day one, but each solves a small problem regular players run into:
Overgrips
The overgrip is the thin tape wound around the handle. It absorbs sweat, improves your hold and can be replaced in a couple of minutes. A fresh overgrip makes an older racket feel new again. See our padel grips.
Frame protection tape
Padel rackets inevitably scrape the glass and the floor. A strip of protective tape around the top of the frame absorbs those knocks and can be replaced when worn.
Wristbands, headbands and a racket cover
Sweatbands keep your grip dry on warm evenings, and a padded cover protects the racket in transit. You will find these and more in our padel accessories.
A padel bag
Once you have your own racket, shoes and balls, a bag with a racket compartment and a separate shoe pocket keeps everything together and protects the racket from knocks and heat. A backpack is enough for most players; regular competitors may prefer a larger racket bag.
In what order to buy
Start small. Book a few sessions with a borrowed racket and the shoes you already own, then buy in this order as you commit to the sport: racket first, then shoes, then balls and a few accessories, and finally a bag. That way your money goes on what affects your game the most, and you will know which racket shape and feel you prefer before you choose.
Looking after your equipment
A little care makes your kit last much longer. Keep your racket out of hot cars and away from radiators, as heat is bad for the core. Wipe the face after outdoor sessions on damp days and let it dry at room temperature. Replace the overgrip as soon as it feels slippery or starts to tear. Take shoes out of your bag after each game so they can dry, and knock out the sand that collects in the sole and upper. Store balls in their tube between games and accept that they will lose bounce over time: playing with dead balls changes the game more than most people realise.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a tennis racket to play padel?
No. Padel requires a solid, perforated padel racket, and a strung tennis racket is far too long for the game and is not allowed under padel rules. Most clubs rent padel rackets if you do not have your own yet.
Do I need special shoes for padel?
For your first few games, clay-court or all-court tennis shoes are fine. Avoid running shoes. If you start playing regularly, padel shoes with a herringbone sole give better grip on sandy artificial grass.
Do I need eye protection?
It is not required in social play in the UK, but some players choose sports glasses, particularly at the net. If you are unsure, ask your club or coach for their recommendation.
Get ready for your first match
A racket, court shoes, balls and comfortable clothes: that is all the padel equipment you need to start. Add overgrips, protection tape and a bag as you play more. Explore our padel accessories and beginner rackets — every order is dispatched within 24 hours, with free Royal Mail delivery in 7–9 working days and 30-day returns.