Discover padel
Run a padel venue?
List your club for free.
Buyer's guide
Padel equipment guide
What to buy, what to skip, and what to hire from the club. Written for South African prices and conditions.
Last updated
Featured partner
Save 15% at Nossa Padel
South Africa's padel-only specialist - rackets, balls, shoes, and accessories from the major padel brands, shipped across South Africa.
Discount code
FPC15
Shop Nossa Padel >
Affiliate partnership - we earn a small commission when you shop with code FPC15, at no extra cost to you. Helps keep this directory free.
Quick picks
What you actually need
The four-card summary before the detail. Skip the rest if you trust me on this.
Beginner racket
Round-shape, soft EVA core. R800-R1,500 is the sweet spot. Forgiving sweet-spot, easy to learn on.
Padel balls
Any major brand (Head, Bullpadel, Wilson). A tube of 3 lasts 3-5 sessions. R150 per tube.
Court shoes
Herringbone tread - grips artificial turf without tearing it up. R600-R1,200 from a padel-specific brand.
Hire first
First three months: hire everything from the club. R30-R80 per session covers a racket and balls.
Total starter spend: Roughly R1,500-R3,000 for a beginner racket, court shoes, and a couple of tubes of balls. You can play your first three months for under R500 by hiring everything from the club.
Rackets
Choose your racket shape
Three shapes, three skill levels. Pick the one that matches where you actually play, not where you want to be.
Round
Largest sweet spot, balanced power and control. Best for beginners while you build technique.
Teardrop
Sweet spot slightly higher, more punch on smashes. The all-rounder for intermediates.
Diamond
Tiny sweet spot up high, maximum power. Advanced only - punishing if your timing is off.
Weights range from 340g to 390g - heavier rackets give more power but tire your arm faster. Nossa Padel stocks all three shapes from the major brands (Bullpadel, Head, Wilson, Babolat, Adidas) with code FPC15 for 15% off.
Balls
Padel balls
Look like tennis balls. Bounce slightly lower because of less internal pressure.
Stick with major brands: Head, Bullpadel, Wilson, Babolat. A tube of three lasts about three to five sessions of casual play before they go flat. Padel Federation matches use specific approved balls; for casual play any padel-specific brand works.
Do not use tennis balls. They bounce too high - designed for a 23m tennis court, not a 10m padel court. The whole game falls apart.
Shoes
Court shoes
The single biggest equipment upgrade after your first month - proper grip changes everything.
Most South African padel courts are artificial turf. Look for a herringbone tread (also called fishbone or omni) - running shoes and tennis hard-court shoes do not grip and tear up the surface. Brands to consider: Asics Gel-Padel, Bullpadel Hack, Head Sprint Pro, Babolat Jet Premura - all available from Nossa Padel with code FPC15 for 15% off.
Where to buy
Where to buy in South Africa
Nossa Padel is the dedicated padel specialist - rackets, balls, shoes, bags, accessories from every major brand, with online ordering and SA-wide shipping. Use code FPC15 at checkout for 15% off your order.
Other places worth checking: PadelGear (padelgear.co.za), Sportsmans Warehouse, Total Sports, and direct from Africa Padel pro shops. Some clubs also sell rackets in their on-site shops, often with a "demo before you buy" option - try the racket on court for a session before committing.
Featured partner
Save 15% at Nossa Padel
South Africa's padel-only specialist - rackets, balls, shoes, and accessories from the major padel brands, shipped across South Africa.
Discount code
FPC15
Shop Nossa Padel >
Affiliate partnership - we earn a small commission when you shop with code FPC15, at no extra cost to you. Helps keep this directory free.
Common questions
Padel equipment - FAQ
Quick answers for first-time players, regulars, and visitors.
What is a good beginner padel racket?
For a beginner, look for a round-shape racket with a soft EVA core in the R800-R1,500 range. Round rackets have a larger sweet spot and more forgiving feel, ideal while you build technique. Avoid diamond-shape rackets until you have at least a season of play under your belt.
How are padel balls different from tennis balls?
Padel balls look like tennis balls but have slightly lower internal pressure (between 4.6 and 5.2 kg/cm2 vs 5.4-6 for tennis). This makes them bounce a touch lower, which suits the smaller court. Always use padel-specific balls - tennis balls bounce too high.
What shoes should I wear for padel?
Padel court shoes have a herringbone tread (also called fishbone or omni) that grips artificial turf without tearing it up. Tennis clay-court shoes work too. Avoid running shoes - they slip and damage the surface.
How much should I spend on my first racket?
R800 to R1,500 is the sweet spot for a beginner. Anything cheaper is usually too heavy or too stiff to develop proper technique. Anything over R2,500 is wasted money until you know what playing style suits you.
For venue operators
Run a padel venue?
List your club for free, or boost your placement with a featured listing. South African players are searching here every day.