Here is how to choose a padel racket: pick the shape first and the weight second. A round racket with a low balance and a soft core is the most forgiving for beginners, such as the Bullpadel Indiga CTR 2025 at £63.99 (about $84 or €75). A teardrop suits all-round players and a diamond with a high balance suits attackers. Men usually use 350 to 385g, women and juniors 320 to 360g. About £60 to £110 buys a good first racket. Last updated: October 2026.
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Padel racket shapes at a glance
The shape of a padel racket decides where the sweet spot sits and how the weight is spread, so it is the first choice to make. The table pairs each shape with one racket on sale in the UK now. For full reviews of the top models, see our guide to the best padel rackets.
| Shape | Sweet spot | Typical balance | Who it suits | Example, UK price October 2026 | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round | Large and centred | Low | Beginners and control players | Bullpadel Indiga CTR 2025, £63.99 | Check price |
| Teardrop | Between round and diamond | Medium | All-round players at most levels | Head Coello Vibe 2026, £81.56 | Check price |
| Diamond | Smaller and higher on the face | High | Advanced, attacking players | Bullpadel Vertex 05 2026, £188.99 | Check price |
How do I choose a padel racket?
Choose a padel racket in five steps, in this order: shape, weight, balance, core and face, then budget. In our view, shape and weight change how a racket feels more than the logo or the carbon count, so settle those before you compare models.
- Shape. Round for control, teardrop for a mix, diamond for power.
- Weight. Most men use 350 to 385g, most women and juniors 320 to 360g.
- Balance. Low or medium for control and easy handling, high for power on smashes.
- Core and face. A soft core and fibreglass face are more forgiving; a firmer core and carbon face give more precision.
- Budget. About £60 to £110 for a first racket, £110 to £200 for an upgrade.
If you are new to the game, our best padel rackets for beginners narrows the field to proven first rackets.
What is the best padel racket shape for beginners?
A round padel racket is usually the best shape for beginners, though LTA Padel suggests a round or teardrop shape for a first racket. Babolat says the round shape has a larger, centred hitting zone that makes shots more forgiving. The official adidas padel guide calls round the shape most recommended for beginners because of its tolerance for error.
The trade-off is power. Babolat notes that a round racket gives up some power. It puts that down to the shape and the way the weight is distributed in the head. In our view that is a fair swap for a new player, who tends to lose more points to mishits than to weak smashes.
Is a round or teardrop padel racket better?
Neither shape is better overall: a round racket is better for control and a teardrop is better if you want a mix of control and power. LTA Padel describes the teardrop as a blend of control and power, and Babolat says it suits a wide range of players.
Babolat adds that if you want the most precision in your shots, a round racket is still the better choice. In our view, a teardrop makes sense once you can hit a steady rally and want more pace on volleys and smashes. Our intermediate padel rackets guide covers that first upgrade.
How heavy should my padel racket be?
Most adult padel rackets weigh between 340 and 390g, according to LTA Padel’s racket guide. LTA Padel says lighter rackets of 340 to 360g increase control and reduce power, while heavier rackets of 370 to 390g add power and suit advanced players.
STIGA, which makes padel rackets, puts men’s rackets at about 350 to 385g and women’s and juniors’ rackets at about 320 to 360g. Adidas says a light racket of 345 to 360g is easier to handle and lowers the risk of shoulder or elbow injury.
LTA Padel suggests beginners start with a mid-weight racket of 360 to 370g. If you have had elbow or shoulder trouble, the lighter end of the adidas range is the safer start. Lighter players can browse our women’s padel rackets for options in that range. Children need lighter rackets again, so see our junior padel rackets by age.
What does balance mean on a padel racket?
Balance is where the weight of a padel racket sits along its length, and it is described as low, medium or high. STIGA explains that a low balance puts the weight towards the handle for control. A medium balance spreads it evenly, and a high balance moves it towards the top for power.
Adidas recommends a low or medium balance for beginners because it favours control and quick movement. A high balance gives more punch on smashes but makes the racket slower to move at the net. Brands do not publish balance on one common scale, so compare the low, medium and high labels.
Soft or hard core, rough or smooth face?
A soft core is the more comfortable choice for most beginners. Adidas says soft EVA gives good ball output with little effort and less impact on the arm. It keeps its harder EVA for advanced players. LTA Padel describes foam cores as softer with more power and EVA cores as firmer with more control.
The face finish affects spin. STIGA says a rough, sandpaper-style surface helps the ball grip the face for topspin and slice. A smooth surface favours control and precision. The FIP rules allow either, as long as both faces are flat.
Thickness has a ceiling too. The FIP rules cap a racket at 38mm thick, and the Bullpadel Indiga CTR 2025 is built to that 38mm profile.
Is a carbon padel racket better than fibreglass?
