Pickleball and padel are two of the fastest-growing sports in Australia, and courts are popping up faster than local suppliers can keep up. This Toowoomba-focused 2026 guide shows retailers and club owners how to import and private-label paddles, rackets and nets from China.
In short: Yes, Australian retailers, club owners and sports brands can import and private-label pickleball paddles, padel rackets, balls and nets directly from China — and with courts opening across the country faster than local supply can keep up, it's one of the least competitive high-volume product categories we've seen in 2026. A first private-label paddle order typically costs $4-$9 per unit landed against a $60-$120 retail price, with production and freight taking 6-9 weeks.
Last updated: 18 August 2026
Toowoomba has followed the same pattern as regional centres right across the country: tennis and squash courts converted to multi-use pickleball lines, new padel clubs opening in old warehouse spaces, and local sports stores struggling to keep paddles and rackets on the shelf. Both sports are among the fastest-growing in Australia, driven by low barriers to entry, social appeal and relatively cheap equipment compared with other racquet sports.
That growth has outpaced local retail supply. Most Australian stockists are still reselling a handful of overseas brands at full import markup, which leaves a wide-open lane for retailers and club owners willing to follow a proper China import process and private-label their own paddle or racket range.
Pickleball uses a solid paddle (no strings) roughly the size of a large table tennis bat, played with a perforated plastic ball similar to a wiffle ball. Padel uses a strung-free, perforated solid racket as well, but is played on an enclosed court with a low-compression ball closer to a de-pressurised tennis ball. Both are manufactured using very similar processes in China, which is why factories producing one product line often produce the other too.
The premium end of the market. Carbon fibre faces offer a stiffer, more responsive hit and command a higher retail price — typically $90-$150 at Australian retail.
The mid-range standard. Softer feel, more forgiving for beginners, and the most common face material for private-label ranges entering the market.
Polymer honeycomb cores are quieter (a real consideration for noise-sensitive suburban courts) and are becoming the standard for higher-end paddles. EVA foam cores are cheaper to produce and common in entry-level ranges.
Worked example for a Toowoomba retailer importing 1,000 private-label pickleball paddles and 500 padel rackets by sea freight:
Cost itemTypical range (AUD)1,000 pickleball paddles (FOB China, fibreglass face)$4,000 - $7,000500 padel rackets (FOB China)$4,500 - $8,000Custom mould / branding tooling (one-off)$800 - $2,000Sea freight, China to Brisbane (LCL)$1,200 - $2,000Customs duty + GST$1,550 - $2,700Customs broker + local delivery to Toowoomba$500 - $850Estimated total landed cost$12,550 - $22,550
At an average retail of $60-$120 per paddle or racket, that landed cost of roughly $8-$15 per unit leaves plenty of room for wholesale, retail and club pro-shop margins.
Neither sport currently has a mandatory Australian product standard for paddle or racket construction, which keeps the import process relatively simple compared with electrical or children's products. That said, if you plan to sell into a market that follows USA Pickleball or International Padel Federation approved-equipment lists for tournament play, check your paddle's specifications (thickness, surface texture, size limits) against those lists before committing to a production run — recreational buyers won't care, but club and competition buyers will.
The fastest-growing categories attract the fastest-growing number of low-quality factories chasing the trend. Ask for delamination and edge-guard durability testing, order a paid sample batch before committing to a full run, and check whether the factory is genuinely a paddle manufacturer or a trading company sourcing from several smaller workshops with inconsistent quality.
Run through our guide on how to verify a Chinese supplier before you pay, and if you're placing a container-sized order, ask your freight forwarder about DDP shipping so you know exactly what's included in your landed quote before goods leave China.
Most factories will do a custom-branded run from 300-500 units. Some will go as low as 100-200 units for a simple logo print rather than a fully custom mould.
Per unit, they're broadly similar in cost, since both use comparable materials and manufacturing processes. Padel rackets can run slightly higher due to typically larger face sizes and higher-spec core materials in the premium tier.
No mandatory Australian standard currently applies to paddle or racket construction, which makes this a comparatively simple category to import compared with electrical or children's products.
Typically 2-3 weeks for samples and approval, 3-4 weeks for production, and 3-5 weeks for sea freight to an Australian port — around 8-12 weeks end to end for a first order.
Yes. Many Australian clubs are now stocking pro-shop paddles under their own branding, sourced directly from the same factories supplying the major international brands.
Epic Sourcing has sourced more than 20,000 products for over 300 happy clients, with bilingual teams on the ground in China and Vietnam, offices in five countries, and average client savings around 77%. For paddle and racket sports equipment, our China team verifies factory quality, manages private-label tooling and branding, and coordinates freight so your first order lands ready to sell. Also stocking recovery gear for your gym or club? See our guide on importing ice baths and cold plunge tubs from China, or check our service pricing for a full private-label sourcing project.
Ready to bring in your own paddle or racket range? Talk to the Epic Sourcing team about sourcing, branding and freight.
