If you’re new to the world of padel and keen to pick up a racket and play, it’s good to know that the best padel racket for beginners is often not the most expensive and technically complex option.
The UK padel scene has exploded in recent years, growing from about 20,000 active players in 2020 to now over 90,000 in 2024, all in just the last three years! This surge in popularity makes it even more important for newcomers to choose their padel tennis equipment wisely.
We think it’s most important to choose a racket that feels natural in your hands and that suits your playing style and ability. This will be essential to enjoying your foundational games and training sessions to the fullest!
In today’s guide, we’ll provide you with some top tips for choosing the best beginner padel rackets and what you should look out for when deciding which racket is right for the start of your exciting padel journey!
Buying Your First Padel Racket
Buying your first new padel racket when you start playing padel is a special and important step in your padel journey.
As beginners, it’s important not to buy a racket that is too advanced as this could hinder your early training and development and perhaps even make you feel a little uncertain.
Beginner padel rackets should help newcomers feel comfortable with the ball, reduce mishits, assist with control, and prevent injuries.
The good news is that there are many fantastic rackets available in-store and online throughout the UK!
What Makes a Good Beginner Padel Racket?
First, it’s good to consider your skill level as a beginner so you can match the racket with your ability.
It also depends on whether you just want to play casually with friends on the odd occasion or if you want to take the sport more seriously with regular matches and competitions through clubs.
Overall, a softer, more equally balanced racket is a great pick for anyone looking for the best beginner padel racket!
Here are some of the key components of the best padel racket for beginners:
- Lightweight rackets are preferred for beginners to intermediate players
- Softer padel rackets are far easier to use and control when getting used to shots
- Round-shaped rackets offer a larger sweet spot in their centre, low-balance points for more control, and a comfortable striking surface shape for any shot
Considerations When Buying the Best Padel Racket for Beginners
Materials Used
Rackets are typically made from fibreglass or carbon fibre with a soft foam core.
Fibreglass rackets offer better value for money with a softer feel, perfect for beginners! They also have large sweet spots and great shock absorption which will help you adjust to the dynamic gameplay both physically and mentally.
Carbon fibre paddles allow for more feel and control when you play padel, suited to more advanced rackets and players. They offer brilliant stability and more powerful shots thanks to their heftier design.
Size and Weight
Rackets are available in different sizes and weights. Larger and lighter rackets are often best for beginners because they give you a larger striking surface with more perforation for sweet spots while still being lighter and easier to control in the hand.
Racket Shape
Padel rackets are available in three main shapes – round, diamond, and teardrop.
A round-shaped racket is the best padel racket for beginners because it is lightweight and has a softer core and foam and a wide hitting surface, making it far easier to control and less physically demanding to swing around.
A diamond-shaped racket is usually made from carbon fibre with a hardened core for added power. This naturally makes them a little heavier and harder to move but provides more power to the shot.
Teardrop shape rackets offer the best of both worlds with a well-balanced weight distribution between the grip and the head. The unique but versatile racket shape can take some getting used to when playing shots so it’s not a shape we’d recommend for beginners.
Brands That Specialise in the Best Beginner Padel Racket
While there are many cheaper options available, we’d say that you should look at spending at least around £50 to £100 for a good beginner racket that is made well and will last for years to come if looked after properly.
More advanced rackets will cost anywhere between £150 to £300!
Here are some of our favourite brands to browse when choosing the best padel racket for beginners in the UK:
- Adidas
- Babolat
- Wilson
- Nox
Best Padel Racket for Beginners FAQs
Can you trial a racket before buying it?
It really depends on the racket and who you purchase it from. Some online stores offer a week’s trial with some rackets but not all. If you buy in-store, you can play around with the racket to see how it feels before you buy. But if you really want to put your new racket through it’s paces, Park Sports run a demo racket offering: Demo Rackets | Tennis & Padel | Park Sports.
What stores stock padel rackets in the UK?
Sports equipment stores like Lilywhites, Decathlon, and Sports Direct all stock padel rackets. Online, you can buy from Amazon of course and there are padel specialist sites as well.
Is it better to play with a light or heavy padel racket?
For new players, lighter rackets provide more mobility around the padel court, take less physical effort, and enable more control in their overall shot techniques. Heavier padel rackets provide extra power but require more physicality, ideal for more seasoned players.
Summing Up Our Best Padel Racket for Beginners Guide
We trust this guide has helped you better understand what to look for when buying your first padel racket and we wish you many exciting and enjoyable padel sessions to come!
Put your new racket to the test by finding nearby courts with our Padel Courts Near Me guide.
Choosing the best padel racket for beginners will depend on your playing style and ability, but with so many excellent rackets to choose from in the UK, we know you’ll be able to find the perfect racket to start enjoying this great game!
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