News

A player hitting a forehand with a pickleball paddle at Padel Park, Hamilton
Light, Mid or Heavy? How Pickleball Paddle Weight Changes Your Game | Padel Park
Paddle weight is the spec most beginners ignore. Here is a plain-English guide to light, mid and heavy pickleball paddles, what a few grams really change, and how to test... Read more...
Bullpadel Proline Vertex 05 padel racket
Bullpadel 2027 Is Out: Should You Still Buy a 2026 Racket in NZ? | Padel Park
Bullpadel has announced its 2027 Pro Line. Here is what actually changed on the Vertex and Hack, and why a 2026 racket you can demo today is usually the smarter... Read more...
Asics Sonic Smash FF padel shoe and Asics Game FF pickleball shoe, in store at Padel Park Hamilton
Padel and Pickleball Shoes in NZ: The Asics Range at Padel Park
Court shoes are the last thing most players buy and the first thing that costs them. What a padel sole actually does, why running shoes do not cut it, and... Read more...
HEAD Attitude Core pickleball paddle — widebody shape with a forgiving graphite-style face
Carbon, Fibreglass, or Graphite? Pickleball Paddle Face Materials Explained | Padel Park
Carbon fibre, fibreglass, or graphite — the face material on a pickleball paddle changes how it plays more than most beginners realise. Here's a plain-English guide from an NZ pickleball... Read more...
Wilson Optix V2 Lite round padel racket — beginner-friendly shape with a large sweet spot
Round, Teardrop, or Diamond? A Plain-English Guide to Padel Racket Shapes | Padel Park
Round, teardrop, or diamond? Padel racket shape changes everything about how the racket plays. Here's a plain-English guide from an accredited NZ coach — which shape suits beginners, intermediates, and... Read more...
Slazenger Vibora and Babolat RH Pro padel bags with Babolat VS Original overgrip and Syntec Uptake grip
How to Look After Your Padel Racket Through a Kiwi Winter | Padel Park
Cold, damp Waikato winters are hard on padel rackets — frames crack, cores go soft, grips turn slick. Here's a plain-English care guide from an NZ coach to get your... Read more...
CARBON, EXPLAINED — three padel rackets centred in a row from softer to stiffer feel: Babolat Air Vertuo, Counter Veron, Bullpadel Hack
3K vs 12K vs 18K Carbon: What the Numbers on a Padel Racket Actually Mean | Padel Park
3K, 12K, 18K carbon — the numbers on a padel racket sound technical and get quoted like gospel. Here's a plain-English guide from an NZ coach to what the carbon... Read more...
ODEA, Slazenger, Babolat Ace and HEAD Padel Pro S+ padel balls
Padel Balls Explained: What to Buy, When They Go Dead, and Why Price Varies | Padel Park
Padel balls aren't all the same — and they don't last forever. Here's a plain-English guide from an NZ coach to choosing the right can, knowing when a ball is... Read more...
Babolat Syntec Uptake replacement grip, Babolat VS Original and Pro Response overgrips, and Wilson Pickleball Pro overgrip
Grip vs Overgrip: When to Change Yours (and Which to Buy in NZ) | Padel Park
Replacement grip or overgrip? Tacky or dry? Here's a plain-English guide from an NZ coach to the layer that connects you to your racket — how to stop slipping, build... Read more...
Wilson Tempo Pro 16 thermoformed pickleball paddle
Pickleball Paddle Generations Explained: Gen 1 to Gen 3 (and Why Some Got Banned) | Padel Park
Gen 1, Gen 2, Gen 3, thermoformed, foam-injected, decertified — here's what the pickleball paddle jargon actually means, why some paddles are getting banned overseas, and whether any of it... Read more...
Babolat padel racket showing the core and frame
Soft, Medium or Hard? What Padel Racket Core Foam Actually Does to Your Game | Padel Park
The foam inside your padel racket changes how it feels more than the shape does. Here's a plain-English guide from an NZ coach to soft, medium and hard EVA cores... Read more...
Padel courts at Padel Park, 82 Duke Street, Frankton, Hamilton
Where to Play Padel in Hamilton — Padel Park Frankton Guide
Looking for a padel court in Hamilton, NZ? Here's everything you need to know about playing at Padel Park in Frankton — courts, hours, booking, coaching, equipment hire and what... Read more...
Wilson Optix V2 Lite, Babolat Counter Veron 2.6 and Bullpadel Vertex 05 padel rackets: beginner, intermediate and advanced picks
Best Padel Rackets in NZ 2026 — Coach's Top Picks by Level | Padel Park
The best padel rackets to buy in New Zealand in 2026 — picked by an accredited coach across beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels. Brands include Bullpadel, Babolat, Wilson, HEAD, Paloma... Read more...
A padel rally on an indoor court at Padel Park, Hamilton
Padel Rules in 5 Minutes — NZ Beginner's Guide | Padel Park
The complete beginner's guide to padel rules in plain English. Court, serve, scoring, the walls, and everything you need to know before your first game in NZ. Read more...
A padel player and a pickleball player on court at Padel Park, Hamilton
Padel vs Pickleball — Which Sport Should You Try First? | Padel Park
Padel and pickleball are the two fastest-growing racket sports in New Zealand. Here's how they compare — court, scoring, equipment, learning curve, and which one might suit you better as... Read more...
How to Choose Your First Padel Racket | Beginner Guide | Padel Park
How to Choose Your First Padel Racket | Beginner Guide | Padel Park
Buying your first padel racket can feel overwhelming. This beginner-friendly guide breaks down shape, weight, balance, and feel so you can choose a racket that suits your game from day... Read more...
Before You Buy Your First Pickleball Paddle, Read This | Padel Park
Before You Buy Your First Pickleball Paddle, Read This | Padel Park
Before you buy your first pickleball paddle, make sure you know what really matters. We break down the most common beginner buying mistakes and how to avoid choosing the wrong... Read more...
How to Choose Your First Pickleball Paddle | Beginner Guide | Padel Park
How to Choose Your First Pickleball Paddle | Beginner Guide | Padel Park
Not sure which pickleball paddle to start with? This guide explains the key things beginners should look for, including weight, grip size, shape, and comfort, so your first paddle feels... Read more...
Don’t Buy a Padel Racket Until You Read This | Padel Park
Don’t Buy a Padel Racket Until You Read This | Padel Park
Upgrading your padel racket? Read this first. We cover the most common mistakes players make when buying a new racket, and how to choose one that actually suits your level... Read more...