How to Start Playing Padel: A Complete Beginner's Guide
Padel is one of the fastest-growing racket sports in the UK, and one of the easiest to pick up for a first session — the scoring is borrowed straight from tennis, the court is smaller, and the walls mean rallies stay alive longer than you'd expect. Here's exactly what you need to get started, and nothing you don't.
What is padel, in short
Padel is always played in doubles, on an enclosed court roughly a third the size of a tennis court, surrounded by glass or mesh walls the ball can be played off after it bounces. The serve is underarm, hit below waist height, and must bounce once in the service box before your opponents return it. Scoring follows tennis exactly — 15, 30, 40, game.
What you actually need for your first game
A racket. For your first few sessions, go for a round-shaped racket rather than a diamond or teardrop shape. Round rackets have their sweet spot centred and are the most forgiving on off-centre hits, which matters far more than power when you're still finding your timing. Two genuinely affordable options to start with: the Adidas Drive Blue 2026 (£69.95, round shape) and the NOX X-Zero Red 2026 (£59.99, round shape). Neither will hold you back while you're learning, and neither will break the bank if padel turns out not to be for you.
Balls. Padel balls look like tennis balls but are slightly less pressurised, which keeps rallies at a manageable pace on the smaller court. A 3-ball can like the Wilson Premier Padel Speed Balls (£9.99) is a standard, reliable choice to bring to your first few games.
Shoes. Padel courts are typically artificial turf or a hard acrylic-style surface, and regular running trainers don't give you the lateral grip you need for the sport's constant side-to-side movement. A padel-specific trainer like the Adidas Crazyquick LS Padel Trainers (£99.99) is worth it once you know you'll keep playing — for a one-off taster session, any trainer with decent grip and lateral support will do.
Comfortable sportswear. Nothing padel-specific is required to start — regular gym or tennis wear is fine.
Rules worth knowing before you step on court
The serve is underarm and hit below waist height, bouncing once before it's struck. Every shot must bounce once on your side before you're allowed to hit it, except volleys. After the ball bounces on your side, you can play it off the back or side glass before it crosses the net — this is what makes padel rallies so much longer than tennis. You cannot volley the serve return. Scoring is identical to tennis throughout.
When to think about upgrading your racket
Once you've got a feel for whether you naturally play an attacking game (hitting hard, looking to finish points at the net) or a more controlled, defensive game, that's the point to look at diamond or teardrop-shaped rackets built around that style — not before. A round shape genuinely is the right starting point for almost everyone.
Ready to pick your first racket properly? Browse our full padel racket range and filter by "Beginner" level and "Round" shape to see every option built for exactly this stage.