If you’ve walked into a UK Decathlon looking for a padel racket, you’ve probably met Kuikma. It’s Decathlon’s in-house padel brand, and for some players it’s the first racket they hold, because they can pick one up in a high-street store.
That convenience is the main pitch. “Decathlon padel racket” covers a range from kids’ rackets to carbon models for club players, across several shapes and levels. Here’s what’s in the range, who each tier suits, and where you should check the details yourself.
A note on sources: decathlon.co.uk blocked our checks on 18 October 2026, so we couldn’t confirm current Kuikma prices, weights or materials on Decathlon’s own product pages. Model names below are from Decathlon’s search-indexed listings. Decathlon’s customer help site was reachable, and the returns details are from there.
Kuikma – Decathlon’s own padel brand
Kuikma is Decathlon’s house padel brand, sold through its UK stores and website alongside Kuikma’s other padel gear such as balls, bags and shoes.
The appeal for a first-time buyer is straightforward: if your local store has several models in stock, you can hold them and compare. That’s useful if you want to feel the weight and grip before you buy. Stock varies by branch, so check online or ring ahead.
The current range, by family
Kuikma’s range spans entry-level rackets to a performance tier, with round, teardrop and diamond shapes. Round rackets have their sweet spot nearer the centre of the face, which is the most forgiving option for off-centre hits. Diamond rackets shift the balance toward the head, trading forgiveness for power on overheads.
Decathlon’s search-indexed UK listings include these families:
| Model family | What the listings show | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| PR 190 | Listed as “Kids’ Padel Racket PR 190” | Children (see our kids’ racket guide) |
| PR 990 Hybrid Soft / Hybrid Hard | Adult rackets, soft and hard versions | Improving players choosing a feel |
| PR 990 Power / Power Hard | Adult “Power” rackets | Improving players wanting more pace on smashes |
| Power Pro (including a Custom Strap System version) | Adult top-tier rackets | Regular players who’ve outgrown the entry tier |
Decathlon also sells cheaper entry-level adult rackets, but we couldn’t confirm their current names, shapes or prices. Prices and model names shift as Decathlon refreshes the range, so check decathlon.co.uk or ask in store for what’s currently on sale.
Is a Kuikma racket good enough?
For a first racket, a Kuikma can do the job – but we couldn’t verify its materials or durability against specialist brands. For your first few months, the most important things are shape (round or teardrop), a manageable weight, and a price you’re comfortable with.
We haven’t found independent testing of how Kuikma’s entry-level rackets hold up over months of regular play compared with similarly priced rackets from Nox, Bullpadel, Head or Adidas, so we can’t tell you whether one lasts longer than another. If durability matters to you, ask in store what the warranty covers, and compare the specification (core, face material, weight) with a beginner racket from a UK padel shop.
Treat the cheap end of the range as a way to find out if you like the sport. If you play regularly, you may want something different within a year.
When to upgrade away from Decathlon
There’s no fixed point at which players outgrow a Kuikma. Watch for the moment your racket starts holding you back more than your technique does. If you’ve read our guide to upgrading your padel racket, the same timing logic applies here: if you’ve played regularly for a few months, tried something better, and felt a clear difference, that’s the point worth acting on.
If you’re still deciding what to buy in the first place, our full first-racket buying guide covers shape, weight, and core material in more depth than a single-brand piece like this one can.
How to buy
Kuikma rackets are sold in Decathlon’s UK stores and online at decathlon.co.uk. In-store is the better option for a first racket: picking up a few different shapes and feeling the weight difference tells you more than any spec sheet.
Check Decathlon’s returns policy before you rely on it. Its customer help site says members get up to 365 days to return unwanted products, and non-members up to 30 days from purchase with proof of purchase, but only if the product is unused, clean and in its original packaging. The 365-day window applies only if you give your membership at purchase. Used products, and items with normal wear and tear, aren’t accepted under that policy, and Decathlon says it may accept or refuse a return based on the product’s condition. So try a racket’s weight and grip in store before you buy: once you’ve played with it, the voluntary returns policy won’t cover it. Your legal rights on faulty goods are separate and still apply.