Padel has a reputation as a low-fuss sport, and it earns it. You need surprisingly little to play — here is the honest, short list, and the things you can safely ignore.
The essentials
To play padel you need four things:
- A racket. Solid, no strings. For your first few sessions you can hire one at the club.
- Balls. Padel-specific balls, similar to tennis balls. Clubs sell them by the tube.
- Court shoes. The most important purchase after the racket — they give you grip and sideways support. Clean trainers will do at first.
- Comfortable clothing. Anything you would wear to the gym.
That really is the whole list. For your very first game you may only need the shoes, since rackets and balls are available at the venue.
Worth buying once you are hooked
When you know padel is for you, a racket of your own is the upgrade that matters most — a forgiving, round, soft-cored racket if you are still a beginner. A wristband is genuinely useful too, because padel is sweatier than it looks. A simple bag keeps it all together.
What you can skip
Overgrips, a second racket, premium branded apparel, gadgets — all nice later, none necessary now. Spend on a decent racket and good shoes, and ignore the rest until you are playing every week.
Choosing that first racket
The racket is the one purchase worth getting right. Our racket finder quiz matches one to your level and budget in five questions, the PadelClub shop is built around forgiving rackets for newer players, and the beginner equipment guide covers the detail.