I was about to start padel, and my only question was simple: "Where do I buy a good racket, and for how much?" Then I realised that simple question wasn't simple at all — brands, carbon weaves, racket shapes, customs rules, shoe soles… so many details. I pulled my whole research together so it can be a shortcut for anyone on the same road, anyone thinking "I'm about to buy my first racket but I'm confused."
The short version of my argument: Don't sink money into an expensive racket at the start. Learn with a cheap, forgiving racket, then deliberately upgrade once your style settles in. I explain why below.
What does the "right racket" look like for a beginner?
The internet is full of technical terms, but a beginner really only needs to look at four things:
- Shape: Round. The sweet spot is central and wide, so it forgives shots that miss the middle. The diamond shape is for power and suits advanced players — stay away from it at the start.
- Weight: Light (~350–365 g). Easier to swing, less tiring on the wrist.
- Stiffness: Soft (fibreglass-heavy). Feels the ball better, more comfortable, kinder to the elbow/wrist.
- Balance: Near the handle (low balance). Lets you turn the racket quickly.
When these four come together, you both learn faster and lower your injury risk. The power and spin advantages of expensive carbon rackets are something you can only really feel after your technique settles — so paying for them on day one is a "dead investment."
Brands and a few terms
The most talked-about brands in the padel world are Nox, Bullpadel and Adidas. A few terms, as summed up by a friend who knows this stuff:
- 12K / 18K: The weave density of the carbon fibre. A tighter weave usually means a stiffer, more reactive feel.
- Attack / Defence / Hybrid: The racket's playing character. For a beginner the most sensible choice is Hybrid — instead of locking into pure attack or defence, it gives a balanced, versatile feel.
But let's be honest: racket choice is very subjective. Above a certain quality level, which brand you pick is largely a matter of taste. What matters is moving up from the generic racket you rent at the court to something better in your hand. For someone playing 1–2 times a week, that difference pays for itself quickly. (A small warning: padel rackets aren't as long-lived as tennis rackets — the EVA foam core fatigues over time, and micro-cracks can form on the carbon surface.)
Does it make sense to buy from abroad?
Spain-based sites like padelmarket.com are reliable, dwarf Türkiye on variety, and are often half the price. Tempting, right? But in 2026 things changed.
- A January 2026 regulation completely abolished the €30 customs exemption; even the smallest individual order is now subject to customs duty.
- More importantly, the simplified customs declaration for express courier/post was removed — every item is now taxed on its own tariff position like a commercial import, which can mean customs brokerage and thousands of liras in extra costs.
Bottom line: Importing a single racket from abroad is now, in most cases, more expensive and more hassle than buying within Türkiye. The label price may look cheap, but customs + shipping + possible brokerage fees eat up the advantage.
Practical tip: use overseas sites to research models and get a sense of prices, but make the purchase within Türkiye. (Note: these are very new rules; always verify the current situation before ordering — this article is not legal/financial advice.)
Price gap in Türkiye: why is the same racket 2x?
This was the clearest thing I saw in my research. For example:
| Model | Abroad (approx.) | Türkiye | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bullpadel Vertex 04 Hybrid | ~6,000–6,500 TL (on sale) | ~18,000 TL | ~3x |
| Nox AT10 Genius 12K | ~10,500–11,000 TL | ~19,900 TL | ~2x |
So the criticism that "variety is limited and prices are high in Türkiye" is fair. But the good news: the entry level is much more reasonable — especially once Decathlon enters the picture.
The budget-friendly hero: Decathlon Kuikma
For a beginner, the clear leader on price/performance is Decathlon. The Kuikma series is designed exactly to the "round + light + soft + low balance" recipe above, and the prices are incredibly affordable.
| Model | Price | Weight | Feel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kuikma PR Open | ~1,890 TL | 320 g | Lightest, cheapest, most forgiving entry |
| Kuikma PR Comfort Soft | ~2,390 TL | 350 g | Softest, most tolerant feel |
| Kuikma PR Comfort | ~3,090 TL | 350 g | A bit stiffer/more reactive (BlackEva core) |
| Kuikma Hybrid Pro | ~8,990 TL | 365 g | 18K carbon + Dual Foam; advanced, an "upgrade" candidate |
Another nice thing about Decathlon: you can pick the rackets up and try them in the store. Whether 320 g or a slightly fuller 350 g feels natural to you is something you can only tell by swinging it. The "Shock Block" vibration-damping system on the higher model is a real plus for elbow/wrist comfort too — but that's a feature that gains value as you improve.
