Free shipping on national orders over $150
Free express shipping on national orders over $500
Padel In Australia guide

The Rise of Padel in Australia: From One Club to 100+ Courts

The first padel club in Australia opened in Sydney in January 2016, according to its founder. By the end of 2025 Padel Australia counted more than 100 courts, 10 new clubs opened in the previous 12 months, and more than 90,000 Australians had played. This is the timeline, with a source for each date.

Timeline of padel in Australia

When What happened
January 2016 Padel Sydney, the first padel club in Australia, opens, set up by Matt Barrelle on a former bus car park
January 2022 A purpose-built padel court is installed on Grand Slam Oval at the Australian Open, with exhibition matches and try-it sessions
November 2022 Tennis Australia reports six padel venues and an estimated 2,000 regular players
January 2023 The first Australian Padel Open is held in Melbourne, with finals at Melbourne Park
January 2024 Pat Rafter is named founding ambassador of Padel Australia
October 2025 Australia's national team, the Aussie Crocs, plays in the inaugural FIP Asia Padel Cup in Doha
December 2025 Padel Australia reports more than 100 courts, 10 new clubs in 12 months and 90,000+ players
January 2026 The Melbourne Padel Open, part of the Cupra FIP Tour, runs from 7 to 11 January

The first club

According to an interview with Matt Barrelle published by The Padel School, padel began in Australia when he moved home to set it up. The first club, Padel Sydney, opened in January 2016 in Sydney's entertainment district on an old bus car park. Barrelle later became President of the Australian Padel Federation. That interview is undated and the only detailed account we found, so treat the exact site as secondary reporting.

Padel in One, an Australian company that designs and builds padel clubs, was founded by Pere Valdivieso and is a separate business from the club.

2022 and 2023: the Australian Open years

At the 2022 Australian Open, Tennis Australia installed a purpose-built padel court on Grand Slam Oval. Spectators could watch exhibition matches and try the sport. In November 2022 Tennis Australia said Australia had six padel venues (two in Sydney, two in Perth, one in Melbourne and one on the Gold Coast) and about 2,000 regular players.

The first Australian Padel Open followed in January 2023. The Australian Open site described it as the largest professional padel event in Australia, with a $20,000 prize pool, and as the first leg of the 2023 Australian Padel Tour. Qualifying was played in Docklands, and the semi-finals and finals moved to Melbourne Park from 27 January. The Australian Padel Federation endorsed the event. That body is now called Padel Australia.

2024 and 2025: growth and national teams

In January 2024 Tennis Australia named former world number one Pat Rafter the founding ambassador of Padel Australia. In October 2025 the Aussie Crocs, Australia's national padel team, played in the inaugural FIP Asia Padel Cup in Doha, Qatar, from 17 to 24 October. Rafter was in the men's squad.

Padel Australia's review of 2025, published on 19 December 2025, says the national court total is above 100, up 40 percent on the year before. It reports 10 new clubs in the past 12 months, more than 90,000 Australians who have played (up 50 percent), and official recognition of padel as a sport by the Australian Sports Commission.

New venues have opened outside the capital cities. Sol Padel in Thurgoona, Albury had its soft opening in April 2023, according to the Border Mail, and a Coffs Harbour club opened around July 2025, according to NBN News.

Where Australia stands in 2026

In January 2026 the Cupra FIP Tour held the Melbourne Padel Open from 7 to 11 January. We found no official court count for 2026 from Padel Australia or Tennis Australia, and unofficial counts disagree, so use the Padel Australia court finder for current numbers.

If you want to start, read what padel is, learn the padel rules and scoring, and use the padel racket guide when you are ready to buy. Padel Code stocks padel rackets, balls and shoes, and has a showroom at 35-39 Bourke Road, Alexandria NSW.

Frequently asked questions

When did padel start in Australia?

The first club, Padel Sydney, opened in January 2016 according to The Padel School's interview with its founder. Padel Australia's own history page does not give a founding date.

How many padel courts are in Australia?

Padel Australia reported more than 100 courts in December 2025. We found no official figure for 2026.

Who runs padel in Australia?

Padel Australia is the national governing body and a member of the International Padel Federation (FIP). It works alongside Tennis Australia. In 2022 and 2023 coverage it appears as the Australian Padel Federation.

Is there a national padel team?

Yes. The Aussie Crocs are Australia's national padel team. They played in the inaugural FIP Asia Padel Cup in October 2025.

Sources

Last checked 6 November 2026.

