
Anatomy of a Champion’s Racket: Selecting the Best Padel Racket
You’re looking to shop for padel rackets, but there’s just too much to choose from? Don’t worry. We have a quick guide just for you! Thepadelmagazine breaks down the best racket choices fit for your playing style.

You find yourself shopping online for padel rackets you need for your match this weekend with friends, but you don’t know which one is good for you. There are different rackets for different players, and we’ll guide pick the best one in no time!
First, you need to assess your playing style. Your padel racket is an investment. The best racket for you will also depend on your playing level.
What type of padel player are you?
- Casual player: You will need a beginner padel racket, which is pretty light and offers enough ball control.
- Intermediate player: if you already know the game and have experience but still need to hone your skill, you need a flexible racket to adjust to different plays. Look for one with a good mix of power and accuracy.
- Advanced player: look for a padel racket with either maximum power or great precision. These rackets are designed for more expert hands.
What makes a good padel racket?
A good padel racket, like any other sports tool, has anatomy for success. Shape, weight, balance, and material are the key ingredients that make up a mighty racket. In choosing the best deal of padel racket in the market, you’ll need to select the best combination for your specific playing style.
Shape: round, teardrop, or diamond shapes offer different levels of control and power.
Round rackets are a beginner’s best friend!
Round shape: Round-shaped tops are best for beginners. These types of rackets offer the most extensive coverage. So if you’re new, don’t worry. These types of rackets help you at your level. So that you don’t get demoralized after not catching hits from the opponent. The racket has a low balance, meaning the weight is a little towards the handle, away from the head. The round head means the racket has its weight evenly spread across the head. Overall, this racket shape is easiest to handle for the beginner.
If you have been playing for a while now, looking to up your game and make your opponents cry? Try teardrop-shaped rackets.

Teardrop shape: Its weight is balanced mainly in the center of the racket because of its teardrop shape. This racket is average in weight and power. The target area of this racket is higher at the top of the head. The racket’s design and aerodynamics give you a faster swing than a round racket. The shape gives you a good balance between power and control. It’s best for adept padel players with experience and is also the most popular racket.
How to spot a pro? If they’re using a diamond racket, then that one’s a beast in the court.
Diamond shape: The diamond or arrow-shaped head has a sweet spot that’s higher up the racket. This type of racket is used by elite padel players with more control and experience.
Check out this article to learn more about racket shapes and sizes for padel tennis: https://www.padelnuestro.com/blog/sv/padel-racket-shape-and-size/
Choosing the right weight for your racket depends on whether you need speed, power, or a mix of both.
Weight: typical padel rackets for adult players weigh between 370g and 375g. This is a good range for padel players that want a mix of power and control in their game. Rackets weighing below 370g are easier to move, better suited for reaction volleys. But the compromise is power.
For those that prioritize speed in their plays, a lightweight padel racket will suit you. Casual players prefer this type. Female players usually go for 340 to 370g, and kids between 5 and 10 years use 280 to 340g.
Over 375g, heavy-weight padel rackets bring more power but are less maneuverable and less control-oriented. These types are more efficient for the offensive game but need excellent control.
Finding the right balance is tricky. But once you get it right, it’s hit after hit from there.

Balance: padel racket balance is essential in terms of maneuverability. Heavy rackets over 275 mm in diameter offer the maximal amount of power. But the catch is that these can be harder to control. This is only recommended for expert players. Neutral balance rackets are those around 275 mm in diameter and provide average versatility in control and power. For new players, lighter-balanced gears under 270mm help for quick reactions and control. The weight of these rackets is close to the grip, which makes wrist-play easier.
Material: The Impact Surface of a padel racket is generally made with fiberglass (cheap but heavy) or graphite (more expensive but light) in up to 3 layers. The more layers a racket has, the better the durability, but the lower the power.
To sum it up, here’s a guide to knowing what type of racket best suits your needs. Don’t forget to check out the video below to see what these different types of racket actually look like.
Kids | Casual Players | Intermediate Players | Pro (Defensive Players) | Pro (Offensive Players) | |
Shape | Round | Round | Teardrop | Round/Teardrop | Diamond |
Balance | Light | Light | Neutral | Neutral/ Light | Heavy |
Weight | <320g | <320g | 370-375g | 370-375g | >375g |
Material | Foam | Foam | E.V.A soft rubber | E.V.A soft rubber | Foam |