You've said yes to a game. Maybe a mate dragged you in, maybe work booked a court. Either way, here's everything I'd want to know before my first padel session, in the order you'll need it.
Short version: you don't need to buy anything. Trainers, sports kit, water, and a warm layer for after. The rest you can hire or borrow.
Step 1: lesson, or just a game?
There are three ways in, and none of them is wrong.
A beginner course. The LTA has a six-week course called Padel Xpress, made for adult beginners, including people who have never picked up a racket. It covers the basic shots, how to use the glass, and the tactics. Venues and coaches put it on locally, so search for it near you.
A one-off lesson or group session. Lots of venues run group coaching, often with LTA accredited coaches. Good if you want someone to show you the serve and the walls before you play a real game.
Just book a court. Four of you, an hour or so, and work it out together. You'll be rubbish for twenty minutes, then hooked.
Step 2: booking the court
Padel courts are built for four players, so sort your four before anything else. Singles exists, but it's not a beginner thing.
To find a court, the LTA has a court finder you can search by postcode, town or city. Some venues are pay and play. Others want you to be a member, or give members first pick of the slots, so check before you get your heart set on 7pm Thursday.
Most UK clubs take bookings through an app, and Playtomic is the one you'll meet most. My padel clubs UK guide lists which app each club uses. Two things worth knowing before you book on Playtomic:
- Split payment. You can split the court cost so each player pays only their share. Add the other players at checkout. Everyone has until two hours after the match ends to pay. Anything still unpaid then lands on whoever made the booking, so chase your mates before you leave the car park.
- Your level. When you sign up, Playtomic gives you a short questionnaire and sets a starting level on a scale of 0 to 7. That number then moves after competitive matches. Casual matches don't change it. Be honest and go low. Overrate yourself and you'll end up in an open match against people who've played for years.
Step 3: racket and balls
Don't buy a racket yet. The LTA says most venues have rackets and balls to hire, so you can play first and spend later.
Hire isn't always free or at reception. Example: at Game4Padel Thistle in Edinburgh, rackets come from lockers at the court, £4 a game per player with a £40 deposit, and balls are not provided. So check the venue page, keep a card on you, and if in doubt, bring a tube of padel balls.
If you get a choice of racket, the LTA suggests a round one for beginners because it gives the most control.
The ball looks like a tennis ball but has slightly less pressure. It comes off the walls slower, which buys you time.
Step 4: shoes
This is the one people ask about most.
For session one, the LTA's advice is sports kit and a comfy pair of trainers. If you already own tennis or court shoes, bring those. Indoors, the LTA says to look for non-marking soles, so check yours before you go.
If you get hooked, padel shoes are the first thing worth buying. My guide on what to wear to padel goes through the soles and support to look for.
Socks matter more than you'd think. Our grip socks are one of the few things we make for the court itself. The non-slip grip on the sole cuts down how much your foot moves inside the shoe. £14, in UK 4-7 and UK 8-11.
Step 5: what to wear
The LTA puts it simply: there's no dress code on the padel court. A few private clubs set house rules, so check yours if it's a members' club.
To play in, wear light, stretchy, breathable kit. Shorts or leggings and a sports top. Nothing heavy.
The bit people forget is either side of the game. You arrive cold, you stand around waiting for the group before you to finish, and after an hour of chasing balls off the glass you cool down fast.
That's where a proper layer earns its place. Throw a hoodie on for the warm-up and the walk back to the car. Our heavyweight pieces are made for that time off court, not for the match itself.
The kit bag checklist
- [ ] Trainers or court shoes (non-marking if indoors)
- [ ] Sports socks, or grip socks
- [ ] Light top and shorts or leggings
- [ ] A warm layer for before and after
- [ ] Water bottle
- [ ] Phone with the booking app, and your share paid
- [ ] A card for racket hire or a locker deposit
- [ ] A tube of padel balls, if the venue doesn't provide them
- [ ] A cap for a sunny outdoor court, hair tie if you need one
- [ ] Small towel
- [ ] A dry top for the drive home or the bar
Step 6: the mistakes everyone makes in game one
It's doubles, you serve underarm after a bounce, and the scoring is the same as tennis. That's enough to start. These are the rules from the LTA that catch new players out in the first hour.
- Hitting the glass on the full. Your shot has to bounce on the other side before it touches the glass or the fence. If it hits the wall first, it's out. This is the one you'll do most.
- Thinking the point is over when the ball hits the back wall. If it bounces on your side and then comes off the glass, it's still live. You can play it, as long as you get to it before a second bounce.
- Treating the fence like the glass on a serve. A serve that bounces in the box and then hits the glass is fine. One that bounces and then hits the metal cage is out.
- Replaying the wrong serve. If the serve clips the net and still lands in the right box, it's a let and you take it again. If it clips the net and then touches the cage, it's a fault.
- Giving up on a ball that leaves the court. If a ball bounces in and then flies out through a door, you're allowed to run outside and play it back. Not one for session one, but fun to watch.
The court manners nobody tells you
None of this is in a rulebook. It's just how it works at most clubs I've played.
- Be ready when your slot starts. Shoes on, water filled. The court is booked to the minute and the next group is waiting.
- Don't walk behind a court mid-point. Wait at the door until the rally ends. The glass means everyone can see you, and it's off-putting.
- Get the balls back to the server. Hit them gently to their side, don't make them chase.
- Call the score before you serve. Out loud. Saves an argument at 30-all.
- Shake hands or bump rackets at the end. Even if you lost 6-0.
- Pay your share before you leave. Nobody wants to chase you on WhatsApp.
- Stay for one. Half the point of padel is the drink after.
After the game
You'll be sweaty, a bit sore, and already looking at next week's slots.
Change out of the wet top first. Then something warm and heavy. Our Mk1 Box Hoodie has a fleeced lining and weighs in at 350 g/m2. Go for the Sunday Padel Club Sweatshirt if you'd rather skip the hood, and add fleece joggers if it's that kind of evening. That's what we make. Everything here is designed in London, and UK delivery is free on orders of £75 and over, so the hoodie ships free on its own.
See you on court.
FAQ
Do I need my own racket for my first padel session? No. Most venues hire rackets and balls. Check the venue page first, because some charge per game, take a deposit, or don't supply balls.
Can I play padel in normal trainers? For your first go, yes. The LTA says comfy trainers are a fine start. Indoors, make sure the soles are non-marking. Padel shoes are worth buying if you keep playing.
How many people do I need to book a padel court? Four. Courts are built for doubles. If you're short, Playtomic lets you join open matches with other players, so set your level honestly.
What happens if one of us doesn't pay for the court? On Playtomic, everyone has until two hours after the match ends to pay their share. Anything still unpaid after that is charged to the person who made the booking.
Do I need to have played tennis first? No. The LTA's Padel Xpress course is for all beginner adults, including people who have never picked up a racket. If you do come from tennis, my padel vs tennis guide covers what carries over.
