Padel Tennis Starter Kit
The fastest growing racket sport in the UK
Padel is the fastest growing sport in the UK and it's not hard to see why. It combines the social ease of doubles tennis with the enclosed walls of squash, producing a game that's immediately fun for beginners and deeply tactical for experienced players. The court is smaller than a tennis court, the scoring is the same, and the glass walls are in play, which means rallies last longer, beginners look better than they are, and the learning curve is gentle. New courts are opening across the UK every week. If you've never tried it, book a taster session at your nearest club first. Most people are hooked within the hour.
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What You'll Need: Full Checklist
- Padel racket (round shape for beginners)
- Padel balls (not tennis balls)
- Court shoes with non-marking soles
- Overgrip tape
- Racket protective cover
- Comfortable sportswear you can move freely in
- Water bottle (padel sessions are more intense than they look)
- Padel bag (once playing regularly)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is padel and how is it different from tennis?
Padel is a racket sport played on an enclosed court roughly a third the size of a tennis court, surrounded by glass walls and metal fencing. It's almost always played in doubles. The glass walls are in play: you can hit the ball off the back wall to keep a rally going, similar to squash, which is what makes it so accessible to beginners and so addictive to experienced players. The scoring system is identical to tennis. The main differences: the court is smaller, the racket is solid (no strings), the ball is slightly lower pressure, and underarm serves are mandatory.
Do I need to be good at tennis to play padel?
No. While a tennis background helps with understanding the scoring and some of the racket mechanics, padel is a genuinely different sport. Many padel players have little or no tennis experience. The smaller court and allowed wall play make rallies easier to sustain, which means beginners can have fun from the very first session rather than spending half their time chasing balls they've mishit. If anything, some tennis players find padel initially frustrating because the instinct to hit hard works less well than in tennis.
What shoes should I wear for padel?
You need court shoes with non-marking soles, the same as for indoor tennis, squash, or badminton. The ideal padel shoe has a herringbone or omni-surface tread pattern for grip on the artificial grass that covers most padel court floors. Avoid running shoes (poor lateral support and wrong tread pattern) and avoid shoes with black soles (they mark the court surface). Most clubs will turn you away in unsuitable footwear. Padel-specific shoes exist from brands like Adidas, Head, and Babolat, or an indoor tennis shoe works equally well.
How do I find a padel court near me in the UK?
Padel court numbers in the UK have grown rapidly since 2020. The Padel England website has a court finder covering clubs across England. Many leisure centres, tennis clubs, and dedicated padel venues now have courts, and most offer beginner sessions, taster days, and coaching. Urban areas now often have multiple options: London, Manchester, Birmingham, and Edinburgh all have extensive padel infrastructure. Many courts can be booked by the hour via the Playtomic app.
What's the difference between a round, teardrop, and diamond racket?
The shape determines where the sweet spot is located. Round rackets have the sweet spot in the centre of the face: the most forgiving position, ideal for beginners. Teardrop rackets are a middle ground: the sweet spot is slightly higher, offering more power on overhead shots while remaining reasonably forgiving. Diamond rackets have the sweet spot high on the face, giving maximum power for smashes and volleys, but requiring more precise technique to use effectively. Beginners should start with round; move to teardrop as technique develops; diamond is for advanced players.
How do padel serves work?
Padel serves are underarm only: no overhead serves like in tennis. Stand behind the service line in the service box, bounce the ball once, and hit it below waist height. The ball must land in the diagonally opposite service box. It can hit the back wall after bouncing in the service box without being a fault. If it hits the side walls before the service box, it's a fault. The server gets two attempts, exactly like tennis. The underarm serve rule is what keeps the sport accessible. A powerful overhead serve would make it much harder for beginners to play.
Is padel expensive to play in the UK?
Court hire typically runs £15-£25 per hour split between four players, usually £4-£6 each, similar to badminton or squash court hire. Most clubs offer off-peak rates which can reduce this further. A beginner racket costs £40-£70 and lasts for years with reasonable care. Balls are around £6-£10 for a tube of three and last several sessions. Padel is broadly comparable to regular tennis in ongoing cost, and cheaper than golf. Coaching sessions for beginners are available at most clubs for £10-£15 per person in a group lesson.
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