Related Posts

What Is Padel guide

What Is Padel? A Beginner's Guide for Australia

Padel is a racket sport played in pairs on an enclosed court 10 metres wide and 20 metres long. The ball can bounce off the walls and stay in play. Players use a solid racket with a perforated face, and scoring follows the tennis pattern of 15, 30 and 40. You will also see it called padel tennis, and in Australia the spelling racket and racquet both turn up. Padel at a glance Question Answer Where is it played? On an enclosed court, 10 by 20 metres, with glass or solid walls and a metal fence How many players? A standard match is two pairs What do you hit with? A solid, perforated racket, no longer than 45.5 cm What do you hit? A ball 6.35 to 6.77 cm across, 56.0 to 59.4 g How do you serve? Bounce the ball, then hit it at or below waist height into the diagonal service box How is it scored? 15, 30, 40, game. First pair to win six games, with a two-game lead, takes the set. Matches are best of three sets Can the ball hit the walls? Yes. After it bounces on your side, you may let it come off a wall and then return it Court, ball, racket and serve figures come from the International Padel Federation (FIP) rulebook, review of application 1 January 2026. Our padel rules guide explains each rule in full. How a rally works The server stands behind the service line, bounces the ball inside the service box, then hits it at or below waist height so it crosses the net diagonally. If the first serve is a fault, the server gets a second. Two faults in a row lose the point. After the serve, the ball may be hit out of the air as a volley or after one bounce on your side. Once it has bounced on your side, the ball stays in play if it hits a wall or the fence, and you may still return it before the second bounce. Your return can also come off the opponents' wall or fence, but only after it has bounced in their court. A point ends when the ball bounces twice on one side, goes out of the court, or one of the other faults in the rulebook happens. That wall rule is the main reason padel rallies look different from tennis rallies. A ball that passes you is often still playable. The court The FIP rulebook sets the court at 10 metres wide and 20 metres long. The net is 0.88 metres high at the centre and 0.92 metres at the ends. The service line sits 6.95 metres from the net. The back wall is 3 metres of glass or solid wall topped by a 1 metre metal fence, 4 metres in total. The side walls are built in one of two layouts, a stepped version or a glass version, and metal mesh closes the gaps up to 4 metres at the ends. Because the court is 200 square metres, it is close to the size of a tennis singles court (23.77 by 8.23 metres, about 196 square metres) but holds four players. The area figures are our calculation from the FIP and ITF dimensions. For the full comparison, read padel vs tennis. Equipment The FIP rules limit a padel racket to 45.5 cm in total length, 26 cm in width and 38 mm in thickness. The hitting surface is solid with perforations, 9 to 13 mm across in the centre. Every player must wear a non-elastic wrist cord, no longer than 35 cm, attached to the handle. Dropping the racket or breaking the cord loses the point. The ball looks like a tennis ball. FIP specifies a diameter of 6.35 to 6.77 cm and a weight of 56.0 to 59.4 g, and a new ball must bounce 135 to 145 cm when dropped from 2.54 metres onto a hard surface. The ITF lists tennis balls at the same weight range, with a standard diameter of 6.54 to 6.86 cm. Weight and shape vary between rackets, and the choice depends on your level. Our padel racket guide uses the specifications of the rackets we stock. You can browse them in the padel rackets collection, and balls are in the padel balls collection. Where padel comes from According to the FIP, padel was invented in 1969 at Las Brisas, a house owned by Enrique Corcuera in Acapulco, Mexico. The FIP says it reached Spain in the early 1970s through Prince Alfonso of Hohenlohe and the Marbella Club. The federation itself was founded on 12 July 1991 in Madrid. The first World Padel Championships took place in Spain in 1992, and Premier Padel, the current professional tour, was established in 2022. Padel in Australia In November 2022, Tennis Australia said the country had six padel venues and an estimated 2,000 regular players, ahead of the first Australian Padel Open in January 2023. Padel Australia's 2025 review reports that the national court total passed 100, a 40 percent rise on the year before, and that more than 90,000 Australians have played. It also notes that the Australian Sports Commission officially recognised padel in 2025. Court counts change quickly and sources disagree, so check the Padel Australia court finder for a venue near you. Court hire prices vary by venue, and we have not listed any here. What padel does to your body There is little published data on padel specifically, and we found no reliable calorie figures, so we do not quote any. A 2023 mini review of 13 studies and 231 players (Guijarro-Herencia and colleagues, Frontiers in Sports and Active Living) found mean heart rate ranged from about 127 beats per minute in amateur players to about 159 in top national male players. The authors say maximum heart rate in padel is very similar to tennis and badminton. If you have a medical condition, ask your doctor before taking up any new sport. Who padel suits, and who it may not A standard match needs four people and a court with walls, so you book a venue rather than turning up at an open court. If you prefer to practise alone, or you live far from a venue, that is a real limit. If you already play tennis, squash or badminton, you will recognise the scoring and the idea of the wall, though the rules differ in the serve and the walls. Trying a racket before you buy Padel Code has a showroom at 35-39 Bourke Road, Alexandria NSW. Its Demo Racket Try & Buy program lets you test selected rackets for a full week before deciding to buy. The terms are listed on the demo racket page. For opening hours, see the contact page. If you are new to padel, start with the beginner section of the racket guide, then try two or three shapes before you decide. Frequently asked questions Is padel the same as tennis? No. Both use a net and the 15, 30, 40 scoring, but padel is played on a smaller enclosed court, the ball can come off the walls, the racket is solid, and the serve is hit at or below waist height after a bounce. See the full list in padel vs tennis. Can I use a tennis racket? The FIP rules describe a padel racket as a solid, perforated surface within set size limits. A strung tennis racket does not fit that description. Check with the venue about borrowing or renting a padel racket for a first session. What is the golden point? At deuce (three points each), one deciding point is played. The receiving pair chooses which side receives, and whoever wins the point wins the game. The FIP rulebook lists it as one of three scoring options, along with the traditional advantage system and the star point. What is the star point? The star point is a newer option. After deuce and advantage have each been reached twice, a third deuce is settled by one deciding point. The FIP General Assembly approved it on 28 November 2025, and it has been used from 2026 in Premier Padel and some FIP tours. The first event to use it was FIP Bronze Melbourne in January 2026. Is padel played in singles? The FIP rules are written for pairs. Ask your venue whether it offers singles formats. Sources FIP Rules of Padel, review of application 1 January 2026 FIP, history of padel FIP, introducing the star point (18 December 2025) Padel Australia, a breakout year for padel in Australia (2025 review) Australian Open, new era: Australian Padel Open debut (29 November 2022) Guijarro-Herencia et al. (2023), Conditional performance factors in padel players: a mini review ITF Rules of Tennis, for the tennis court and ball figures Last checked 6 November 2026.