Carbon is not better than fibreglass, it is different. Fibreglass is more flexible and forgiving. Carbon is stiffer, with more power and precision but less tolerance of mishits. That is how adidas describes the two materials, and LTA Padel likewise calls fibreglass flexible and carbon firmer.
Carbon faces are often labelled 3K, 12K or 18K. STIGA explains that 3K carbon uses fewer, coarser strands and is stiffer. 18K uses more, finer strands and feels more flexible and softer on impact. For a first racket, a fibreglass face is the easier option.
How much should I spend on my first padel racket?
Plan to spend about £60 to £110 on a first padel racket. Padel Market’s buying guide sets out three price bands. It suggests £60 to £110 for beginners, £110 to £200 for intermediate players and £200 and above for advanced players.
Spending more does not make a racket easier to play. Padel Market notes that professional rackets are stiff, heavy and unforgiving, designed for elite technique. A fibreglass round or teardrop racket in the lower band will feel better while your technique is still developing.
Padel racket vs tennis racket
A padel racket is much shorter than a tennis racket but usually heavier. The FIP Rules of Padel cap a padel racket at 45.5cm long, 26cm wide and 38mm thick. The ITF Rules of Tennis allow a tennis racket up to 73.7cm long and 31.7cm wide.
Weight runs the other way. A typical adult tennis racket, the Babolat Pure Drive Gen11, weighs 300g unstrung, while the four padel rackets below weigh 355 to 375g. A tennis racket is strung. A padel racket has a solid face drilled with holes, and the FIP makes a wrist cord of up to 35cm compulsory.
Which padel racket to buy
These four rackets each match one of the shapes above, with prices checked in October 2026. Pair any of them with a fresh grip from our best padel grips and overgrips list, and find a court near you in our padel club directory. For the rest of a starter kit, from balls to shoes, see our padel equipment guide.
Bullpadel Indiga CTR 2025, best round racket for beginners
The Bullpadel Indiga CTR 2025 is a round racket with a low balance, a SoftEva core and Polyglass fibreglass faces, so it is soft, forgiving and easy to control. It weighs 360 to 370g with a 38mm profile, right in the mid-weight range LTA Padel suggests for beginners.
Price and where to buy: £63.99 at Padel Market, down from £69.99, so about $84 or €75.
Best for: best round racket for beginners
£63.99 at Padel Market, October 2026
Check price at Padel MarketHead Coello Vibe 2026, best value all-rounder
The Head Coello Vibe 2026 is a teardrop racket with a medium balance, a Power Foam core and fibreglass faces. At 355g it sits inside STIGA’s usual weight ranges for both men’s and women’s rackets, and its smooth face keeps it simple for players moving on from a round racket.
Price and where to buy: £81.56 at Padel Nuestro, down from £118.96, so about $108 or €96.
NOX AT10 Genius 18K Alum 2026, best all-round teardrop
The NOX AT10 Genius 18K Alum 2026 is Agustín Tapia’s teardrop racket, with a medium balance, a Black EVA core, an 18K carbon face and a rough surface for spin. It weighs 360 to 375g, and counterweights of 2g and 4g let you shift the balance. It suits advanced players who want one racket for attack and defence.
Price and where to buy: £205.99 at Padel Market, down from £333.99, so about $272 or €242.
Bullpadel Vertex 05 2026, best diamond for power
The Bullpadel Vertex 05 2026 is Juan Tello’s diamond racket, with a high balance, a MultiEva core, a 12K carbon face and a rough surface. At 365 to 375g it is built for competition players who finish points with the smash.
Price and where to buy: £188.99 at Padel Market, down from £291.99, so about $249 or €222.
Padel racket buying FAQ
Are diamond padel rackets only for advanced players?
Mostly, yes. Adidas aims diamond rackets at advanced players who put power ahead of manoeuvrability, and their usually high balance makes them slower to move at the net. For beginners, adidas recommends a round racket instead.
Why do padel rackets have holes?
Padel rackets are solid, unstrung bats, and the FIP rules build the holes into the design. The face has an unlimited number of cylindrical holes of 9 to 13mm in the centre, with larger holes of up to 20mm allowed within 4cm of the edge.
Do padel rackets need a wrist strap?
Yes. The FIP rules require a non-elastic cord of up to 35cm fixed to the handle, worn around the wrist as protection against accidents, and its use is compulsory.
Should I buy the racket my favourite pro uses?
Only if your level matches it. The NOX AT10 Genius 18K Alum 2026 is Agustín Tapia’s racket and the Bullpadel Vertex 05 2026 is Juan Tello’s, and both are aimed at advanced or competition players with fast, clean swings.
How long does a padel racket last?
STIGA estimates anywhere from a few months to about two years, depending on the materials, how often you play and how well you look after the racket.
Is there a maximum weight for a padel racket?
No. The FIP rules set limits on length, width, thickness and holes, but they do not set a weight limit. Most adult rackets weigh 340 to 390g, according to LTA Padel.
