Buyer's guide
You don't need any gear for your first game — most venues rent rackets and balls. Once you're a padel addict, here's what to actually look for.
Rackets
Padel rackets are solid and stringless, with a perforated face and an EVA or foam core. Unlike tennis, the biggest performance decision isn't brand — it's shape.
Weight sits closer to the handle, giving the largest, most forgiving sweet spot — the standard recommendation for beginners.
A hybrid between round and diamond, balancing control with extra power. A common step up once you've played a season or two.
Weight is concentrated toward the top, generating the most power but with a smaller sweet spot — best suited to players with solid technique.
Quick reference
| Shape | Balance point | Sweet spot | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Round | Low / handle-weighted | Largest | New players, control-focused doubles |
| Teardrop | Medium | Medium-large | Club-level players wanting more pop |
| Diamond | High / head-weighted | Smallest | Experienced players prioritising power |
Balls
Padel balls look almost identical to tennis balls but are engineered differently for a walled, lower-bounce court.
Lower internal pressure keeps the bounce controlled inside an enclosed court, so rallies don't balloon out of the playing area.
As with tennis, some ball lines are altitude-tuned — mostly irrelevant on Australia's coastal courts, but worth checking online.
Everything else
Padel involves fast lateral movement, so a court shoe (padel, tennis or squash-specific) gives far better grip and support than a running shoe.
An overgrip is a cheap consumable that keeps your racket handle feeling fresh — most players swap theirs every few sessions on court.
Padel rackets don't fold flat like a tennis racket bag expects — a padel-specific bag protects the face and holds balls, grips and a water bottle.
Ready to buy
A couple of good starting points once you know what you're after — click through to browse, both ship within Australia.
Get out there
See what's open near you across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and beyond.
Where to play