Padel Racket Guide for Beginners
One of the fastest growing sports in the UAE currently is Padel, and there’s a pretty good reason for that – it’s an easy and fun sport to pick up, and you get together with other likeminded padel enthusiasts. Padel isn’t too technical and it’s a sports activity that keeps you moving. Check out this padel beginner-friendly guide that’ll take you through the what’s, where’s and how’s, so you can play this sport as best as you can.
Why Padel is Perfect for Beginners
This sport is the perfect bet for beginners as it combines two popular racket sports – squash and tennis, and it’s played in a smaller court comprising of walls to ensure longer play time with the padel ball. You can rally for longer, in turn allowing you to play for longer, too. Neither are you required to be expert at handling any kind of racket sport, nor do you have to remember rules to play this sport successfully.
What You Need: Essential Padel Gear
It’s not necessary to buy expensive equipment, but even investing in the right, basic gear can have a positive impact in the way you play. The padel products you need are:
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Padel Racket: A lightweight racket with a soft core that provides more control and reduces arm strain, is the perfect product for anyone who is beginning out in this racket sport. Have a look at the KUIKMA Adult Padel Racket PR 190 for easy handling and comfort throughout.
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Padel Shoes: Good grip and lateral support are essential for padel. Check out the KUIKMA Padel Shoes PS 500 that offer unbeatable support when you move swiftly on the court.
- Balls: As a general rule, the build of a padel ball is slightly less pressurized than a tennis ball. They are ideal for both training and playing casually on the court.
On the look out for a variety of padel sports products? Check out the padel collection online.
Advices & Tips
If you are serious about padel and want to get better with each session, you can find instructors to coach you at reasonable rates. You could simply check out online tutorials or join a WhatsApp group for padel enthusiasts, too!
Be sure to practice all your basic shots such as your backhand and forehand shots, and even try to do volleys with a partner. Remember – Consistency is key, and power can be developed with time, as you become more active and play more advanced games. Missing a few shots as a beginner is a given, but what matters is you stay consistent to become a better player.
Check out UAE Padel Association or UAEPA on Instagram, for news about events, matches, and more, as they are the official governing body for padel in UAE.
Explore More Padel Products
Places to Play Padel in UAE
UAE is home to many popular indoor and outdoor padel clubs. Mentioned below are a few places that are beginner friendly:
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Padel Pro – There are multiple locations in Dubai - One Central, Jumeirah Park, and Al Quoz - and often features community events and leagues for all skill levels.
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Padel Point – New players can check out these locations, which have venues in Dubai - Al Quoz and the first female only Padel tennis court, located at Zabeel Ladies Club.
- Just Padel – If you can't play outdoors due to the weather getting warmer, you have the option to play at Just Padel that offers indoor court options across Dubai.
Padel Racket FAQs
How do I choose the correct padel racket for me?
There are many factors to take into consideration before you purchase a padel racket, but some of the most note-worthy factors are:
- Shape of the racket - Round, tear drop or diamond. Each shape offers its own benefits, with round shape being perfect for beginners who are looking for more control over power, while diamond shape is preferred by professionals who seek maximum power, which are perfect for players who hit smashes and powerful volleys.
- Weight of the racket - There are lightweight, medium-weight and heavy rackets, that help maneuver the racket according to your gameplay. The heavier the racket, the more strain it adds to your wrist, so make sure to invest in a racket that's easy to move around and hit with.
- Balance of the racket - There are three weight distributions that you can look for - head-heavy, head-light and even balance. Each balance provides its own advantages, with head-heavy providing you more power driven shots, head-light providing you with speed and precision, and are easier to maneuver, and even balance providing you with a neutral experience - the perfect amount of power and control, which is good for players that don't have a specific style of playing on the court.
Can I use tennis gear for padel?
No. Padel racket has its own designated bats and balls, that are smaller, and lighter than tennis gear. The chances of injuring yourself would be higher, so it's best to prevent playing with the wrong equipment.
How much does it cost to play padel in UAE?
The prices depend on what time and what day you make the booking for, the number of people per session, and the number of hours. It could easily start from 200 dirhams, all the way to 900 dirhams, or more. There are clubs where you could try to avail discounts on the basis of group bookings, or if you book sessions during morning hours, making it an easy feat for people who are beginning out their padel journey.
