Quick Answer
Yes. David Lloyd provides padel rackets to hire at reception at almost every club with padel courts in 2026. Hire is either free or charged at a small per session rate, and balls are usually included or sold cheaply at the desk.
If you are a beginner trying padel for the first time, this is the right move: the rackets at reception are entry level and work fine. Regular players almost always switch to their own racket within a few weeks because the standard hire kit is not optimised for power or control.
How racket hire works
- Book the court. Reserve through the David Lloyd Clubs app at the usual 8 day padel booking window.
- Ask at reception on arrival. Reception holds a small fleet of padel rackets sized for adults and juniors.
- Pay or sign for hire. Free at some clubs, around £2 to £5 a session at others.
- Pick up balls. Reception sells fresh padel balls for around £6 to £8 a tube of three.
- Return rackets. Drop the racket back at reception after the session.
Why most regular players buy their own
The hire fleet is deliberately durable rather than performance focused. Most clubs use a small range of beginner shaped rackets that survive a busy weekend timetable, which is perfect for a first session but limiting once you start hitting hard or playing competitively.
Regular players gravitate to a personal racket within their first 5 to 10 sessions because:
- Weight, balance, and string pattern can be matched to playing style.
- A personal racket sits in your bag, so you never wait for a reception swap on a busy Saturday.
- Buying once at £100 to £200 is cheaper than years of hire at £5 a session.
What to bring to your first session
- Indoor court shoes with non marking soles (running trainers are not ideal).
- Comfortable sports clothing and a sweat towel.
- Water bottle (refill points are by the courts and Clubroom).
- Optional: your own padel balls if you have a preferred brand. Otherwise buy at reception.
Coaching
Most David Lloyd clubs with padel run regular beginner clinics. Group sessions are around £15 to £25 per person, and the club provides rackets and balls for the duration. This is the cheapest way to learn the basics before deciding whether to buy a personal racket.
FAQ
Are padel rackets free at David Lloyd?
Free at some clubs, around £2 to £5 a session at others. Confirm at reception when booking.
Are padel balls free?
Reception sells balls. Some clubs include a tube with a group lesson booking.
Does the chain hire junior rackets?
Yes, most padel clubs hold a small junior racket fleet alongside adult sizes.
More context on padel kit
The reception racket fleet is deliberately conservative. The chain knows that most first time players are testing the sport before deciding whether to invest in their own kit. A heavy power racket would put a beginner off; a hyper expensive racket would be uneconomic to lose to a court accident. So the hire fleet is mid weight, mid balance, and durable.
Once players move past the beginner phase, the racket choice becomes a personal call. Power players gravitate to head heavy diamond shaped rackets in the 360 to 380 gram range. Control players prefer teardrop or round shapes at slightly lower weight. The David Lloyd pro shops at the larger clubs stock a selection and can match a racket to your playing style.
For families, the junior hire fleet is the right starting point even if you plan to buy. Children grow out of rackets quickly and the cost of buying then replacing is usually higher than two years of hire. Combine the hire fleet with a junior coaching course and the whole family can be playing within a season for under the cost of one set of adult rackets.
Practical playbook for first time players
For a first session, treat the hire racket as part of the experience rather than a limitation. Pick the racket that feels comfortable in the hand, not the one that looks the most aggressive. The technique you are trying to learn in the first six sessions does not benefit from a power racket. A forgiving, medium weight racket lets you focus on positioning, glass wall play, and lob defence.
Book the session with a friend who has played before if you can. Padel is best learned in 2v2 doubles, and one experienced player on the court accelerates everyone else's learning curve faster than a coaching video ever will. If you do not have a friend who plays, sign up for a club beginner clinic where the coach pairs you with another beginner.
If you stick with the sport past 5 to 10 sessions, plan to buy your own racket within the first month. The personal racket lives in your bag, never gets caught up in a busy weekend reception queue, and lets you actually develop a style instead of swapping kit every visit.
Related reading
Final word
If padel is new to you, walk into your nearest David Lloyd club, ask reception for a hire racket, and pay £15 for a coaching clinic. If you stick with it, plan to buy your own racket within a month so you stop waiting on the hire fleet at weekends.
