Quick answer
Padel is a racket sport played in doubles on an enclosed 20m x 10m court, using a solid stringless bat, a slightly depressurised tennis ball, and glass walls that stay in play after the ball bounces. Scoring is identical to tennis, the serve is underarm, and rallies last far longer because the walls keep the ball alive. It is the fastest-growing racket sport in the UK, and it takes about twenty minutes to become competent enough to enjoy a game.
What is padel, exactly?
Padel sits somewhere between tennis and squash, and borrows the best bits of both. You play on a court about three-quarters the size of a tennis court — 20 metres long by 10 metres wide — enclosed by glass at the back and mesh fencing down the sides. A net divides it in the middle, roughly tennis height.
The racket, properly called a bat or a pala, is solid, stringless and perforated with holes. It has a short handle, a foam core and a carbon or fibreglass face. The ball is a tennis ball at slightly lower pressure, so it bounces a touch lower and stays controllable in a confined space.
Almost all padel is played as doubles. Singles courts exist but are rare in the UK, and the doubles format is a large part of why the sport spreads so quickly — four people per court, and a mixed-ability four can still have a proper contest.
How is padel different from tennis?
The three differences that actually change how the game feels:
- The walls are in play. After the ball bounces on your side, it may come off the glass and you can still play it. A shot that would be a clean winner in tennis is often just the start of the rally.
- The serve is underarm. You bounce the ball behind the service line and strike it at or below waist height, diagonally into the opponent's service box. There is no serving power advantage, so points are decided in rallies rather than off the first shot.
- Technique matters less than positioning. The solid bat has no strings to generate spin, the court is short, and the ball comes back. Padel rewards anticipation and teamwork far more than a textbook swing.
If you already play tennis, the adjustment is smaller than you would think, though the habits that transfer worst are the big backswing and the instinct to chase everything. We have written about that in more detail in our guide to padel vs tennis for tennis players.
How a padel match works
Scoring is lifted straight from tennis: 15, 30, 40, game, and six games to a set with a tie-break at 6-6. Most social matches are best of three sets, and most club sessions are played to the clock instead.
Serving alternates between teams each game, and within a team the two players alternate service games. You get two serves. The ball must bounce in the diagonal service box, and if it then hits the side fencing before your opponent plays it, the serve is a fault.
One rule change worth knowing about if you follow the pro tour: from January 2026 the International Padel Federation replaced the old golden point at 40-40 with the Star Point format. Most UK club play still uses standard deuce, so ask before you start. Our full breakdown of padel rules and scoring covers the walls, the out-of-court shot and the let rules properly.
Why has padel taken off in the UK?
Three reasons, and none of them is marketing.
First, the learning curve is genuinely short. The enclosed court and the low-power serve mean a complete beginner can sustain a rally in their first session. Tennis takes months to reach that point, and most people quit before they get there.
Second, it is sociable by design. Four players, a court roughly the size of a squash court, and everyone within talking distance for the whole hour.
Third, it suits a wider range of ages and fitness levels than tennis does. The court is small enough that you are never sprinting; the game is short lateral bursts and quick hands. That is why padel clubs in the UK skew far broader in age than tennis clubs, and why it is a realistic sport to take up in your forties or fifties rather than a punishing one.
What you actually need for your first game
Here is the part nobody tells you: for a first session, almost nothing. Most UK padel venues hire bats for a few pounds and sell balls at reception. Court hire in the UK typically runs somewhere around £30–£50 per hour split between four players, so your first game costs less than a cinema ticket. Turn up in trainers you already own, borrow a bat, and see whether you like it.
Once you know you are staying — usually after two or three sessions — buy in this order:
- Shoes first, not the bat. This is the one thing hire kit never covers and the one thing that causes injuries. Padel involves constant lateral loading on sand-dressed artificial turf. Running trainers have soft, rounded soles that roll under sideways load. On damp UK outdoor courts, a tight full-herringbone tread packs with wet sand and goes slick; an omni or mixed tread sheds it. Get a proper padel or clay-court shoe with a low profile and lateral reinforcement.
- A bat, and a forgiving one. The court geometry tells you which shape to buy. With only about 3 metres of glass behind you, a lot of your shots will be low, late and cramped off the back wall. A round or teardrop head puts the sweet spot in the middle and forgives those. A diamond head puts the sweet spot high and is built for smashing — it will punish a beginner's defence every single time. Look for a round head, 355–365g, and a soft EVA core.
- Balls and a bag. Cheap and last. A tube of three lasts a few sessions of social play.
Skip the expensive carbon bat entirely for now. A £250 pro-tour bat in the hands of a beginner is slower to improve with than a £70 round-head one, because it is stiffer and less forgiving.
Our picks at Central Tennis
A sensible first padel kit, all in stock and all chosen for the reasons above:
- Wilson Optix V2 Lite 2026 Padel Racket — £59.00. Round head, light in the hand, big central sweet spot. Our default recommendation for a first bat and the one we hand people who ask.
- BullPadel Open Control Padel Racket — £64.00. The cheapest bat we are happy to sell as a genuine first racket rather than a toy. Control-biased, soft feel.
- Wilson Hurakn Lite Padel Shoe Men — £58.50. Low-profile sole with the lateral support padel demands, at a sane price for a first pair.
- Adidas Courtquick Padel Shoe Women — £58.99. Same brief on the women's side — stable through the ankle, grippy on sand-dressed turf.
- Babolat Court Padel Balls (3-Pack) — £5.00. Correct pressure for padel. Do not use ordinary tennis balls; they sit up too high off the glass.
Browse the full ranges: padel rackets and padel shoes. If you want more on footwear specifically, our padel shoes buying guide goes deeper on tread patterns and UK court surfaces, and best padel rackets for beginners compares the entry-level bats head to head.
Frequently asked questions
Is padel easy to learn?
Yes — easier than tennis, badminton or squash. Because the serve is underarm and the walls keep the ball in play, most people sustain a rally within their first ten minutes on court. Reaching a good standard still takes years, but reaching an enjoyable one takes a single session.
What's the difference between padel and tennis?
Padel is played on a smaller enclosed court with glass walls that stay in play, using a solid stringless bat and an underarm serve. Tennis uses a strung racket, an overarm serve, and a court with no walls. Scoring is the same in both.
Is padel a sport for older players?
It suits older players well, but it is not exclusively for them. The small court means short lateral movements rather than sprinting, so the impact load is lower than tennis. UK clubs typically see a much wider age range than tennis clubs, from teenagers to players in their sixties on the same court.
Do I need special shoes for padel?
For a first session, no — but as soon as you play regularly, yes. Padel is played on sand-dressed artificial turf with constant sideways loading, and running trainers roll under that load. A padel or clay-court shoe with a low profile and lateral reinforcement is the single most worthwhile purchase you will make.
How much does it cost to start playing padel in the UK?
Court hire is commonly around £30–£50 an hour split between four players, and most venues hire bats for a few pounds. A proper starter kit — a round-head bat, padel shoes and a tube of balls — comes to roughly £120–£130. Check current prices with your local venue, as they vary by region and by peak or off-peak slot.
Ready to try it?
Padel is the rare sport that is genuinely fun on day one. Hire a bat, borrow a court, play an hour, and if it grabs you — as it grabs most people — come back and get fitted properly. Start with padel shoes, then a forgiving padel racket. We are a specialist racket shop and we are happy to talk it through rather than sell you the most expensive thing on the wall — get in touch or come and see us.
