Padel players are easy to buy for, with one important exception. They burn through consumables constantly, they always want a better bag, and there's a long list of small things they've been meaning to replace but haven't.
The exception is the racket — and we'll be straight with you about that below rather than talking you into one.
Everything here is sorted by budget, and everything is something a padel player will genuinely use.
First: should you buy them a racket?
Probably not — unless you know three things. A racket is a personal fit, not a generic gift. The wrong one is uncomfortable at best and a genuine elbow-injury risk at worst.
You can safely buy a racket as a gift if you know:
- Their level — a stiff, head-heavy pro frame in the hands of a beginner is harder to use and harder on the arm.
- What shape they play — round, teardrop or diamond. It changes the whole feel.
- That they actually want a new one.
If you're buying for someone who has never played, a racket is a great gift — just pick a forgiving beginner one rather than the most expensive. If you're buying for someone who plays weekly and already has a racket they like, get them something from the lists below instead, or a gift card so they choose the frame themselves.
Worth a read before deciding: How to Choose a Padel Racket.
Under $20 — stocking fillers that get used
This is the sweet spot for padel gifts. Every one of these is a consumable that players replace regularly and almost always put off buying.
Balls are the safest gift in the sport. Padel balls lose pressure from the moment the can is opened — a serious pair goes through a can every two or three sessions. Nobody has ever had too many. The adidas Speed RX (RRP $14 a can) is the fast, high-bounce option for someone who plays indoors or on slow courts — adidas publish no FIP approval for it, so for a competition player stick with the Dunlop Pro.
Overgrips are the most-used and least-bought item in anyone's bag. The grip on a new racket is thin and goes slippery fast in Queensland humidity. A three-pack lasts months. The adidas overgrip three-pack (RRP $20, black or white) sits right on the edge of this budget: micro-perforated polyurethane, tacky and absorbent.
Frame protectors are the gift of a player who's already chipped a racket on the glass. A strip of protector tape is the difference between a scuffed frame and a cracked one. The adidas Antishock tape (RRP $20, black or transparent) does the same job, but adidas say it is not compatible with the Metalbone line, so check what they play first.
Wristbands sound like an afterthought until you've played an outdoor summer session on the Gold Coast. Sweat running down to the grip is the single most common cause of a racket slipping mid-swing.
$30–$50 — the upgrade they wouldn't buy themselves
Hesacore grips are the classic "I'd never spend that on a grip, but I love it" gift. Instead of a flat wrap, they're a moulded hexagonal structure that spreads load across the palm and reduces the amount of vibration travelling into the hand and forearm.
They're a particularly thoughtful gift for anyone who has mentioned elbow or wrist soreness — though do read our honest take in Padel and Tennis Elbow first, because no grip fixes a technique problem.
Sizing tip: medium (2.0 mm) suits most adult hands. Go small (1.5 mm) for smaller hands or anyone who likes to feel the handle.
$90–$150 — bags, and a first racket
A proper padel bag is the upgrade almost every improving player wants and almost nobody buys for themselves. A racket thrown loose in a gym bag gets chipped; a padel bag has a padded racket compartment, room for shoes and a wet towel, and usually a separate vented pocket.
A backpack suits anyone walking or riding to the courts. A larger holdall suits players carrying two rackets and going straight from work.
The Dunlop FX Start is our usual recommendation for a complete beginner's first racket — hybrid shape, forgiving, and not so expensive that it hurts if they don't stick with it.
$150–$300 — serious gifts
This bracket covers a genuinely good first or second racket, or a premium bag for someone who plays several times a week.
For a new player, round-shaped rackets have the biggest, most central sweet spot and are the most forgiving of mishits. For someone improving and wanting more punch, a diamond or hybrid shape gives more power at the cost of forgiveness.
If they've mentioned elbow niggles, look for something marked arm-friendly with a softer core — adidas's RX Series 2026, a round fibreglass frame on a soft core, is the one we would pick there.
For a new player who would like the three stripes, the adidas Drive 2026 (RRP $169, black or blue) is a plain, forgiving round racket. For someone who plays several times a week, the adidas Multigame 2026 bag (RRP $199) carries up to four rackets in two thermal side compartments, with a ventilated shoe compartment and backpack straps.
$300+ — the big one
Only buy at this level if you're confident about their level and preference, because these are specialised frames. The AT10 Genius is the racket Agustín Tapia plays, and it's our best seller. It is genuinely a very good racket, and it is genuinely too demanding for a beginner.
For an advanced player who prefers a round racket, the adidas Metalbone CTRL (RRP $659) is the premium control frame, with screw-in head weights so they can set the balance themselves.
Curious what the rest of the tour uses? What Padel Rackets Do the Pros Actually Use — and, importantly, what that should and shouldn't mean for your own choice.
The safe option: a gift card
Genuinely the right answer for a lot of padel players. Rackets are personal, sizes vary, and a committed player usually has a very specific next purchase in mind. A gift card lets them get exactly that.
Three gifts to skip
- A racket for someone who already has one they love. Get consumables or a bag.
- Tennis balls. They look similar but padel balls are slightly smaller and run at lower pressure — around 10–11 psi versus roughly 14 for a tennis ball. Tennis balls bounce too high and play wrong off the glass.
- Running shoes. Padel is side-to-side with hard stops; running shoes have no lateral support and the tread doesn't clear sand on artificial grass. Unless you know their exact size and sole preference, leave footwear alone.
Ordering in time for Christmas
We're an online shop based in Broadbeach on the Gold Coast. Orders placed before 1pm AEST are dispatched the same business day.
If you're local, free click-and-collect is available from our counter inside Pacific Fair — useful if you've left it late.
As with every retailer, Australia Post gets slower through December. Order early rather than relying on the last few days before Christmas, and if you're cutting it fine, collection is the safe option.
Not sure what they've already got? Browse all rackets, balls or grips and overgrips — or read Best Padel Rackets in Australia for our current picks at every level.
Prices shown update live. Stock on individual rackets is limited — we typically hold only a few units of each model.