Padel racket guide

The popularity of padel has exploded in recent years, and it’s no wonder! As a sport, padel is extremely social and beginner-friendly, making it easy to start even with a group of friends. Choose your favorite padel racket and playing is more enjoyable.

Padel, played with four people, is a combination of tennis and squash. Thanks to the easily manageable racket and soft ball, even beginners can easily achieve a smooth game.

As with other sports, equipment is important in padel too. The Mailapro.fi racket guide tells you about the features of different rackets and helps you find a padel racket that meets your needs! When choosing a racket, consider at least the following things:

Padel racket – shape

Rackets are manufactured in three common shapes: round, diamond, and teardrop. Each shape has its own characteristics regarding weight distribution, control, speed, and surface area, making it easy to find a suitable racket for every playing style and player.

Features of round shaped padel racket:

• Center-weighted racket balance
• Good control
• Less speed in hits
• Ample hitting surface area
• Sweetspot in the middle of the racket’s hitting surface

Thanks to its excellent control and large hitting surface area, the round racket is suitable for novice players or occasional players. The round racket is better suited for a defensive playing style rather than aggressive attacking, as its hitting power is lower.

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Features of diamond shaped padel racket:

• High balance point closer to the racket’s head
• Sweetspot located higher up
• Powerful hits
• Less control

Thanks to its excellent hitting power, the diamond shape is excellent for an aggressive playing style. Due to its head-heavy balance, the racket has less control, which requires more accuracy and playing experience from the player. The diamond shape is the choice of most professional players.

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Features of teardrop shaped padel racket:

• Combines the characteristics of round and diamond-shaped rackets
• With a balance point in the middle of the racket
• Creating a well-balanced combination of hitting power and control

The teardrop shape is the most balanced of the padel racket shapes. It combines the hitting speed of a diamond-shaped racket with the control of a round racket, making it a good choice for players who are not specialized in attack or defense. The teardrop-shaped racket is recommended for players who already have some experience in the sport.

Padel racket – weight

The weight differences of padel rackets may seem small, but the weight of the racket has a significant impact on gameplay. A heavier racket (over 370g) can produce more power in shots, while a lighter racket (under 365g) offers better ball feel.

When choosing the weight, it is important to consider the player’s size and strength, which is why weight recommendations can be divided as follows:

Men 360-390 g

Women 340-370 g

Children 240-280 g

For beginner players, we recommend a slightly lighter racket for better handling. The best way to find the right weight is usually by trying rackets with different weights.

Padel racket – core material

Padelmailan ytimessä käytetään yleensä kahta kumimateriaalia: EVA ja FOAM. Molemmat materiaalit antavat mailalle omat ominaisuutensa voiman, käsiteltävyyden ja kestävyyden suhteen.

EVA

• Hard and durable
• Lightweight
• More control than power

FOAM

• Soft
• More power than control
• Beginner-friendly

Nowadays, many racket manufacturers use both EVA and FOAM rubber in the core, which allows the racket to have the good properties of both materials.

Padel racket – thickness

The thickness of a padel racket ranges from 36-38mm, with 38mm being the most common thickness. Thicker rackets are easier to handle and provide more power in shots. Thinner rackets are recommended for younger players.