How to choose a Padel racket

From our experience, we can see that choosing a Padel racket from a wide range of options can be rather overwhelming, especially as there is such a variety of shapes and materials to choose from. With so many options, it’s normal to feel lost and most people do not know where to start.

We have done a lot of research into what makes the rackets different and what suits a certain type of player and have created this step by step guide to assist you in making the right choice.

Please remember that we are always (when we are not on the court) available to talk you through this, either via WhatsApp, e-mail or you can call us.

Firstly, you need to establish your level of skill and find out what you want in terms of power or control. Be careful in purchasing the first racket that catches your eye! You have to take into account the characteristics of your game and see if that racket suits your needs and style of play. Choosing the wrong Padel racket will not only harm your game, but it can cause injuries too.

Let’s review this further:

1. How to choose a Padel racket for you

If you have little experience in racket sports, and have only played Padel a few times, then a top of the range racket might not be suitable for you. Conversely, if you are an experienced player, who is playing at an advanced level, then an entry level racket is not going to be right for you.

You need to find out what your level is and more importantly, what style of game you play and then choose a racket that suits your game from there.

2. What is your style?

So what is your style of play? Is it a powerful, more attacking game, or a technical game with more finesse and control? This will help you decide on which rubber/foam to choose. Hard rubber is for power and control and soft rubber gives you a more comfortable hit with better ball output at lower speeds. Medium rubber/foam is a great mix between the two.

To find a racket that is right for you, ask yourself these questions:

• What is your style of play and which shape will suit you best?

• Do you have any wrist, elbow or shoulders injuries? If yes, a lighter racket with a soft rubber would suit you better, as it has more absorption in the material.

• Do you want a racket that is light and easier to manoeuvre on the court, or one that is heavier for more power?

• Do you like to put lots of spin on the ball? If so, the a racket with a rough surface would suit you best.

• Lastly, what do I want to spend? This will help you narrow down your search.

From your answers to these questions, you will get a better understanding of what shape you want, the core density, what material you need and whether you want a smooth or rough surface. 

3. Padel racket shapes

There are 3 main shapes for a Padel racket. They are Round, Teardrop and Diamond. These give the player a different sweet spot on the racket. The sweet spot is the most effective place on the face of the racket to hit the ball.

• Round shaped rackets have the sweet spot right in the centre of the racket and they are very forgiving for any mis-hit shots. They have a low balance, more towards the handle, which feels extremely comfortable and easy to control. They are designed to maximise control and to give you a consistent hit every time you strike the ball. A Round shaped racket is ideal for all types of players, but especially for beginners.

• Teardrop shaped rackets have a sweet spot slightly above the centre. They are a mix/hybrid of the two other shapes, and they provide both power and control. They have a perfect medium balance and they will suit all types of players, from beginners to very advanced.

• Diamond shaped rackets have the sweet spot near the top of the racket for attacking play, power volleys and smashing. They have a high balance (top heavy) and they are designed to maximise power. This shape is more suited for more experienced players.

Ask yourself, do you want power or control or a balance of both. The shape of the racket will help with make this decision, which will narrow your search down even further.

4. Balance

The shape of the Padel racket will also determine the balance of the racket. When we talk about balance, we refer to the degree of stability of the racket.

• Low balance rackets have a weight that slopes slightly towards the handle, which provides a greater degree of control. These are most often found in Round shaped rackets.

• Medium balance rackets have a weight that is distributed more evenly across the racket, with the weight feeling like it is in the middle. These rackets are Teardrop shaped, and they provide a perfect balance between power and control.

• High balance rackets have a weight that slopes towards the head, which offers a you more power and makes the racket feel slightly head heavy. These types of rackets are most often Diamond shaped.

5. Padel racket weight

The weight of the racket is also an important decision. The weight not only helps you with comfort/ease of use, but also influences how much power/control you have.

Light:

• Able to manoeuvre the racket more freely.
• Suitable for young players, Ladies or older players.
• Suitable for people with tennis elbow/wrist/shoulder problems.

Heavy:

• More power.
• More stable.
• Suitable for attacking players with big smashes and aggressive volleys.

The right weight for you, will be determined again by your style of play. Heavier will lead to more power and lighter will lead to more control and manoeuvrability.

What is the average weight of a Padel racket?

• Very light = 300 - 340 grams - Juniors/Youth
• Light = 340 - 355 grams
• Average = 355 - 370 grams
• Heavy = 370 grams +

6. Racket material 

The last step before you are ready to go out and buy is understanding what the product is made of.

Rackets have an external frame, a core (internal rubber or foam) and a surface (face). Frames are either made of Fibreglass, Carbon Fibre or Kevlar. The core is made from a rubber or a foam and the surface can either be Aluminium, Fibreglass, Carbon Fibre or Composites such as Glaphite/Graphene/Innegra/Fibrix. 

A racket with a Fibreglass frame and surface is not as durable or strong as Carbon Fibre, but it is softer, easier to hit and they are very comfortable to use, due to the springy feel of the Fibreglass.

As we go up to intermediate and advanced rackets, they are mostly made out of Carbon Fibre, a much more durable and stronger material, making the racket last longer.

Rackets will either have a smooth or a rough surface. The rough surface will give you more grip on the ball and therefore more spin on your shots, but they don’t give as much ball output (bounce) off the face as the smooth surface rackets. Some players also don’t like the extra spin created by a rough surface.

The internal core of the rackets are either made using a rubber (EVA) or a foam. EVA rubber can come in soft, medium or hard densities. The harder the rubber, the more dense it is, which means more power. The softer the EVA rubber, the less vibrations through your wrist, elbow and shoulder. EVA is more durable than foam, lasting longer, but it is slightly heavier and not as comfortable as foam.

7. Choosing a brand

Many people say that they struggle to choose a racket, because they don’t know which one is best. It’s important to note that there is no “best racket or brand” there are just brands with different designs, materials and looks and you must choose what best suits your game and your budget, not to mention the one that you like the look of the most!

Padel Gear stocks all of the top brands. We have done extensive research on the best Padel brands and aim to offer all of these brands and their range of products to our clients.

At Padel Gear we care a lot about giving the right advice to our clients and to make sure that we have a range of rackets that suits all types of players, which is why you will find a large number of options on our website.

We hope that you learned something by reading this article and that this guide puts you on the right path to choosing the perfect racket for you.

If you are struggling and still need our guidance, please feel free to drop us an e-mail or WhatsApp us, we will be happy to help you.