Padel shoes: what to wear on court
Do you need padel shoes? How they differ from tennis and running shoes, why clay-court soles are the usual alternative, and what they cost in Australia.
Short answer: You do not need padel-specific shoes to start, but you do need court shoes with good grip and side support, not running shoes. The LTA says padel shoes are "designed for quick lateral movements, grip and stability on padel courts" and that clay-court tennis shoes "are often the closest tennis alternative". In Australia, padel and clay-court shoes listed by a major padel retailer cost about $130 to $300 in November 2026.
Padel is a game of short, sharp movements: sideways steps, quick stops, turns towards the back glass. The court surface is often artificial grass with sand on top, which behaves differently from a hard tennis court or a running track. That is why footwear matters more than people expect.
Do I need padel shoes for my first session?
No. For your first few sessions, any sports shoe with a flat, grippy sole and some side support will do. The FIP rules for competition only ask for "suitable sports clothing and footwear". What to avoid:
- Running shoes. Built for forward motion, with soft, raised heels and little side support.
- Fashion sneakers. Flat-soled shoes with no grip pattern slip on sandy turf.
- Anything your venue has asked you not to wear. Some venues have footwear rules, so check when you book.
If you play more than once a week, it is worth buying proper court shoes.
How are padel shoes different from tennis shoes?
The LTA says padel shoes are designed for quick lateral movements and for grip and stability on padel courts. Many padel courts use a sand-dressed synthetic turf. The LTA's 2025 construction guidance describes the standard surface as a "single tone sand-dressed synthetic surface". That loose sand on top is why the sole pattern matters.
When you try shoes on, look for:
- a sole that grips on sandy turf without sliding
- a stable, low base for side-to-side movement
- a toe area that will stand up to dragging your back foot
The LTA says clay-court tennis shoes are often the closest tennis alternative, and Australian padel shops list plenty of clay-court tennis shoes in their padel sections, as the table below shows.
How much do padel shoes cost in Australia?
Men's shoes listed in Total Padel's padel shoe section on 3 November 2026:
| Shoe | Type | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Asics Gel Dedicate 8 Padel | Padel | $139.95 |
| Asics Gel Dedicate 9 Padel | Padel | $139.95 |
| K-Swiss Ultrashot Light Clay | Clay-court tennis | $169.95 |
| Babolat SFX4 Clay | Clay-court tennis | $179.95 |
| Head Revolt Pro 5.0 Clay | Clay-court tennis | $199.95 |
| adidas Defiant Speed 2 Clay | Clay-court tennis | $199.95 |
| Asics Sonicsmash FF Padel | Padel | $219.96 |
| Wilson Rush Pro 5 Clay | Clay-court tennis | $239.95 |
| Babolat Jet Mach IV Clay | Clay-court tennis | $249.95 |
| ON The Roger Pro 3 Clay | Clay-court tennis | $299.95 |
Full prices across the 46 listings in that section ran from $139.95 to $299.95, with a sale price as low as $129.95. Only the Asics models had "padel" in the product name. Everything else was a clay-court tennis shoe listed in the padel section. People also search for padel shoes at Rebel Sport, and for Asics, adidas and Head padel shoes. I could not read current padel shoe listings at other retailers when I checked.
Typical price bands
- Entry level: about $130 to $170.
- Mid range: about $170 to $250.
- Top end: up to about $300.
Indoor or outdoor: does it change the shoe?
The FIP rules allow the same surfaces indoors and outdoors: cement, synthetic material or artificial grass. Many Australian venues describe their courts as artificial grass or turf. The main difference outdoors is heat and, after rain, a damp surface, so grip matters even more. See indoor vs outdoor padel courts.
How do I know when to replace them?
When the tread pattern under the ball of your foot wears smooth, the shoe will start to slip on sandy turf. Check the soles regularly if you play a few times a week.
What else should I wear?
- Light sports clothing. The FIP rules for competition ban swimwear, and most clubs expect normal sports gear.
- Sports socks with some cushioning.
- A cap and sunscreen for outdoor courts, which is every open venue I found in Perth.
The rest of your kit
See my guides to padel rackets, padel balls and where to buy padel gear in Australia.
Sources for this page
Checked November 2026. Full list on the sources page.