The term "paddle" has several meanings depending on context:
- A paddle is a handheld tool with an elongated handle and a flat, widened blade used to propel a human-powered watercraft by pushing water in the opposite direction of travel. It differs from an oar, which is attached to the watercraft for rowing. Paddles are commonly made of wood, fiberglass, carbon fiber, or metal, and are used in canoes and kayaks.
- "Paddle" also refers to objects with similar shapes or functions:
- A paddle wheel is a set of rotating boards used to propel steamboats.
- In racquet sports like ping-pong, a paddle (or bat) is a short, solid racket used to strike a ball.
- A mixing paddle is a tool for stirring or mixing ingredients.
- A spanking paddle is used for corporal punishment.
- Paddle tennis is a racket sport related to tennis but played on a smaller court with solid paddles instead of strung rackets. It is played with underhand serves and a lower compression ball.
- Padel (sometimes confused with "paddle") is a popular racket sport played mainly in doubles on an enclosed court smaller than a tennis court, with walls off which the ball can bounce. It is similar to a mix of tennis and squash and uses solid perforated rackets. Padel originated in Mexico in 1969 and is now widely popular in many countries.
- Paddle is also the name of a software company providing a complete billing solution for SaaS and digital products, handling payments, tax, subscription management, and more.
If you are referring specifically to "paddle" in the context of a tool to propel boats, a racquet sports implement, a digital product billing platform, or an actual sport like Padel or paddle tennis, please clarify for more detailed information.
