Padel equipment for a UK beginner comes down to three essentials: a padel racket, padel balls and court shoes, with an overgrip and a bag as useful extras. Our starter pick is the Adidas Drive Blue 2026, a round racket of 360 to 375 g at £69.99 (about $92 or €82). A five-item kit costs £179.95, or £136.96 without the bag. You can also hire first: Crystal Palace Padel Courts charges £2 a racket and Alsager Padel lends them free. Last updated: October 2026.
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This guide prices one sensible pick in each kit category for October 2026 and shows what you can skip. The racket is the biggest decision, and our guide to the best padel rackets compares the whole market once you know your level.
Padel equipment at a glance
| Item | Our pick | What to look for | UK price, October 2026 | About, in USD and EUR | Need it? | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Racket | Adidas Drive Blue 2026 | Round shape, low balance, 360 to 375 g | £69.99 | $92 / €82 | Yes, or hire one at the club | Check price |
| Balls | Head Padel Pro S+ padel balls (can of 3) | Pressurised padel balls, 3 to a can | £4.99 | $7 / €6 | Yes | Check price |
| Shoes | Asics Gel Dedicate 8 Padel White SS26 | Herringbone (clay) sole, cushioned midsole | £55.99 | $74 / €66 | Yes | Check price |
| Overgrip | Bullpadel GB-1200 Overgrip 3-Pack | Absorbent wrap over the handle, pack of 3 | £5.99 | $8 / €7 | Useful extra | Check price |
| Bag | Bullpadel BPP-26014 Advance 2026 Beige | Room for rackets plus a shoe compartment | £42.99 | $57 / €51 | Optional at first | Check price |
| Clothing | Not listed | Comfortable sportswear you already own | Not listed | Not listed | Yes, no dress code | |
| Eyewear, wristbands, pressuriser | Not listed | Comfort and ball life | Not listed | Not listed | No |
What equipment do you need for padel?
You need a padel racket, padel balls and a pair of court shoes to play padel, and nothing else is required. LTA Padel puts it simply: you need a bat and a ball, and most padel venues hire out bats and balls so you can get started without owning anything.
A padel racket is not a tennis racket. LTA Padel describes it as smaller than a tennis racket but slightly heavier, with an EVA foam body.
The rules fix the size. The FIP Rules of Padel, the version applying from 1 January 2026, cap a racket at 45.5 cm long, 26 cm wide and 38 mm thick, with a handle no longer than 20 cm. Holes in the centre of the face measure 9 to 13 mm.
Those rules also make the wrist cord compulsory. Every racket has a non-elastic cord of up to 35 cm fixed to the handle, worn round the wrist. Rackets sold by padel brands are generally made to these limits.
Our guide to choosing a padel racket explains shape, weight and balance, and children need a lighter junior padel racket sized for their age.
Should you buy or hire a racket first?
Hiring a racket for your first few sessions is cheap, and Padeli’s club listings show hire from free to £5.
Alsager Padel in Sandbach offers free racket and ball hire. Crystal Palace Padel Courts in London charges £2 per racket, or £3 for a bundle of up to four rackets plus balls. Powerleague Padel Sighthill in Edinburgh hires Babolat rackets at £3 per racket from the clubhouse, with balls supplied.
The Rally Hub in Leicestershire charges £4 per person, and balls are included with every booking. Roehampton Club in London charges £5 per booking, but it is a members’ club, so that price applies to members without their own kit rather than to pay-and-play visitors.
Buying makes sense once you play every week. Hire fees soon add up to the cost of a starter racket, and your own racket feels the same every time. Check hire before you go in Padeli’s padel club directory.
How much does a padel starter kit cost in the UK?
A complete padel starter kit costs £179.95 in October 2026 using our five picks: racket, balls, shoes, overgrip and bag. Leave the bag out and the total drops to £136.96.
Each category has a wide spread. One large padel retailer’s UK store lists 363 rackets from £43.99 to £518.99, shoes from £31.99 to £155.99 and bags from £25.99 to £128.99. Beginners gain little from the top end.
The small items stay small. A single can of 3 padel balls costs £4.99 to £6.99, a pack of three cans £12.99 to £15.99, and a box of 24 cans £87.99 to £113.99. Overgrips come in packs of 3 for £4.99 to £8.99.
Spend on the racket and shoes and keep the rest basic. Shoes give grip on every point and a forgiving racket makes the first months easier. A premium bag changes nothing about how you play.
Can I use my tennis shoes for padel?
Yes, you can play your first padel sessions in clean tennis or court shoes. The FIP rules ask only for suitable sports clothing and footwear and set no sole type, and LTA Padel says there is no dress code on the padel court and that you should wear what you feel comfortable in.
Running shoes are the weak choice. Padel is full of sideways steps and quick stops, and running shoes are built for moving forward. A court shoe with a firm upper supports you when you change direction.
Padel shoes add a sole made for the court. A herringbone (clay) pattern is a common padel sole, and our pick has one. If you play now and then, a good tennis shoe will do for now. When you are ready to buy, our best padel shoes for beginners lists seven pairs under £90.
Are padel balls different from tennis balls?
Yes, padel balls are different from tennis balls: LTA Padel notes that a padel ball looks very similar but has slightly less pressure, so it rebounds off the walls more slowly. A tennis ball is likely to feel faster and livelier on a padel court.
The FIP rules set the ball precisely. A padel ball must measure 6.35 to 6.77 cm across and weigh 56.0 to 59.4 g, and a new ball must bounce 135 to 145 cm when dropped from 2.54 m onto a hard surface. Internal pressure must sit between 4.6 kg and 5.2 kg per 2.54 square cm.
For club play, any pressurised ball from a padel brand is fine. Official competitions use FIP-approved balls. Our guide to the best padel balls compares the main brands.
