We’re in the middle of a new heated rivalry and this time it’s on the court. Pickleball and padel—tennis’s fraternal twins—may seem alike, but their players are currently engaged in a battle of one upmanship. Anju Awal, owner of Namma Chennai Picklers, was a former tennis mom who initially struggled to accept pickleball. “It’s better to be bad at tennis than good at pickleball,” she says, laughing. Yet despite that, Awal finds herself on the pickle court more often, given that the sport is less rigorous on the body and easier for casual players just looking to get some exercise. Famous faces like Suhana Khan, Hardik Pandya, and Ibrahim Ali Khan, however, have been spotted playing padel on the regular (Alia Bhatt even had a padel-themed birthday party this year), while Mumbai folk get regular sightings of Farhan Akhtar and Shibani Dandekar playing tennis on the weekends.
But whichever side of the court you fall on, there is one thing that unites all three—they need the right pair of non-marking shoes. Racket sports involve a wide range of movement, lunges, side-steps, and running backwards, which is why a regular pair of running shoes or lifestyle sneakers might not help you ace that point. You need something that offers stability, good grip, and maybe a light bit of cushioning to absorb the extra impact. Awal says that pickleball clients prefer brands like Puma, Adidas, and New Balance. Or you could channel Roger Federer who swears by his Ons. So, whether you’re a tennis newbie or a padel champ, below is our edit of sneakers to upgrade your on-court look.