Alternatives outside Decathlon (in Türkiye)
If you want brand assurance or a different feel, a few more options that fit the beginner profile:
- Head Vibe (round, 350 g, comfort-focused) — ~6,990 TL. Like a branded one-to-one equivalent of the Kuikma Comfort Soft.
- Greenmall Carbon Fibre — ~5,000 TL. An affordable but unbranded (generic) carbon racket.
- Bullpadel Ionic Control / Light 25 — ~11,000 TL. A very good profile, but pricey for a beginner.
Careful: Head's "Coello Vibe" model, despite the similar name, is teardrop-shaped and power-oriented — not a pure beginner-control profile. Don't mix them up.
What comes before the racket: Shoes
I'm writing this in bold because it's the most critical point most beginners skip: The right shoes are far more decisive than the difference between beginner rackets.
A padel court is sand-filled artificial turf. On that surface a running shoe slips and invites a sprained ankle. What you need:
- Herringbone sole — for grip on the sandy surface.
- Lateral support + reinforced heel — for constant side-stepping and turning.
- Toe reinforcement — for durability against scuffing.
| Shoes | Price | When? |
|---|---|---|
| Kuikma PS Dynamic (padel-specific) | ~3,790 TL | If you'll play only/mostly padel |
| Artengo Unrupt Team (all-court tennis) | ~3,990 TL | Both padel and tennis, or on hard/concrete surfaces |
Interestingly: the padel-specific PS Dynamic is both ~200 TL cheaper than the tennis shoe and has a sole optimised for the sandy padel surface. So for pure padel, this is the right choice.
Small but important accessories
Alongside the racket + shoes, three small things you should complete from day one:
- Overgrip (Kuikma Adherence, ~50–150 TL): Adjusts the handle thickness to your hand, absorbs sweat, protects the original grip. Padel handles come in a single standard size; you fine-tune the thickness with an overgrip.
- Protection tape (Kuikma Protect Tape, ~100–150 TL): A light tape that protects the top edge of the racket against impacts. In the first weeks a beginner often scuffs the racket on the ground; this little tape extends its life significantly. Put it on before first use — once a scratch forms, it's too late.
- Padel balls (Kuikma PB Control 3-pack, ~200–350 TL): Use padel-specific balls, not tennis balls. A control ball is slower and more forgiving at the start.
Bonus: practising on a concrete court at home
I had an extra bit of luck — a concrete tennis court in the garden of our complex. I learned that my wife and I could practise the basics of padel there. Here's the reality:
What you can comfortably practise on a concrete court: stroke technique (forehand/backhand), serve, volley, rallying back and forth, footwork, settling in the racket-and-ball feel.
The one thing you can't practise there: padel's lifeblood — the wall/glass rebound game (bandeja, víbora, defending off the glass). For that you need a real, glassed padel court.
The most efficient path: practise the basics plenty on concrete at home (free and accessible), and now and then go to a real padel court to learn the wall game and match rhythm. This combination advances you very fast. (Note: if you'll mostly practise on concrete, an all-court/hard-court tennis shoe suits concrete better.)
Summary: my starter set and total budget
| Item | My pick | Approx. price |
|---|---|---|
| Racket | Kuikma PR Open / Comfort Soft | 1,890 – 2,390 TL |
| Shoes | Kuikma PS Dynamic | 3,790 TL |
| Protection tape | Kuikma Protect Tape | ~100–150 TL |
| Overgrip | Kuikma Adherence | ~50–150 TL |
| Balls (3-pack) | Kuikma PB Control | ~200–350 TL |
| Total | ≈ 6,000–6,800 TL |
So with a reasonable budget of 5,000–10,000 TL you build a complete starter set, with enough left over for a few lessons on top.
One-sentence advice: Start with a cheap, forgiving racket, put the money into the right shoes and a few lessons, and after 6–12 months — once you reach intermediate level — deliberately upgrade to a hybrid/carbon racket. That's when you'll both feel the difference and get your money's worth.
See you on court — enjoy the game!
Note: the prices here are approximate as of mid-2026 and may change with stock/promotions; verify current prices on the relevant sites before buying.