The honest list: a new player needs exactly three things — a paddle, a few indoor balls, and non-marking court shoes. Bags, covers, spare grips and apparel are all optional and can wait until you know you are sticking with the sport.
Need now vs can wait
| Need now | Paddle · indoor balls (a sleeve) · non-marking court shoes · water bottle |
| Nice soon | Spare overgrip · small towel · a bag with a paddle sleeve |
| Later, if at all | Second paddle · edge-guard cover · branded apparel · ball machine time (book a bay instead) |
Three budget tiers
- Entry: a basic fibreglass wide-body paddle, a sleeve of indoor balls, and an inexpensive non-marking tennis or badminton shoe from Decathlon Philippines. Enough to play twice a week and learn everything.
- Mid: a mid-weight carbon-faced wide-body paddle (better control and durability), a court-specific indoor shoe, a couple of ball sleeves, and one overgrip. This kit lasts a year or more and will not hold your game back.
- Considered: after 2–3 months of play, once you know whether you want power or control, choose a paddle to match — see the power-versus-control guide. This is the paddle worth spending on, because now you can tell the difference.
Prices move constantly on Lazada, Shopee and at Decathlon Philippines, so check current listings rather than trusting a fixed figure — the buying guide covers what to look for.
Why borrowing still wins
Even on the entry tier, buy the paddle last. Book a practice bay at CentralCourt, borrow the paddles on hand, and hit for two or three sessions. You will quickly feel whether you want a lighter, quicker paddle or a heavier, more powerful one — and that one piece of first-hand knowledge saves you from the classic beginner mistake of buying the wrong paddle twice.
Shoes are not the place to save
If the budget is tight, spend less on the paddle and more on the shoes. A cheap paddle just plays a bit worse; a bad shoe rolls an ankle.
Put it into practice on court.
Book a Court
