Your first padel game: book the court before buying the kit

We may earn a commission when you shop through links in this article or on our store pages, at no extra cost to you.

The easiest way to make your first padel game expensive is to buy the racket before finding people to play with. A bat in the cupboard is no substitute for a court you can reach after work and three other people who can make the same time.

Book a beginner session or a game with borrowed equipment first. Once you know you want to go back, the shopping decision becomes much easier: a modest Kuikma can get you started, while a MantisMantis SportMantis sells tennis and padel equipment, including rackets, balls, grips and clothing. For a first padel racket, compare shape and balance alongside weight, and keep some of the buBuying guide · View store → is worth considering when you have tried enough rackets to know what you like.

Find a game you can repeat

Start with the LTA court finder, then look at the individual venue's timetable. An introductory session is useful if you do not already have a group; check whether the booking includes coaching, equipment and other players.

For a private booking, ask whether the quoted price covers the whole court or one person. Confirm racket hire, balls and the cancellation deadline. If it is outdoors, find out what happens when rain makes play unsuitable. Those answers matter more to your first month's cost than a discount on a premium bat.

You can leave most of the shopping until later

The LTA beginner guide says most venues have rackets and balls available to hire. Check before setting off, wear comfortable sports clothes and follow the venue's footwear advice. Bring water and arrive with enough time to sort the equipment out.

Use padel balls supplied or specified by the venue. They look like tennis balls, but the LTA explains that they have lower pressure. A tennis ball found at the bottom of a bag is not the obvious saving it appears to be.

Learn just enough to keep a rally going

Padel is usually doubles. Begin the point with an underarm serve, sending the bounced ball diagonally into the opposite service box. During a rally, a ball can rebound from the glass after landing in the court, and you must return it before a second bounce.

The enjoyable bit is giving yourself time to learn that rebound. For your first session, keeping the ball in play and communicating with your partner are worthwhile ambitions. You can add speed later.

The LTA rules page explains the scoring, service faults and wall rules, including the difference between glass and the metal cage on a serve. Read that before getting competitive about a disputed point.

What will a game cost each of you?

Use the venue's live price to do this sum:

Your share = court charge ÷ number of players + your equipment hire + your travel.

For illustration, a £40 court divided between four people is £10 each before hire and travel. That £40 is a worked example, not a UK average or a bookable offer. Coaching sessions and organised socials may have their own per-person price.

Compare the times you can actually attend. An off-peak bargain is only useful if your group can get there. A nearer court with a slightly higher headline price might also leave you spending less on transport.

When buying a racket starts to make sense

A racket of your own gives you consistent equipment, but it need not be an expensive one. The Kuikma PR Comfort Soft is the £34.99 option for keeping the purchase modest. Around £55, the Head Evo Speed has a different shape and balance, while the Adidas Drive is a heavier round option. The £79.99 MantisMantis SportMantis sells tennis and padel equipment, including rackets, balls, grips and clothing. For a first padel racket, compare shape and balance alongside weight, and keep some of the buBuying guide · View store → has the lowest listed weight of these four, but a higher balance point than the Kuikma. Try that difference before assuming the lighter number will feel easier.

The Padel School's 2023 guide explains why a stiff, expensive racket can ask more of a beginner's technique. Jump to 2:15 for that trade-off and 4:53 for the advice to test before choosing. It uses Bullpadel examples; the buying questions also help when comparing the options below.

In a May 2026 Reddit discussion, a beginner with tennis and squash experience wants consistent equipment without immediately needing another purchase. Replies suggest an older Nox ML10 on sale, but another player found the ML10 heavier in use than expected. That is a useful reminder that a familiar recommendation can still be the wrong fit.

For the full buying comparison, used-racket checks and a demo routine, read our beginner padel racket guide. You do not need to decide that before the first serve.

Make the second booking the useful milestone

After playing, decide whether the location, people and time suited you. If they did, book again. Keeping a regular game in the calendar is a better reason to buy equipment than hoping equipment will create the habit.

Racket prices checked on 28 September 2026, excluding delivery. Product photographs: Decathlon and Mantis Sport.

Read NextYour first padel racket: what’s worth paying for?