Best padel rackets for beginners (UK, 2026)
Six beginner-friendly rackets you can buy in the UK, from about £25 to £70, and what to look for when choosing your first one.
Quick picks
| Racket | Best for | Shape | Weight | Price seen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kuikma PR Open | Lowest budget | Round | 320 g | £24.99 |
| Wilson Optix V2 Lite | Light and comfortable | Round | 355 g | £59.00 |
| Bullpadel Indiga Control | Control | Round | 360 to 370 g | £59.99 |
| StarVie Arkos 2026 | Softest feel | Round | 358 g | £64.99 |
| adidas Drive 2026 | Safe all-rounder | Round | 360 to 375 g | £70.00 |
| HEAD Evo Extreme | Stepping up | Teardrop | 350 g | £58.99 |
What makes a racket good for beginners
- Round shape: the sweet spot sits in the middle of the face, so off-centre hits are more forgiving. Teardrop is the next step up, and diamond shapes are for advanced players.
- Low balance: the weight sits towards the handle, which makes the racket easier to move and gentler on your arm.
- Soft core and fibreglass faces: a soft EVA foam core and fibreglass faces feel more comfortable and send less vibration up your arm. Stiffer carbon faces can wait until you've improved.
- Weight: retailers disagree on the ideal number. Decathlon suggests under 340 g, while most adult rackets weigh 340 to 375 g. If you're choosing between two, the lighter one is usually easier to start with.
The rackets
1. Kuikma PR Open: best on a tight budget
Decathlon's own-brand racket is the cheapest way to get started. It's round, light at 320 g, with a soft EVA foam core and fibreglass faces, which ticks every beginner box. Decathlon customers rate it 4.7 out of 5 from 669 reviews.
Price seen: £24.99 at Decathlon UK.
2. Wilson Optix V2 Lite: light and comfortable
A round, low-balance racket with woven fibreglass faces and a low-density foam core. Padel Market lists it among the lightest and most comfortable beginner rackets.
Price seen: £59.00, down from £89.99, at Sweatband.
3. Bullpadel Indiga Control: best for control
Round, low balance and a soft EVA core, with fibreglass faces. Padelful calls it the best entry-level control racket, with a wide sweet spot and a comfortable feel, though power isn't its strength.
Price seen: £59.99, down from £90, at Express Padel.
4. StarVie Arkos 2026: softest feel
Round, low balance, with a soft core and fibreglass faces. StarVie lists it at 358 g. Padelful rates it the softest in its beginner selection with a generous sweet spot, but notes you'll need a full swing for smashes.
Price seen: £64.99, down from £128.99, at Padel Market.
5. adidas Drive 2026: a safe all-rounder
A round racket with a soft EVA core and fibreglass faces, and Padel Market's top pick for complete beginners. PadelRacketReviews scores it 70/100: forgiving and easy to use, but without much punch once you improve.
Price seen: £70 at adidas UK.
6. HEAD Evo Extreme: for when you're ready to step up
A teardrop shape gives a little more power than a round racket, while the soft foam core and fibreglass faces keep it forgiving. Retailers pitch it at players who have a few matches behind them.
Price seen: £58.99, RRP £75, at All Things Tennis.
Do you need to buy a racket straight away?
Not necessarily. Some venues rent rackets, so you can try the game first and buy once you know you'll keep playing. New to the sport? Start with what is padel and the padel rules.
- Decathlon UK: how to choose your padel racket
- Padel Market: best padel racket for beginners 2026
- Central Sports: best padel rackets for beginners UK 2026
- Padelful: best padel rackets for beginners
- Padelful: Bullpadel Indiga CTR 2026
- PadelRacketReviews: adidas Drive
- The Padel Gang: HEAD Evo Extreme
- Retailer product pages linked above, checked 31 October 2026
Last checked: 31 October 2026