Padel and pickleball are both built around doubles play, which makes them two of the more natural "do this together" sports to gift as a couple. Here's how to actually buy for two, whether you're starting from zero or already have a regular game.
TWO OF THE SAME GEAR
GEAR BUILT FOR TWO
Starting a New Hobby Together
If neither of you plays yet, or one of you wants to introduce the other to padel or pickleball, buying two of the same beginner-friendly racket or paddle is a genuinely honest gift — you don't need to know either person's preference yet, since a forgiving round shape suits any true beginner. For padel, the Babolat Contact is a real, soft-cored option worth buying two of.
Babolat Contact Padel Racket
~$59 eachRound shape, soft core, huge forgiving sweet spot — get two, one for each of you
Buying two of the same beginner racket isn't a lack of imagination — it's the one gift that's honestly built for the sport's actual format, since neither padel nor pickleball has a real singles culture at the recreational level.
If pickleball is the sport you're starting together instead, the ProLite Rebel PowerSpin 2.0 is a real, forgiving fiberglass paddle worth doubling up on for the same reason — no need to guess at preference before either of you has one.
ProLite Rebel PowerSpin 2.0
~$110–160 eachReactive fiberglass face, forgiving sweet spot — get two to start together
For Couples Who Already Play
Once you're both already playing, a bag sized for two players' gear is a genuinely practical gift that solves a real, everyday annoyance — nobody wants to carry two separate bags to the same court. The Franklin Pro Series Bag holds multiple paddles plus an insulated compartment, enough capacity for two people's gear in one bag.
Franklin Pro Series Bag
~$140Multi-paddle capacity, insulated compartment — enough for two players' gear
A case of balls is a shared consumable both of you will actually use, and buying in bulk cuts the per-can cost meaningfully for a couple playing regularly together.
Dunlop Pro Padel Balls — 24-Can Case
~$130 (24 cans / 72 balls)FIP-approved, tournament-quality, shared consumable for regular play
Comparison Table
| Gift | Best For | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Babolat Contact (x2) | Starting padel together | ~$59 each |
| ProLite Rebel PowerSpin 2.0 (x2) | Starting pickleball together | ~$110–160 each |
| Franklin Pro Series Bag | Couples already playing | ~$140 |
| Dunlop Pro Padel Balls (24-can case) | Regular shared play | ~$130 |
Prices pulled from manufacturer and retailer listings at the time of writing and vary by retailer and promotion — confirm current price before buying.
What to Know Before You Buy
If one of you already plays pickleball and you're using this as the moment to introduce padel, our beginner's guide and pickleball vs padel comparison cover what to actually expect from the switch. If you're both new to both sports, our pickleball beginner gear guide covers the rest of a first-time setup beyond the racket or paddle itself.
