What should you wear to play padel?

A beginner's guide to dressing for comfort, confidence and better movement

One of the first questions almost every new padel player asks is:

"What should I wear?"

It's a fair question... when you look around your local club, you'll probably see people wearing everything from football kits and gym shorts to tennis clothing and running shoes. It can be difficult to know whether padel has its own dress code or whether anything goes.

The good news is that you don't need to spend hundreds of pounds on specialist clothing before stepping onto court. But after playing hours on hours ourselves, we've learned something.

The right clothing doesn't necessarily make you a better player. It won't stop those smashes hitting the net, it won't improve your serve, nor will it make you better off the glass. However... what padel clothes do is simply remove distractions.

And when you're not thinking about your clothing, you're free to enjoy the game. So if you're wondering what to wear for your first session, or you're starting to play more regularly, here's everything we've learned:

Do you need specialist clothing to play padel?

No.

If it's your very first game, wear whatever comfortable sports clothing you already own... whether that be a breathable T-shirt. A comfortable pair of shorts. Court shoes if you have them.

The most important thing is getting on court and enjoying yourself.

That said, as you begin playing more often, you'll probably start noticing little frustrations that never crossed your mind before.

• Your shorts ride up.
• Your second ball keeps falling out of your pocket.
• Your socks bunch up inside your shoes.
• Your T-shirt becomes heavy with sweat during long summer matches.

While these don't sound like the biggest of problems, they're actually the kind of small distractions that gradually lead experienced players towards clothing designed specifically for padel.

What do most people wear to play padel?

Walk into almost any padel club and you'll see a mix of different outfits.

Many beginners wear:

• Gym shorts
• Running tops
• Football shirts
• Tennis clothing
• General sportswear

And honestly? There's nothing wrong with that.

Most people don't buy specialist clothing until they've fallen in love with the sport. But I'm sure a lot of padel players have fallen into the slippery slope... once you start buying padel 'stuff' you can't stop. But this is one of the more necessary things.

Once that happens, your priorities begin to change. Instead of simply wanting clothes that look good, players start looking for clothing that feels good throughout an entire match, because padel's movement is unlike almost any other sport.

• You're constantly changing direction.
• Rotating.
• Stopping.
• Accelerating.
• Defending low balls.
• Recovering to the centre.

Your clothing moves just as much as you do. That's when the details begin to matter.

What do professional padel players wear?

Professional players don't wear specialist clothing because it looks better. They wear it because every detail has a purpose. Professional padel apparel is designed to be:

• Lightweight
• Breathable
• Quick drying
• Flexible
• Comfortable over long matches

Every seam, panel and fabric is chosen to help movement rather than restrict it. It's not about adding performance - it's about removing distractions.

When you watch professional players, you'll rarely see them adjusting their clothing between points, and that is no coincidence, because good clothing should almost disappear once you start playing.

What shoes should you wear for padel?

If there's one piece of equipment worth investing in as you play more regularly, it's your shoes. While some beginners wear running shoes, they're not designed for the side-to-side movement that padel demands. Running shoes are built to move forwards. Padel asks you to:

• Shuffle sideways
• Push off explosively
• Stop suddenly
• Recover quickly
• Rotate through your hips

Padel shoes are specifically designed to provide the grip, support and stability needed for those movements. You'll feel more secure changing direction, especially on sandy artificial grass courts. On the other hand... if you're only trying padel once, wear whatever sports shoes you already own. But if you're playing every week, specialist padel shoes quickly become worthwhile.

If you're interested in getting even more from your footwear, we've also written about how to get the most out of your padel shoes.

Do you need grip socks for padel?

It depends... not necessarily. But they're one of the most overlooked pieces of equipment in the sport.

Most players spend time researching shoes, reading reviews, trying different brands, finding the perfect fit, yet very few think about what sits inside them.

Your socks are the connection between your feet and your shoes.

If your foot moves inside the shoe every time you push off, change direction or stop suddenly, you're never getting the full benefit of the footwear you've invested in. That's why many experienced players choose performance socks with extra grip and support.

It's a small improvement, but like most things in padel, small improvements tend to add up over the course of a two-hour match.

What makes good padel shorts?

At first glance, shorts are just shorts... at least, that's what we used to think. We then started noticing the same frustrations every time we played.

Our second ball bouncing around inside our pockets.
Constantly pulling our waistband back into place.
Heavy fabrics becoming uncomfortable during long matches.

