Padel shoes, balls and grips: the kit beyond the racket

Your racket gets the attention, but shoes, balls and grips decide how safely you move and how the racket feels in your hand. Here is what to look for in each, and when to replace them.

Why padel shoes matter

Most UK courts are artificial grass dressed with sand. That surface is slippery in running shoes, which have soft, smooth soles built for straight-line running. Padel is all short sprints, sudden stops and side steps, so you need grip and lateral support.

The FIP rules only ask for suitable sports footwear, and venues set their own policies, so check before you play. Many clubs ask for non-marking court shoes. A proper padel shoe (or a clay court tennis shoe) is the safest choice.

Outsoles explained

Herringbone

A zigzag pattern of grooves across the sole, sometimes called fishbone. It grips well on sandy turf while still letting your foot slide and pivot a little, which protects knees and ankles. It is the most common padel sole and the safe all-round choice.

Omni or clay

Small raised nubs or pimples across the sole. They bite harder into sand-filled grass and give the most grip. On a court with plenty of loose sand they feel secure; on a newer, low-sand court some players find they grip too much for comfortable turning.

Hybrid

A mix, usually herringbone under the forefoot for pivoting and omni-style nubs at the edges or heel for extra bite. A good middle ground if you play at several venues.

Matching the sole to the court

Sand levels vary a lot between venues and even between courts at the same club. If you mostly play one venue, look at how much loose sand sits on the surface. Lots of sand favours omni or hybrid; a firmer, lightly dressed court suits herringbone. If you move around, start with herringbone or hybrid. Our court finder lists venues near you, and many indoor sites have a different feel underfoot from outdoor ones.

Sizing and replacement

Try shoes on in the afternoon, when feet are slightly larger, and wear the socks you play in. Leave roughly a thumb's width of space beyond your longest toe, with a snug heel that does not lift. Sizing differs between brands, so do not assume your usual size carries over.

Replace your shoes when you see any of these:

• The tread pattern has worn smooth, often first under the ball of the foot or the toe you drag.
• You start slipping on shots you used to make comfortably.
• The midsole feels flat or your feet, knees or shins ache after play.
• The upper has split or the shoe no longer holds your foot on side steps.

Padel balls

Padel balls versus tennis balls

They look alike, but a padel ball is slightly smaller and has lower internal pressure, so it bounces lower and plays slower. The FIP rules set the specification: a diameter of 6.35 to 6.77 cm, a weight of 56.0 to 59.4 g, internal pressure of 4.6 to 5.2 kg per 2.54 cm², and a bounce of 135 to 145 cm when dropped from 2.54 m onto a hard surface. Tennis balls bounce higher and faster off the glass, which changes the game, so use padel balls.

For official competitions only FIP-approved balls may be used. For social games any decent padel ball is fine.

How long a can lasts

Most padel balls are pressurised and sold in sealed cans. Once you open the can they start to lose pressure, and the bounce goes flat. Heavy hitters and warm conditions speed this up. Many regular players open a fresh can for each match and keep the older balls for drills. If a ball feels dead or bounces noticeably lower off the back glass, retire it.

Storing balls

Keep balls at room temperature, away from direct sun and out of a cold car boot. Cold balls feel heavy and lifeless; heat speeds up pressure loss. A ball pressuriser (a sealed tube that holds opened balls under pressure) can slow the decline if you play often.

Overgrips

An overgrip is a thin, tacky tape wrapped over the racket's base grip. It improves hold, soaks up sweat and lets you adjust handle thickness. It is cheap and makes an old racket feel new.

When to change it

Change it when it turns shiny, smooth or hard, when it starts to tear or unravel, or when the racket twists in your hand on volleys. How often depends on how much you play and how much your hands sweat; regular players often change every few sessions.

How to wrap an overgrip

1. Remove the old overgrip, leaving the base grip in place.
2. Peel the backing and start at the butt of the handle, with the tapered end on the bottom edge.
3. Wrap upwards at a slight angle, overlapping each turn by a few millimetres. Keep steady tension.
4. Wrap in the direction that suits your hand (right-handers usually go one way, left-handers the other) so the overlaps do not catch your palm.
5. Finish just below the throat, trim at an angle and seal with the finishing tape.

Thickness

Overgrips come in thin and thicker versions, and each layer adds a little to the handle. A thicker handle can reduce how hard you squeeze, which some players find kinder on the forearm. Too thick and you lose wrist feel. Most players use one overgrip; two is common if you have larger hands. Smaller hands may suit a single thin overgrip or none at all, and our women's padel guide has a quick check for whether a handle fits. Overgrips are the easiest way to fine-tune handle size.

Wristbands, bags and protectors

Wrist cord: every racket has one, and the FIP rules make wearing it compulsory. Always loop it round your wrist; a racket that slips out of a sweaty hand can hit your partner or the glass.

Wristbands: a simple sweatband stops sweat running onto your grip. Worth it in summer and indoors.

Bags: a racket cover protects the face from knocks and heat. A padel bag adds space for shoes, balls and spare grips, and some have an insulated pocket. Never leave a racket in a hot car: heat can soften the core and affect the frame.

Protectors: a clear or coloured tape stuck around the top of the frame. It absorbs scrapes from the floor and glass, and the FIP rules allow it. It adds a few grams to the head, so you may notice a slightly higher balance. For more on how weight and balance affect feel, read how to choose a padel racket, or get a quick profile from Racket Match.

Questions players ask