Which padel racket should I choose?
Choosing a padel racket isn’t easy, especially if you are new to the sport and want to quickly develop your skills. There are many aspects to consider and opinions are frequently divided. We believe that it’s more important to make sure you don’t have the wrong racket rather than trying to endlessly find the perfect one. Actually, there are probably numerous rackets that are right for you, you may just have to get properly acquainted with them first.
We also offer a quick recommendation test via Racket Advisor™, a unique tool that gives you personalized suggestions in just 3 minutes.
Shapes
There are three primary shapes, along with some rackets that fall somewhere in between.
Weight
An adult racket weighs between about 330–390 grams. One rule of thumb is that the lighter the racket, the easier it will be to maneuver. That said, using a heavier racket will typically give you more speed. Lighter rackets can also be used to minimize pain in the elbows and wrists. Junior rackets and specific women’s rackets also usually weigh a little less.
Surface / Core
The distinction here is usually between a hard or soft core. A hard core usually gives more control and less speed while the opposite is true for a soft core. However, this is only true to a certain extent: a hard core racket can generate a fantastically hard blow if you hit the material properly. The surface of a racket consists of fiberglass or carbon fiber (or a mixture of the two). A slightly knobbed or roughened surface is sometimes used on certain rackets; these are designed to generate more spin and screw on the ball. The edges of the holes can also affect the spin — the “sharper” the edge, the more spin you can create on a hit.
Balance
Balance is divided into categories of Low, Medium and High.
The balance is often associated with the shape, where round rackets usually have a low balance, teardrop rackets have a medium balance, and diamond rackets have a high balance. This is not always the case, however; there are certainly round rackets with a high balance, for example. You want to find the combination that works best for you.