Learn more
Padel Courts Near Me guide

Find Padel Courts and Clubs Near You in Australia

Discover the best padel courts near you in Australia. This guide shares top clubs, costs, tips, and more to enjoy padel near me!

Learn more
Best Padel Racket guide

Best Padel Rackets in Australia for 2026: Beginner to Pro

Three details do most of the work when you compare padel rackets: your level, the shape of the head and where the weight sits. In the Padel Code range, 14 of the 20 beginner rackets are round, and the largest advanced group is diamond (41 of 90). This guide uses the specifications and prices of the 163 rackets in the Padel Code range on 6 November 2026, so the figures below are ours, not a general rule. How the Padel Code range breaks down Level listed Rackets Shapes Price range (AUD) Beginner 20 14 round, 6 teardrop $149 to $229, median $179 Intermediate 36 15 round, 10 teardrop, 5 diamond, 3 hybrid, 3 other $199 to $399, median $304 Advanced 90 41 diamond, 22 teardrop, 10 round, 8 hybrid, 6 geometric, 3 other $259 to $609, median $444 Another 17 rackets are listed for two levels, such as beginner to intermediate. The table counts only rackets listed at a single level. Levels and specifications come from supplier data. Where a brand site shows a different figure, trust the brand and tell us. Shape Padel racket heads come in three main shapes, and booking and retail guides describe them consistently. Round heads have a large sweet spot near the centre and lean towards control. Teardrop heads put the sweet spot a little higher for a mix of control and power. Diamond heads put it higher still and lean towards power, which is harder to control off-centre. Our own range follows the same pattern. Of the 45 round rackets, 27 have low balance and 17 have medium. Of the 50 diamond rackets, 45 have high balance. Teardrops are mostly medium (32 of 44). No diamond racket is listed as a beginner racket. Hybrid and geometric shapes sit between these groups and vary by brand, so read the balance and weight on each product page. Balance and weight Balance describes where the weight sits along the racket. Low balance puts more weight toward the handle, and high balance puts it toward the head. Booking and retail guides describe high balance as adding power while asking more of the arm, and low balance as easier to swing. That is a general description, and your arm and timing are what decide it. The FIP rules limit a padel racket to 45.5 cm long, 26 cm wide and 38 mm thick, but we could not locate a published weight limit. In our range, listed weights run from 300 g to 375 g, and 160 of the 163 sit between 340 g and 375 g. Compare two rackets of the same shape that differ by 10 to 20 g in a demo before deciding that weight matters to you. Core and face Product pages list a core (for example Soft EVA, Multi EVA or Power Foam) and a face material (fibre glass or carbon, sometimes with a grade such as 12K or 18K). In our range, 19 of the 20 beginner rackets list a fibre glass face, while 82 of the 90 advanced rackets list carbon or graphene. Intermediate rackets are split. We do not rank materials, because the supplier descriptions are not tested measurements. Use them to compare two rackets, not to predict how one will feel. Best padel rackets for beginners A beginner racket in our range is usually round, with low or medium balance, a fibre glass face and a price between $149 and $229. These models were in stock on 6 November 2026. Racket Shape Balance Weight (g) Core Face Price NOX X-Hero 2026 Round Medium 350 to 360 HR3 White EVA Fibre glass $149 Adidas Drive 3.5 2026 Round Low 360 to 375 Low density soft EVA Fibre glass $159 Head Vibe 2026 Teardrop Medium 360 +/- 10 Power Foam Fibre glass $179 Siux Stallion 2026 Round Low 360 Soft EVA Fibre glass $189 Bullpadel Indiga Control 2026 Round Low 360 to 370 Soft EVA Fibre glass $190 If you want the widest choice, browse the beginner filter in the padel rackets collection. We have 22 rackets under $200 in stock as of 6 November 2026. Best padel rackets for intermediate players Intermediate rackets in our range cover more shapes and a wider price range, from $199 to $399. Round rackets are still the largest group (15 of 36). These were in stock on 6 November 2026. See also the