Make room, pickleball. Padel, a new racquet sport that originated in Mexico and is popular among Europeans, is making its name in the U.S.
Typically played as doubles within glass walls, the sport is said to blend elements of squash and tennis. The court is smaller than a tennis court; the racquets are solid rather than netted; the ball, which can be played off the walls, is smaller and bounces more softly than a tennis ball, and the scoring system is the same as tennis. Pickleball, meanwhile, is played without walls and uses a light perforated plastic ball.
Chris Moore and Nicholas Solarewicz, cofounders of Privé Padel, are leading the padel wave in the U.S., taking the sport to the Hamptons, N.Y., with their flagship club.
Privé Padel’s flagship club in the Hamptons.
Tracing the sport’s growth within the U.S., Moore explained to FN, “Miami, as a cultural hub with deep Latin American and European roots, was the natural birthplace of padel in the U.S. From there, New York quickly followed — positioning padel as a luxury sport that speaks to a new generation of high earners. It’s becoming the golf of the next generation: a social, aspirational game that fits seamlessly into the U.S. lifestyle.”
Asked why padel has the distinct potential to thrive within the American sports and lifestyle scene, Solarewicz said, “What makes padel so unique is that it complements the culture of tennis rather than competing with it — much more so than pickleball. It shares elements of squash, but is quicker to pick up than any other racquet sport. You don’t need to have years of experience to feel skilled and enjoy playing.”
Padel has many similarities with pickleball, but Solarewicz elucidated their differences: “Padel is more dynamic and physically demanding, but the cushioned turf surface keeps it comfortable and accessible. The glass walls are the defining element. They change the strategy and pace of the game, creating something truly unique. It combines the fun and accessibility of pickleball, the skill of tennis and the walls of squash, all while fostering a social, two-versus-two atmosphere that’s hard to beat.”
Moore also noted that padel is not as loud as pickleball thanks to the glass walls involved, and that it is not merely the “posh European cousin” of pickleball, saying “it’s a truly global sport with a much broader appeal and a deeper culture of play.”
Asics Gen-Resolution x Padel shoe.
Several prominent brands are contributing to the hype surrounding padel. Athletic brand Asics and luxury brand Golden Goose, known for its distressed sneakers, have created padel shoes — and Golden Goose will have its own branded padel pavilion opening in Milan soon.
Madeline Clarke, manager, core performance sports merchandising at Asics, helped FN understand the defining elements of a padel shoe: “Because padel utilizes a closed court, where the ball can be played off of the walls as well as the ground, padel shoes must offer support and flexibility to support the dynamic movements of athletes. Grip is a key factor as padel courts can vary in surface materials, the most common being Artificial Turn with Silica fill.”
The main element separating a padel shoe from a tennis or pickleball shoe, Clarke explained, is the outsole — padel players need to be able to easily pivot and change direction to meet the ball from a variety of angles. This critical aspect of the design is something Asics has intentionally addressed as it got into the padel game this year.
“Through intensive research and product testing at our Institute of Sports Science located in Japan, Asics has engineered padel specific outsoles that utilize superior grip and flexibility,” Clark shared. “Our cutting-edge outsole features X-groove technology, meticulously designed for the unique movements of padel. This advanced system provides flexibility, allowing the athlete to execute swift turning motions with ease. The strategic herringbone pattern, placed in multiple directions, guarantees optimal traction in every movement, eliminating the risk of slips and enhancing confidence on the court.”
Privé Padel.
A good pair of shoes is needed to compete in padel, but the fashion of the sport goes further than that.
Sharing how fashion on court at Privé compares to styles associated with pickleball or tennis, Moore said, “The style at Privé is closer to what you’d see in tennis, though what defines a Privé member’s style is the fact that we’re in the Hamptons. Being in a sought-after destination naturally elevates what people wear. Our members bring that sense of personal style to the courts, which is very much part of the Privé experience.”
Moore also broached the significance of fashion and personal expression in the culture of padel, specifically as it relates to members and guests at Privé: “We see two distinct cultures in padel: hyper-competitive players and clubs, and social, lifestyle-oriented players and clubs. Privé falls in the latter. For our members, it’s as much about personal expression and enjoying time with friends as it is about competition. People are excited to showcase their style — and their latest gear — on the court.”
K-Swiss Speedtrac Padel shoe for women.
K-Swiss
Time will tell if padel will experience the same massive surge that pickleball saw in 2023. The popularity of the latter sport inspired all kinds of footwear brands to get in on the craze through collections, partnerships, collaborations and activations. To name just a couple of examples, Staud released a pickleball collection in 2023, including “The Court Shoe,” made in collaboration with Keds, and Reebok and Recess Pickleball released a capsule collection together in 2024, with footwear options including the Nano Court (a performance shoe) and the Club C Revenge (a lifestyle option).
If padel continues to expand, the footwear industry might just experience pickleball 2.0.
