Key takeaways
- A million adults and juniors in Britain now play padel, up from 400,000 at the end of 2024 and 15,000 in 2019 (LTA, May 2026).
- Round-head rackets are the easier place to start. Diamond heads hit harder but punish off-centre shots.
- Most beginners are well served between £45 and £75. A £200 racket will not fix your technique.
- Britain has around 1,825 courts across 551 venues, and about 72% of them sit in southern England.
Padel has gone from a curiosity to a booking headache in about five years. The LTA said in May 2026 that a million people in Britain now play, which is two and a half times the figure from the end of 2024. Courts are going up fast, and in London you still often have to book a week out. If you have played a few times on a borrowed club racket and you are ready to buy your own, here is what actually matters and six rackets worth your money.
How we picked these
We stuck to rackets you can buy on Amazon UK today, and we checked every price and rating on the product page rather than trusting a search listing. Beyond that, four things separate a good first racket from a bad one.
Shape. Round heads put the sweet spot low and central, which is forgiving. Diamond heads move it up towards the tip for power, and they are unforgiving if you catch the ball late. Teardrop sits between the two. Almost everyone should start round or teardrop.
Weight. Anywhere from 355g to 370g suits most adults. Lighter is easier on the arm and quicker at the net. Heavier gives you more free power but wears you down.
Face material. Fibreglass is softer and cheaper. Carbon is stiffer, grippier on the ball and better once you are generating your own spin. The carbon grade (3K, 12K, 18K) matters far less to a new player than the shops suggest.
Review depth. Padel is new enough in the UK that plenty of listings have single figure review counts. We have flagged where that is the case.
At a glance
| Racket | Best for | Shape | Around |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilson Optix V1 | Your first racket | Round | £60 |
| HEAD Extreme Evo | Safest all-rounder | Teardrop | £72 |
| Bullpadel Indiga CTR 25 | Control players | Round | £69 |
| Ianoni PR8100 | Staying under £50 | Teardrop | £45 |
| Raquex Excel | Stepping up | Teardrop | £129 |
| PDX Aurora | A lighter swing | Round | £66 |
The rackets
Wilson Optix V1
Best for your first racketA round head and a soft foam core, which is the combination most coaches point beginners towards. The sweet spot sits in the middle of the face, so mishits still go where you meant them to. Wilson is a name most people already trust from tennis, and the fibreglass face keeps the price sensible.
The catch: Fibreglass has less bite than carbon, so once you start trying to hit topspin off the back glass you will feel the ceiling.
Round shape · fibreglass face · around £60
Check price on Amazon →HEAD Extreme Evo
Best for the safest all-rounderThe most reviewed racket here by a distance, with over 450 ratings and a 4.6 average. It sits in the teardrop middle ground, so it will not fight you while you learn but still has enough power for when you get better. If you want one racket to cover your first two years, this is the sane choice.
The catch: The Extreme Evo is sold as a series and listings vary by year and colourway, so check you are getting the current model before you buy.
Teardrop shape · carbon fibre face · around £72
Check price on Amazon →Bullpadel Indiga CTR 25
Best for control playersBullpadel is one of the sport’s proper padel brands rather than a tennis brand branching out, and the CTR in the name means control. It is a round-shape racket built for players who would rather place the ball than smash it. Good pick if you came from squash or tennis and already have decent touch.
The catch: Only a couple of dozen UK reviews so far, and the control bias means you have to work harder for a winning smash.
Round shape · control balance · around £69
Check price on Amazon →Ianoni Padel Racket PR8100
Best for staying under £50If you are not sure padel will stick, this is the one to buy. Carbon fibre face and an EVA memory foam core at a price that undercuts the branded rackets by £20 or more. Over 120 reviews at 4.5, so it is not a gamble.
The catch: It is pitched at intermediates, which in practice means a stiffer feel than a true beginner racket. Your arm will notice on a long session.
Carbon face · EVA memory foam core · around £45
Check price on Amazon →Raquex Excel
Best for stepping up from your starter racketA 12K carbon frame and a British design, aimed at the player who has outgrown a £50 racket and wants more from the ball. The reactive EVA core gives you noticeably more power without going full diamond shape.
The catch: It is the priciest pick here at £129, and with 17 reviews it has not been road tested by many UK players yet.
12K carbon frame · reactive EVA core · around £129
Check price on Amazon →PDX Aurora
Best for a lighter swingA carbon and fibreglass mix built for control, and the lightest feeling racket of the group. Worth a look if you have had elbow or shoulder trouble, or if you just find most rackets tiring by the third set. It carries the best rating here at 4.9.
The catch: Only 20 reviews, and a light racket means less free power. You supply the pace yourself.
Carbon and fibreglass · control build · around £66
Check price on Amazon →Questions people ask
How much should I spend on my first padel racket?
Between £45 and £75 is plenty. At that money you get a carbon or fibreglass face and a foam core that will not hold you back for a year or two. Spending £200 before you can reliably use the back glass is money you will not feel the benefit of.
Round, teardrop or diamond?
Round if you are new or you value control. Teardrop if you want a bit of both and you are not sure. Diamond only once you can consistently middle the ball, because the sweet spot is small and sits near the tip.
Can I use a tennis racket for padel?
No. Padel rackets are solid, perforated and have no strings, and the court and balls are different too. Most clubs hire rackets out for a few pounds if you want to try before buying.
Do I need padel shoes as well?
If you play on artificial grass more than a couple of times a month, yes. Padel and clay court shoes have a herringbone tread that grips on sand infill. Running trainers slide, and they wear out fast on that surface.