intermediate padel rackets page. Racket Shape Balance Weight (g) Core Face Price Adidas RX Series 3.5 2026 Round Low 360 to 375 Low density soft EVA Fibre glass $229 Adidas Metalbone Team Light 3.5 2026 Round Medium 345 to 360 Low density soft EVA Fibre glass $309 Bullpadel Ionic Light 2026 Hybrid, teardrop Medium 350 to 360 Multi EVA Graphene $349 Best padel rackets for advanced players Advanced is the largest group in our range, with 90 rackets listed at that level and prices from $259 to $609. Diamond rackets lead (41 of 90), and carbon faces are common. These were in stock on 6 November 2026. See also the advanced padel rackets page. Racket Shape Balance Weight (g) Core Face Price Head Gravity Pro 2025 Round Low 360 to 370 Control Foam Woven carbon and fibre glass $259 Bullpadel Hack 04 2026 Diamond High 365 to 375 Multi EVA Tricarbon 18K $399 NOX AT10 Luxury Genius Attack 18K Alum 2026 Diamond High 360 to 375 MLD Black EVA Carbon 18K aluminised $449 Adidas Metalbone CTRL 3.5 2026 Round Medium 360 to 375 Low density EVA Carbon aluminised $519 Bullpadel Vertex 05 Hybrid 2027 Hybrid Medium 365 to 375 Multi EVA X-TEND Carbon 12K $549 Not every advanced racket is a diamond. Ten advanced rackets in our range are round, which suits players who want a larger sweet spot at a higher level. Some retail guides note that top professionals use round rackets, so shape alone does not set your level. Who should not buy a diamond racket yet Booking and retail guides describe diamond rackets as harder to control off-centre. A player still learning where the sweet spot is may find a round or teardrop racket more forgiving. None of the 163 rackets in our range is listed as beginner and diamond, which matches that advice. If you are unsure, try one round and one diamond racket back to back. Try a racket before you buy Padel Code's Demo Racket Try & Buy program lets you test selected rackets for a full week before deciding to buy. The terms are on the demo racket page, and which rackets are available changes over time. Our showroom is at 35-39 Bourke Road, Alexandria NSW. For opening hours, see the contact page. We do not publish test scores for individual rackets, because we have not run a documented test protocol. The tables above report supplier specifications and our prices, and the demo program is how you test the feel for yourself. Racket checklist before you buy Check the level, shape and balance on the product page against the tables above. Compare the listed weight with the weight of the racket you use now. Check the price and stock on the product page, because both change. Try a round racket and a teardrop racket before you decide, if the demo program has them. Buy a wrist cord if the racket does not include one, because the FIP rules make it compulsory. Frequently asked questions What is the best padel racket shape for a beginner? Round rackets are the most common beginner shape in our range: 14 of the 20 rackets listed only for beginners. They have the largest sweet spot near the centre and lean towards control. How much should a beginner spend? Beginner rackets in our range cost $149 to $229, with a median of $179. Intermediate rackets run from $199 to $399, and advanced rackets from $259 to $609. How heavy is a padel racket? Listed weights in our range run from 300 g to 375 g, and 160 of the 163 rackets sit between 340 g and 375 g. The FIP rules limit size but we could not find a published weight limit. Is carbon better than fibre glass? In our range, 82 of the 90 advanced rackets list carbon or graphene and 19 of the 20 beginner rackets list fibre glass. Supplier descriptions do not give tested measurements, so use the material as one point of comparison and try the racket where you can. Can I try a racket before buying? Yes, on selected models. The Demo Racket Try & Buy program lets you test a racket for a full week. The terms are on the demo racket page. Sources FIP Rules of Padel, review of application 1 January 2026, for racket size limits and the wrist cord rule Playtomic, padel racket shapes, for the general description of round, teardrop and diamond heads Padel Code product data, read on 6 November 2026, for all counts, prices and specifications Prices and stock were read on 6 November 2026 and change often.

Learn more