As Derby's premier indoor padel club, we have guided thousands of new players onto the court. Here is our honest, expert advice on how to navigate your first equipment choices, and exactly what to look for when you are ready to make a purchase.
So, you have caught the padel bug. You have watched the highlight reels, you know the basic rules, and you are ready to step onto the court. But before you book your first session, you are probably staring at a wall of expensive sporting goods online and asking yourself one primary question: should I rent or buy a padel racket?
If you are just starting out, the sheer volume of racket shapes, weights, and materials can be completely overwhelming.
As Derby's premier indoor padel club, we have guided thousands of new players onto the court. Here is our honest, expert advice on how to navigate your first equipment choices, and exactly what to look for when you are ready to make a purchase.
Let’s keep this simple: Do not buy a racket before your first game.
Padel rackets feel entirely different from tennis or squash rackets. Because they are solid and stringless, they have a unique weight distribution. It takes a few hours on the court to understand your natural swing and what kind of feedback you prefer from the ball.
At Just Padel, we completely remove the barrier to entry. We offer premium, well-maintained racket rentals directly at our front desk for a small fee. In fact, if you book one of our Beginner Taster Sessions, your racket rental and balls are included entirely for free.
Rent for your first three to five sessions. Once you are consistently rallying and hitting the ball over the net, you are ready to invest in your own gear.
When that time comes, do not just buy the racket your favourite professional player uses on Instagram. Professional rackets are heavily weighted for aggressive power, making them incredibly difficult for a new player to control.
When searching for the best padel racket for complete beginners, you need to focus on three specific elements: Shape, Weight, and Material.
1. The Shape: Always Go Round
Padel rackets generally come in three shapes: Diamond, Teardrop, and Round.As a beginner, you exclusively want a Round racket. Round rackets have a weight balance closer to the handle, which gives you maximum control. More importantly, they feature a massive "sweet spot" in the dead centre of the racket face, making it incredibly forgiving if you don't hit the ball perfectly.
2. The Weight: Keep it Light
Many new players underestimate the strain that a heavy racket can put on their wrist and elbow, especially since you rely on quick reflexes near the glass walls. So, how to choose the right weight for a padel racket?
3. The Material: Fibreglass over Carbon
While elite rackets use stiff carbon fibre for explosive power, beginners should look for a racket face made of fibreglass. Fibreglass is a softer, more flexible material. When the ball hits a fibreglass face, the material acts like a trampoline, effortlessly pushing the ball back over the net with minimal effort on your end.
Still not sure which racket to choose? You don't have to guess.
The Just Padel Pro Shop stocks a curated selection of the world's best beginner and intermediate rackets. Next time you are at the club, grab a Lotus Biscoff coffee at the cafe, flag down one of our LTA-certified coaches, and ask for a recommendation. We will even let you demo a few models on the court so you can feel the difference for yourself.
Keep your wallet in your pocket for now, and let us provide the gear for your first match.
Download the Playtomic app, search for Just Padel Derby, and secure your court today. We will have a freshly gripped rental racket waiting for you at the front desk.
Padel. Together.
