What to look for when buying your padel shoes, racket and kit

The growth of padel as a global sport

Padel is one of the fastest-growing sport in many countries. 

And it’s no wonder: this exhilarating tennis/squash hybrid guarantees quick, exciting rallies, the fastest of reaction times and plenty of fun for players and spectators alike. 

This youngest of sports only originated in 1969 when Enrique Corcuera discovered that his home in the Mexican beach resort of Acapulco did not have enough space for a tennis court. He decided to invent a game to fit the space available, creating a smaller court that was enclosed by walls.

And, so, padel was born. 

It spread rapidly through South America and, via Spain, into Europe. Padel continues to gain new players each year across the globe. It is sometimes still referred to as padel tennis but, increasingly, it is known by its name alone: padel.

Here is our guide for those who are looking to give themselves the edge on the padel court when you buy your padel shoes, racket or kit.

What to look for when buying your padel shoes

When you step onto a padel court you are entering an arena that is going to demand rapid movement, sudden turns and powerful jumps. 

You can improve your performance on the court, and reduce the risk of injury, by choosing a pair of padel shoes designed to support the specific demands of the game.

What’s the difference between tennis shoes and padel shoes?

As padel becomes a better-understood sport, players and manufacturers have started to realise that tennis shoes are not perfectly suited to the unique demands of padel.

The two biggest differences between the two can be found in the sole and upper. 

Padel requires more vertical movement and sudden, swift rotations. Tennis predominantly calls for horizontal movement along the baseline. 

For this reason, the soles and upper for padel shoes and tennis shoes differ. Padel shoes have a stiffer sole to allow rotation and a softer upper to provide increased flexibility.

What sort of grip do you need on your padel shoes?

If your padel shoe has too much grip your mobility will be impaired and you risk placing increased strain on your knees and other leg joints. 

However, if it has too little grip you can lose the ability to respond rapidly during gameplay and are more prone to slipping on the court. 

Another consideration where grip is concerned is the surface that you play on. Shoes that are designed specifically for the sport, like ASICS padel shoes, will clearly state the sort of court they are best suited to.

How will cushioning and stability affect your game?

Some padel shoes are lower and lighter, with less support provided for the ankle: this can help enhance agility and speed. 

For heavier players, it is important to balance this agility with the robust stability required by the vertical movements and rotations of padel. Shoes with too little stability could lead to injury.

ASICS padel shoes for men, and our women’s range, use different types of materials and technologies to provide both comfort and stability. For example, the GEL-PADEL™ PRO shoe series relies on TRUSSTIC™ SYSTEM technology in the midsole to provide lightweight stability during fast transitions on the court. Meanwhile, its GEL™ technology cushioning provides excellent comfort and shock absorption during impact.

What to look for when buying your padel racket

The padel racket that is perfect for you will depend on how often you play, your level, and your budget. 

These considerations are fairly easy to understand but things like choosing the best padel racket for your playing style or physique are a little more complicated.

Padel racket shape

• Round padel rackets are ideal for beginners as they can be more forgiving to play with. They are also suited to players looking for control and precision in their game.
• Diamond-shaped padel rackets complement a more aggressive style of play. These can be difficult to play with and offer less control than a round racket, but the power and speed they provide counterbalances this.
• Teardrop-shaped padel rackets offer a good balance between speed, power and control.

Padel racket balance

The balance of the padel racket is determined by how its weight is distributed between the grip and the head.

• Padel rackets with a low balance are comfortable and easy to handle. They are perfect for players seeking control and for those susceptible to injury. They can, however, lack power.
• High-balance padel rackets offer speed and attack, but give you much less control and are not as comfortable to play with. 
• Medium balance padel rackets will give you a good balance between speed and control.

Padel racket hardness

• If you are a beginner, a soft padel racket helps you get more speed into your game and it will absorb vibrations for a reduced injury risk.
• Hard padel rackets will absorb less but they can give you more power as a result. They are better suited to experienced players who have mastered their technique.

Padel racket weight

Lower-weight padel rackets are easier to handle and manoeuvre but, if you are looking for power, you will prefer a heavier racket. 

However, it is important to consider that the general rule for beginners is that it is your own weight that determines how heavy a racket you can handle.

Here are some general guidelines:

• Junior players and women play with lighter padel rackets 
• Men often prefer a slightly heavier racket
• If you have an injury, such as a tennis elbow, you will be better suited to a racket with less weight but excellent shock and vibration absorption

What to look for when buying your padel kit

To help you buy the best padel shorts, shirts, tees and skirts you should look for features like quick-drying fabric and mesh panels for moisture management and breathability.

Other design elements that will improve your gameplay, movement or comfort include:

• Inner briefs for padel shorts
• Inner sprinter shorts for padel skorts
• Slits at the sides for padel shorts
• Buttons/drawcords for adjustable fits
• Racerback for padel tanks

See you in next year’s padel world rankings?

With your padel shoes, tee and racket all sorted it’s still going to take some hard work until you are chasing for the world rankings, but at least you have given yourself the best possible start.