Someone you know has just caught padel. They've played a handful of times. They talk about the glass far too much. And they still turn up with a hire racket and whatever trainers were by the door.
That makes them easy to buy for, once you know where the gaps are. It also makes one present a trap.
I started playing about two and a half years ago, and I make clothes for the hours around the game. So this guide does one job. It splits what a new player is missing from what they should choose for themselves.
The split follows the LTA's padel equipment guide, which sorts kit into three groups: rackets; balls, bags, grips and accessories; and clothing and footwear. A good beginner gift sits in the last two. The first is theirs to work out.
If they're so new they haven't played yet, send them our beginner's guide to padel first. This page is for the stage just after.
The quick split
| Item | Give it or leave it | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Overgrips | Give | The LTA says they wear out faster than the grip underneath. You don't need to know their racket |
| Grip socks | Give | The only thing you need is a shoe size |
| A warm layer for before and after | Give | Waiting for a court and walking back to the car are the cold bits |
| Padel balls | Give, if they book their own courts | The LTA puts a ball's life at around three to five hours of play |
| A racket | Leave | Shape, weight and core all depend on how they end up playing |
| Padel shoes | Leave | The right sole depends on which courts they use |
| A racket bag | Leave for now | Size depends on how much kit they end up carrying |
Why the racket is the one to leave alone
The LTA's racket guide is detailed, and it does name a beginner's racket. Round or teardrop shape. Mid-weight, around 360 to 370g. A larger sweet spot. A foam core with fibreglass for a more forgiving feel.
That reads like a shopping list. It isn't quite one.
The same guide ties shape to how you play. Diamond suits attacking players. Round suits defensive players in longer rallies. Teardrop suits people who move between the two. A new player doesn't know which of those they are yet. Neither do you.
Weight works the same way. The LTA says rackets usually sit between 340 and 390g, with lighter ones giving more control and heavier ones more power. It also says anyone with arm pain may want a lighter, softer racket. That's something a player feels in their own arm after a few games. You can't guess it from the outside. (Our padel racket vs tennis racket page has the full weight bands if you're curious.)
And there's no rush. The LTA notes that many venues hire rackets on site, so a beginner can try a few shapes before spending anything. Let them. The racket they pick after a couple of months of hiring will suit them far better than one chosen for them in week three.
If they've asked for a racket outright, the kindest version is a budget and a trip to a shop where they can hold a few.
Shoes: same story, different reason
Shoes depend less on playing style and more on where they play. The LTA advises herringbone soles for outdoor clay or artificial turf, and non-marking, lightweight soles indoors. On top of that, it wants lateral support for side-to-side movement and cushioning for the knees and ankles.
So the right pair depends on which courts they book most, plus a fit only their feet can judge. Leave this one, or ask them casually which club they play at and let them do the rest.
What to give instead
Overgrips, for the day they buy their own racket
The LTA describes overgrips as there to add comfort, absorb sweat and improve your hold. It also says they wear out faster and get replaced more often than the base grip underneath.
That's the point for a beginner. The moment they own a racket, overgrips become a running cost. A pack in their bag means the first change is already sorted.
Our overgrips are sweat-absorbing and easy to put on. A 3 pack is £7 and a 6 pack is £12. If they've never fitted one, our guide on how to fit a padel overgrip walks through it step by step.
Grip socks, the gift that only needs a shoe size
New players spend all their attention on the ball. They don't think about their feet until a sharp change of direction makes the foot slide inside the shoe.
Our grip socks have non-slip grip on the sole to cut down that movement inside the shoe. They're £14 and come in two bands, UK 4-7 and UK 8-11. Socks are true to size, so their shoe size is all the detective work you need. Our grip socks guide covers washing them so the grip keeps working.
Something warm for the walk
Here's a new player's typical evening in winter. The court before theirs runs over, so they stand outside waiting. They play an hour and a half. Then they cool down fast on the walk back to the car.
The LTA suggests layering lightweight warm-ups in winter to keep muscles loose. That covers playing. The bit either side is where a proper heavyweight layer earns its place.
The Mk1 Box Hoodie is a 350 g/m2 cotton blend with a fleeced interior, an oversized boxy fit and a drop shoulder. It comes in eight colours, from Black and Navy Blue to Eden Green and Oat Gray. It's made for before and after the match, not the match itself. The Sunday Padel Club Hoodie and Bagel Boyz Box Hoodie are the same 350 g/m2 weight with the same loose, drop-shoulder cut, if they'd like a graphic.
All three are £75, so any one of them ships free in the UK on its own. On sizing, the product pages say tees and hoodies run big, so size down for a regular fit. Padelism sizing explained has the full picture if you're buying blind. The whole range is in hoodies.
Three ways to put it together
About £20. A 3 pack of overgrips and a pair of grip socks, £21. Small, useful, and it gets used within weeks.
£75. One hoodie. Free UK delivery, and it's the piece they'll wear well beyond padel.
£96. A hoodie, grip socks and a 3 pack of overgrips. One for the cold, one for the feet, one for the racket they're about to buy. Free UK delivery, as the order is over £75.
Timing and returns
Leave time for making. Every clothing piece is made to order, so allow 7 to 10 working days in the UK before you need to wrap it. The Christmas cut-off is in the FAQ below, and the Christmas delivery dates page has every country.
If the size is wrong, we accept size exchanges, and there are 30-day returns (the customer pays return postage). The details are on our returns page.
FAQ
They've asked for a padel racket. Should I ignore that? Not ignore it, just don't pick it for them. The LTA's beginner advice gives a starting point (round or teardrop, around 360 to 370g), but the right racket depends on whether they turn out to attack or defend, and how it feels in their arm. Give them a budget, or go to a shop with them so they can hold a few.
Are overgrips any use if they still hire rackets? They're most useful once they own a racket, because an overgrip wraps over the grip of their own racket. The LTA says overgrips get replaced more often than the base grip, so a pack won't sit in the bag for long once they've bought one.
Can a beginner wear a hoodie to play padel? For the warm-up, sure. For the match itself, the LTA points to stretchy, breathable, moisture-wicking fabrics. Our hoodies are heavyweight and made for the time around the game: the wait, the walk, the drink after.
What's the last day to order a padel gift for Christmas? For UK delivery, 10 December 2026. Clothing is made to order and takes 7 to 10 working days in the UK. Outside the UK it takes 7 to 14 working days, so order well before that date.
