What to wear for your first padel game
Short version: whatever's comfortable. Here's the slightly longer version.
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Wear what you'd wear to the gym
Leggings, shorts, joggers, a t-shirt or vest — anything you can move comfortably in. There's no padel-specific outfit required, and nobody's judging what you turn up in.
Supportive trainers
This is the only piece of kit worth getting right. Court shoes or tennis trainers are ideal because of the grip, but any supportive, grippy trainer will do for your first few games. Avoid running shoes with worn-down soles — the stopping and starting is hard on your ankles without support.
You don't need your own racket
Borrow one from the club's front desk, or ask a friend. If you want your own, a basic beginner racket from Decathlon is under £30 — no need to spend more until you know you're hooked.
Nice to have, not essential
A water bottle, a hair tie, maybe a cap if you're playing outdoors. That's genuinely the full list — save the padel-specific gear for later.
No pressure, promise
You don't need the most expensive gear to start — just something comfortable and supportive trainers. Everything else can wait 🩷
Tick it off with our kit checklist
An interactive checklist for your first session — what to wear, what to bring, and what you can just borrow at the club.
Open the checklist →Running a game? Pick your format
Add your players, get randomised or adaptive pairings each round, track scores, and share the final standings — free, no app needed.