What padel racket should you buy? Our guide to help you make the right choice

Best brands, best models, best quality!

At Padelusa, we think that each and every player deserves the best possible rackets. That's why our experts only pick from the best available products on the market. We not only select the best rackets from the best brands but also test them meticulously to make sure they completely meet our standards.

By selecting from the best brands we ensure you get the best quality, durability, and technologies. The most famous brands right now are Wilson, Head, Babolat, Adidas, Nox, and Bullpadel.

The first three, known for producing the best tennis rackets in the world, have perfectly transferred their knowledge to the padel field. Collaborations with superstar players like Fernando Belasteguin, Arturo Coello, or Juan Lebron have helped them create the most exclusive padel technologies.

Adidas is a worldwide brand that started quite a long time ago with padel and that is more and more recognized for the quality of its products. Superstars like Ale Galan or Marta Ortega have helped the three-stripes brand build some of the most efficient rackets.

Nox and Bullpadel are padel specialists, that have been present in Spain for years and that have learned with key collaborations how to launch cutting-edge technologies. Agustin Tapia and Miguel Lamperti for Nox and Paquito Navarro, Federico Chingotto, or Martin Di Nenno for Bullpadel help those brands offer a variety of high-quality models.

At Padelusa.com we also like to bring you some different, less-known rackets that are also worth the try, like Osaka for example.

Shop by brands.

The foam

If you didn't know, the inner core of a padel racket is made of foam, and we usually say that it is its most important component. Indeed, from that foam usually made of EVA mainly depends how your racket behaves on the court. If it's hard, you can expect the most brutal power and the most amazing precision. On the contrary, soft foams bring comfort, tolerance, and vibration absorption. For those who don't want to make compromises, mid foams are here to help them feel as comfortable in offense as in defense.

The shape

Usually padel rackets come in three different shapes: diamond, round, and teardrop.

Because they have more material on the upper part, the diamond-shaped rackets are usually head-heavy, making them perfect for offensive players who like to make the best of their powerful offensive shots, such as smashes and volleys.

On the contrary, round-shaped rackets have more weight in the grip, meaning the sweet spot is lower, making them easier to maneuver. They are usually recommended to players who want as much control as possible.

And exactly like with foams, there is a shape that will fit the need of all-around players. In fact, the teardrop shape is to the shapes what the mid is to the foams: an option created to bring the best of two worlds.

The faces

The faces or better said the materials used on the faces of your padel rackets also play an important role in the general sensations of a padel racket. Indeed, the faces are exactly about sensations. The harder the material is, the more compact your shots will feel, while the softer it is, the smoother and more comfortable the impact with the ball will feel and the less vibrations you will experience. Different options are available on the market like rigid 24K and 18K carbon, soft fiberglass, and more balanced possibilities like some carbon and fiberglass mix that you can find on Babolat Air Veron, Head Speed Motion, or Bullpadel Vertex 04 Comfort.

The weight

The weight of the pala also makes a difference on the court. The heavier the racket is, the more powerful it can be, considering that you have enough strength to make the best of that extra weight. As you can guess, the lighter a racket is, the easier it is to maneuver, and the less stress it puts on your forearm. You should find the weight that allows you to put as much power as your body can and make sure you always feel comfortable handling your racket. Some brands like Adidas or Bullpadel offer you the possibility to change the weight and balance yourself for the most customized experience.

Different rackets for different player types

If you have read the article since the beginning, you have probably already understood that there is in the end no bad padel racket (considering of course that you pick from the best brands and models, but you can trust us on this!). There are just different options made for different types of players: women, beginners, advanced padel players with amazing technique, former high-level tennis athletes... but also offensive players, defensive players, people who tend to suffer from tennis elbow... We always say that there is at least one model for everyone, and our goal is to help you find the one that is perfectly adapted to you!

Shop by collections

Examples of good fits

To help you understand even better what we explained just before, let's find some examples. You are a powerful former tennis player who wants to make the best of his powerful smashes and volleys on the padel court. Then, you should aim for a diamond-shaped rigid pala, such as the one used by Ale Galan. You are a senior, intermediate player, usually playing on the right side and having suffered tennis elbow in the past. You should aim then for a round-shaped, lightweight, and comfortable racket that will make sure your forearm doesn't have to absorb too much vibrations and stress. Head Zephyr or would be great options in that case. You are an advanced all-around player who likes to play on both sides and doesn't want to make compromises. You should then aim for a teardrop racket that is not too hard nor too soft. Nox At10 12K is a model that is usually recommended for those who want the most versatility. You can even go one step further by selecting a racket such as Alex Ruiz's Adidas Adipower 3.3 that will even allow you to modify the balance, for a tailored experience!

Still not sure? Take our quiz!

You still don't know what racket would be the best for you? Don't worry, in order to make sure you get the best products for your needs, we have created a quiz to allow you to get some suggestions based on your padel level, age, sex, athletic level, style of play, etc. Give it a try!