The ultimate guide to padel equipment: what every player needs
Padel has a low barrier to entry, which is part of what makes it so easy to fall for. Borrow a racket, show up in whatever you're wearing, and within twenty minutes you're hooked. But once the sport gets its claws in – and it will – the question of what to actually buy, and in what order, becomes a real one.
Padel equipment is relatively straightforward compared to some sports. There's no endless customisation rabbit hole, no specialist fitting process, nothing you need before you can even start. But there are smart choices and less smart ones, and the difference tends to show up on court. This guide covers everything a player needs, from the essentials you buy first to the accessories that make a real difference.
Starting with the racket
The padel racket is the most important piece of equipment you'll own, and it's worth getting right from the beginning. Unlike tennis, where rackets are strung and the string setup does a lot of the work, padel rackets are solid – the face is a foam-core construction, and the response you get is determined by the shape, material, and balance of the racket itself.
Shape, material, and weight are the three things to understand before you buy. If you're new to the sport, a round-shaped racket with a fibreglass face is the right starting point – forgiving on mishits and easy on the arm while your technique develops. As your game improves, moving towards a teardrop shape and carbon construction is the natural progression. There's a full guide to choosing the right racket elsewhere on the blog if you want to go deeper on this before buying.
Brands worth exploring include Babolat, Nox, Bullpadel, and Adidas – all of which make well-constructed rackets across a range of levels, from genuine beginner options to frames used by professionals.
Why padel balls actually matter
Padel balls look almost identical to tennis balls, which leads a lot of new players to assume they're interchangeable. They're not. Padel balls are pressurised to a slightly lower level than tennis balls, which gives them a softer, more controlled bounce – essential on a court where the ball is constantly coming off walls and glass at different speeds and angles.
Using tennis balls on a padel court produces a noticeably bouncier, harder-to-control game. It's fine for a knock-about, but for anyone playing seriously it's worth having the right ball.
Padel balls are sold in tubes of three, and most clubs will use a fresh can per match. For regular players who practise outside of club sessions, buying in bulk is the practical move – a case of a dozen tubes keeps you going without the constant restock. Babolat, Dunlop, Tecnifibre, and Adidas all make solid padel balls at varying price points.
A bag worth having
A dedicated padel bag isn't strictly essential from day one, but it becomes one quickly. The combination of a racket, a spare grip, balls, a towel, a water bottle, and whatever you're wearing off court fills a standard gym bag in a way that isn't ideal for protecting your racket.
Padel bags come in a few formats. Racket cases hold one or two rackets and not much else – fine as a secondary bag if you already have a good kit bag, or for travelling light to a quick session. Racket backpacks are the most popular choice for regular players: they hold one or two rackets securely, have padded sections for valuables, and wear comfortably on your back. Larger padel bags, the paletero or multi-racket style, are for the more serious player who needs to carry multiple rackets, full kit, and accessories to a session or tournament.
When choosing a bag, a few features are worth prioritising. A padded racket compartment matters more than it sounds – rackets that rattle loose against each other pick up cosmetic damage quickly, and some bags protect the frame better than others. Separate wet/dry compartments are useful for keeping damp kit away from your racket. And if you cycle, walk, or commute to your club, a backpack-style bag is almost always more practical than a shoulder bag over longer distances.
Bullpadel, Adidas, Babolat, and Nox all have strong bag ranges that pair well with their racket lines. A decent padel backpack is one of those purchases that immediately improves how organised you feel on match day.
Change your padel grip more often than you do
This is the part of padel equipment that experienced players take seriously and beginners tend to ignore until something goes wrong. The grip is your only point of contact with the racket, and its condition directly affects how confidently you can hold and swing it.
Most rackets come with a replacement grip already fitted – a thicker, cushioned wrap around the handle that provides the base layer. Over time this compresses and loses its tackiness. Replacing it is straightforward and costs very little, but many players leave it far longer than they should.
Overgrips are thinner wraps applied on top of the base grip, and they're the more common choice for regular maintenance. They're cheap, easy to apply, and allow you to fine-tune the thickness of the handle to your preference. Some players change their overgrip every session; most do it every few weeks. Brands like Bullpadel and Babolat make good overgrips, and they're sold in multipacks so you're never caught short.
If your racket handle feels slippery, worn, or inconsistent in your hand, a new overgrip is the first thing to reach for. It's a five-minute job that makes an immediate difference.
The case for proper court shoes
Padel shoes get their own blog post, and they deserve it. The lateral demands of the sport – the sideways cuts, the pivots into corners, the constant stops and starts on artificial grass – are unlike anything a standard trainer or running shoe is designed for. The wrong footwear affects your movement, increases your injury risk, and is one of those things you only fully appreciate once you've played in the right pair. If you haven't already, it's worth reading before you buy.
What to wear on court
Padel doesn't require specialist clothing in the way that, say, cycling does, but the fit and fabric of what you wear matters more than casual players often expect. You're moving quickly in all directions, and anything too restrictive, too heavy, or that doesn't breathe properly will affect your comfort by the second set.
The basics are lightweight, stretch-fabric shorts or skorts, a breathable performance top, and in cooler conditions, a fitted midlayer that allows full arm movement. What you want to avoid is anything with a baggy fit around the arms or shoulders – loose fabric catches and restricts your swing in ways you don't notice until you're mid-rally.
Brands like Bullpadel and Cuera have developed clothing ranges specifically for padel that combine technical performance with a cleaner aesthetic than generic sportswear. The difference between padel-specific kit and repurposed running or gym gear comes down to the cut: padel clothing is designed for rotational movement rather than linear motion, which translates to more freedom across the shoulders and through the hips. For players who take their game seriously, it's worth trying at least one session in properly designed kit before writing it off as unnecessary.
If you play outdoors in the UK autumn and winter, a lightweight windproof layer is genuinely useful. The enclosed padel court creates its own micro-climate, but in colder months you'll cool down fast between points. A layer you can take off and tie round your bag is a simple fix.
Where to buy padel equipment in the UK
The padel market in the UK has grown significantly over the last few years, and the quality and range of equipment available has followed. Express Padel stocks a full range of padel equipment from the sport's leading brands – rackets, balls, bags, grips, shoes, and clothing. Whether you're buying your first racket or restocking your kit before the season, the full range is available at expresspadel.co.uk.