Padel guides

New to padel or getting ready to buy kit? Start with the basics, then pick your gear.

Learn the game

• What is padel?How the game works, the court, the kit and how many people play in Britain.
• How to play padelA beginner's guide: the kit you need, first shots, where to stand and booking a game.
• Padel rulesThe serve, playing off the walls, losing a point and the 2026 scoring options.
• Court dimensionsOfficial sizes for pickleball and padel courts, in metres and feet.
• Padel vs pickleballCourt, walls, equipment, serve and scoring, side by side.
• Padel vs tennisCourt, walls, rackets, serve and scoring compared.

Gear guides

• Best padel rackets for beginnersSix forgiving rackets from about £25 to £70.
• Padel rackets by budgetPicks under £50, £100 and £150.
• Best padel shoesWhich sole to choose, and six shoes from £40.
• Best padel ballsSpeed or control, and eight balls from £1.25 each.
• Best padel bagsThermal racket bags and backpacks from £11.