None of those issues stop you playing, but they do interrupt your focus. Good padel shorts are designed to remove those distractions. Things worth looking for include:

• Lightweight stretch fabrics
• Deep, secure ball pockets
• A comfortable waistband
• Freedom of movement
• Breathability

They're small details individually. Together, they completely change how your clothing feels on court.

It's one of the reasons we became so fascinated by padel apparel in the first place, because as sports people, we understand the finer details matter. That free movement, secure waistband and ergonomic ball pockets all matter. Everything is designed with a reason.

What top should you wear for padel?

A breathable sports T-shirt is absolutely fine when you're starting out. As you begin playing more often, though, you'll probably appreciate clothing that's designed to deal with sweat, movement and heat more effectively.

Look for tops that offer:

• Lightweight technical fabrics
• Moisture management
• Stretch
• Breathability
• Freedom of movement

The best tops don't feel heavy halfway through a match. They simply let you forget you're wearing them.

We're currently working on our own performance tops using everything we've learned from designing our shorts, socks and hats. If you'd like to hear when they launch, you can join our newsletter to be the first to know.

Common clothing mistakes beginners make

Nobody gets everything right straight away. Some of the most common mistakes we see include:

Wearing running shoes

They're designed for forwards movement rather than the side-to-side movement padel demands.

Playing in heavy cotton clothing

Cotton absorbs sweat and quickly becomes heavy and uncomfortable.

Ignoring your socks

Your shoes can only perform as well as the connection between your feet and them.

Using shallow pockets

Carrying a second ball is part of padel. Having nowhere comfortable to keep it becomes surprisingly frustrating.

The good news?

Most of these are easy fixes once you've spent a little more time on court.

When is it worth investing in padel-specific clothing?

Probably later than you think. We'd never tell someone to buy specialist clothing before they've even decided whether they enjoy the sport. Go and play. Borrow a racket. Wear your normal sportswear. See if you catch the bug. We sure did... which is the whole reason we started Padel Source together. So if you do catch the bug (and believe me, most people seem to) there comes a point where you stop buying equipment simply because you need it.

You start buying it because it makes playing more enjoyable. That's usually when specialist clothing starts making sense. Not because it'll magically improve your game, but rather it'll help you think about your clothing less.

What we've learned from hundreds of hours on court

When Luke and I started Padel Source, we didn't ask ourselves,

"How can we make another clothing brand?"

Instead, we asked,

"What frustrates us every single time we play?"

Almost every feature we've designed has come from answering that question. Not because we wanted to add more features. Because we wanted to remove more distractions.

That's the philosophy behind everything we make. Whether it's a deeper pocket, a more secure waistband, grip socks that help your shoes perform at their best, or soon, lightweight tops built specifically around the way padel is actually played.

We're not trying to reinvent sportswear. We're simply trying to make playing padel feel that little bit easier.

So is it worth it?

If you're playing padel for the first time this weekend, don't overthink what you're wearing because comfortable sports clothing is more than enough.

But as you continue playing, you'll begin to notice the little details that make the sport more enjoyable. We can't guarantee it will suddenly transform your game. Though together, they remove distractions and let you focus on what really matters: enjoying every point.

If you're curious about how we've approached those small details, you're welcome to explore The Pro Collection, where every product has been designed around one simple idea:

Small details. Big difference.

Frequently asked questions

Can you wear gym clothes for padel?

Yes. Most beginners wear general sportswear when they first start playing. As you play more regularly, clothing designed specifically for padel can improve comfort and freedom of movement.

Can you wear running shoes for padel?

You can, but they're not recommended. Running shoes aren't designed for the lateral movement that padel requires and usually provide less stability during quick changes of direction.

Do you need padel shoes?

Not for your first session. However, if you play regularly, padel shoes offer better grip, support and stability than standard trainers.

Are grip socks worth it?

If you've invested in a good pair of padel shoes, grip socks can help reduce movement inside the shoe, improving comfort and connection during long matches.

What do professional padel players wear?

Professional players typically wear lightweight, breathable clothing designed specifically for padel, alongside specialist court shoes that support the unique movements of the sport.

Should beginners buy specialist padel clothing?

Not immediately. Try the sport first. Once you know you'll be playing regularly, investing in clothing designed specifically for padel can make every session more comfortable and enjoyable.