Padel gear: what you actually need
To play padel you need a racket, balls, court shoes and clothes you can move in. That's the whole list. Here's what each piece does, what to buy first and what can wait.
The kit, one piece at a time
Padel rackets
Solid, perforated and shorter than a tennis racket. Shape, weight, core and face decide how it plays. There's a three-question picker to narrow it down.
Hire at first
Padel balls
They look like tennis balls but are slightly smaller and lower in pressure. How long a tube lasts, and what we know about pressurisers.
Every game
Padel shoes
The one piece worth buying early. The sole pattern decides your grip on sandy artificial grass, and padel shoes are built for side-to-side movement.
Buy early
Padel bags
Nice to have, not essential. A padded racket compartment protects your racket, and a shoe pocket keeps sand away from your clothes.
Later
Grips, overgrips and protectors
An overgrip costs little and makes an old racket feel new. Frame tape saves the edge from wall and floor scrapes.
Cheap upgrade
What to wear
Breathable sportswear and cushioned sports socks. No special kit needed, though some clubs have a dress code: check before you go.
Use what you have
What to buy first, and what can wait
Most people buy in roughly this order. It follows how much each piece changes your game for the money.
- Court shoes. The biggest difference for the least money: grip on sandy artificial grass, and the side-to-side support that running shoes don't give.
- Balls. A tube or two of your own, so you're never the four with dead balls.
- A racket. Once you've tried a few hire rackets and know what feels right. Our racket guide has a three-question picker.
- Overgrips and frame tape. Cheap, and they keep your racket feeling new.
- A bag. When you've got a racket worth protecting and a pair of shoes you don't want next to your clothes.
Can you hire kit at a padel club?
Often, yes. Many UK venues hire out rackets, usually for £3 to £5, and sell balls rather than hire them. A few examples, from the venues' own sites: The Pollen Club in Manchester (£5), Powerleague (£3), Park Sports at Lammas Park in Ealing (£5 an hour) and Bannatyne Grove Park (£5 with a £10 deposit). Better and Places Leisure centres offer hire at most of their sites. Prices change, so check with your venue before you go.
Can you use tennis kit?
Not the racket. A padel racket is solid, perforated and has no strings, and it's much shorter than a tennis racket. The rules cap a padel racket at 45.5 cm long, 26 cm wide and 38 mm thick, and it must have a wrist cord. A tennis racket can be up to 73.7 cm long. Tennis balls are close but not the same: a padel ball is slightly smaller and has lower internal pressure. If you don't have padel shoes, clay-court tennis shoes are the closest thing.
Questions people ask
- Do I need my own racket to play padel?
- No. Many venues hire rackets, often for £3 to £5. It's worth trying a few before you buy one.
- Can I use a tennis racket for padel?
- No. Padel rackets are solid and stringless, and the rules set a maximum size that a tennis racket goes well past.
- Can I play padel in running shoes?
- You can, but running shoes are built for moving forwards. Padel is side to side on sandy artificial grass, so a court shoe with a herringbone or omni sole grips better and gives the lateral support running shoes lack.
- What should I wear for padel?
- Breathable sportswear, sports socks and court shoes. See what to wear for padel.
Sources
Ready to play? Find a padel court near you.
Keep your kit in the app
PadelFourth, the app for regular padel groups, has a bag: add your racket, shoes and grips and it keeps an eye on how old they are, then suggests options when something's due a look. Coming soon.