What can you leave until later?
Clothing, eyewear, wristbands and a ball pressuriser can all wait, because none of them is needed to play. Ordinary sportswear works from day one, since LTA Padel confirms there is no dress code.
The optional extras are cheap. Wristbands cost £5.99 to £10.99, frame protector tape £6.99 to £15.99 and a ball pressuriser £19.99 to £41.99 at the retailer we priced. We found no protective eyewear at the retailer we priced.
A bag is the optional item many regular players end up buying. A sports backpack does the job for the first few weeks. Buying kit as a present? See our padel gift ideas.
Which padel equipment to buy
These five picks make a full starter kit, one per category, all checked on 5 October 2026. Each suits a beginner playing once or twice a week.
Adidas Drive Blue 2026, Starter racket
The Adidas Drive Blue 2026 is a round racket built for beginners, with a low balance and a weight of 360 to 375 g. Its round shape and low balance forgive off-centre hits while you learn.
What you get: round shape, low balance, 360 to 375 g, EVA Soft Performance core, fibreglass faces, smooth surface.
Price and where to buy: £69.99 at Padel Market, so about $92 or €82.
Who it is for: a new player who wants control and comfort rather than power. For more options, see our best padel rackets for beginners.
- round shape
- low balance
- 360 to 375 g
Best for: Starter racket
£69.99 at Padel Market, October 2026
Check price at Padel MarketHead Padel Pro S+ padel balls (can of 3), Balls
The Head Padel Pro S+ is a pressurised padel ball sold in cans of 3, made for fast play and recommended for cold courts or sea level, which suits UK winters.
What you get: 3 pressurised balls per can, fast play, recommended for cold courts or sea level.
Price and where to buy: £4.99 at Padel Market, down from £6.99, so about $7 or €6.
Who it is for: anyone booking a court where balls are not included.
- 3 pressurised balls per can
- fast play
- recommended for cold courts or sea level
Best for: Balls
£4.99 at Padel Market, October 2026
Check price at Padel MarketAsics Gel Dedicate 8 Padel White SS26, Shoes
The Asics Gel Dedicate 8 Padel is an entry padel shoe for beginner and intermediate players, with a herringbone (clay) padel outsole, GEL cushioning and synthetic leather overlays that add support on the upper.
What you get: herringbone (clay) outsole, GEL cushioning, synthetic leather overlays, EU sizes 40 to 46.5.
Price and where to buy: £55.99 at Padel Market, down from £64.99, so about $74 or €66.
Who it is for: a beginner ready to swap trainers for a proper padel sole. Our best padel shoes guide covers wider fits and dearer models.
- herringbone (clay) outsole
- GEL cushioning
- synthetic leather overlays
Best for: Shoes
£55.99 at Padel Market, October 2026
Check price at Padel MarketBullpadel GB-1200 Overgrip 3-Pack, Overgrip
The Bullpadel GB-1200 is an absorbent overgrip that wraps over the racket’s original grip to improve hold, soak up sweat and reduce vibration.
What you get: 3 overgrips in an absorbent, durable material.
Price and where to buy: £5.99 at Padel Market, down from £6.99, so about $8 or €7.
Who it is for: players whose hands sweat or who want a slightly thicker handle. See our guide to padel grips and overgrips for alternatives.
- 3 overgrips in an absorbent
- durable material
Best for: Overgrip
£5.99 at Padel Market, October 2026
Check price at Padel MarketBullpadel BPP-26014 Advance 2026 Beige, Bag
The Bullpadel BPP-26014 Advance 2026 is a mid-size padel bag that holds up to 4 rackets in two Thermo compartments, with a separate ventilated compartment for shoes or damp clothing. It measures 60 x 30 x 35 cm and is made from 1200D polyester.
What you get: up to 4 rackets, two Thermo compartments, ventilated shoe compartment, side pocket, top handle and padded backpack straps.
Price and where to buy: £42.99 at Padel Market, down from £59.99, so about $57 or €51.
Who it is for: a regular player who wants rackets, shoes and balls in one bag.
- up to 4 rackets
- two Thermo compartments
- ventilated shoe compartment
Best for: Bag
£42.99 at Padel Market, October 2026
Check price at Padel MarketPadel equipment FAQ
Is an overgrip essential in a beginner padel kit?
No, an overgrip is not essential for your first sessions. It wraps over the racket’s original grip to improve hold and absorb sweat, and a pack of 3 Bullpadel GB-1200 overgrips costs £5.99, so it is a cheap upgrade once you play regularly.
Is it worth buying a padel bag, or can I just use my gym bag?
A gym bag or sports backpack is fine at first. A padel bag earns its place once you play every week, because bags such as the Bullpadel BPP-26014 Advance 2026 hold up to 4 rackets in Thermo compartments and keep shoes separate.
What is the best padel racket for beginners in the UK?
Our starter pick is the Adidas Drive Blue 2026 at £69.99. It is a round racket with a low balance, a weight of 360 to 375 g, an EVA Soft Performance core and fibreglass faces, a combination built for control.
How big can a padel racket be under the rules?
Under the FIP Rules of Padel applying from 1 January 2026, a racket can be at most 45.5 cm long, 26 cm wide and 38 mm thick. The handle can be no longer than 20 cm, and a wrist cord of up to 35 cm is compulsory.
How much does racket hire cost at UK padel clubs?
Racket hire at the UK clubs in Padeli’s listings runs from free to about £5. Alsager Padel lends rackets free, Crystal Palace Padel Courts charges £2 per racket, Powerleague Padel Sighthill £3, and The Rally Hub £4 per person.
What should you wear to play padel?
Wear comfortable sportswear you already own. LTA Padel says there is no dress code on the padel court, so shorts or leggings and a sports top are fine.
