Fitness Guides

You don’t need much to get started.

The essentials are:

A padel racket
Padel balls
Suitable court shoes
Comfortable sportswear

Many padel clubs offer racket hire, so you may not need to buy your own immediately.
If you enjoy your first few sessions, then it may be worth investing in equipment that better suits your game.

A padel racket looks very different from a tennis racket.

It has:

No strings
A solid hitting surface
Small perforations across the face
A shorter handle
A wrist strap for safety


Padel rackets also come in different shapes.
Round rackets

Round rackets tend to offer a larger central sweet spot and are often easier to control.
That makes them a good starting point for beginners.

Teardrop rackets

Teardrop-shaped rackets aim to balance control and power.
They can work well for players who want a more versatile option.
Diamond rackets

Diamond-shaped rackets usually place more emphasis on power.
They can be harder to control, so beginners may prefer to start with something more forgiving. For your first racket, prioritise comfort and control rather than maximum power.

Footwear matters more than many beginners expect.
Padel involves plenty of:

Short sprints
Side-to-side movement
Quick direction changes
Sudden stops
Rotational movement


That means a shoe designed only for straight-line running may not be ideal.
Look for footwear that gives you:

Good lateral stability
Reliable court grip
Comfortable cushioning
A secure fit

Dedicated padel shoes are designed around these movements, while some tennis shoes can also work depending on the court surface.

You can physically play in running shoes, but they’re generally not the best choice if you plan to play regularly.
Running shoes are mainly designed for forward movement.
Padel involves much more sideways movement and quick changes of direction, so court-specific footwear can offer a more stable base.
If you’re trying padel once, your usual trainers may be enough.
If you start playing every week, upgrading your footwear is one of the first things worth considering.