Best Padel rackets for Beginners: How to choose it to rule the court.

Here are the five key criteria to consider when choosing the right padel racket for beginners.

1. Racket shape: round.

The first element to take into consideration, and the most noticeable for any beginner, is the shape of the racket. You will find three main shapes:

1. Round.

2. Diamond.

3. Teardrop.

Each shape will offer you different advantages. The ideal one for beginners is the round one. Round padel rackets will offer you greater control and a larger sweet spot compared to the other shapes. It means that even if you hit the ball off-centre of the racket, you will still be able to send the ball back to your opponent.

2. Weight: light.

The weight of the racket is another important factor. Usually, padel rackets weigh between 340 and 390 grams. We can categorize them into three different groups:

1. The lightweight rackets.

2. The midweight ones.

3. The heavy ones.

As a beginner, you want to prioritize a light racket for two reasons. The first one is the manoeuvrability. The lighter, the easier it is to handle. The second one is to avoid any risks of injury. As your body is not used to padel motions, you want to reduce strain on your arm. For more information about the most common padel injuries, I invite you to read this article.

3. Balance: low/even.

This aspect is often underestimated by beginners, but it is as important as the first two criteria above when choosing among different padel rackets..

Indeed, the balance of the racket affects how it feels in your hand and your ability to control it. Here again, there are three main types of balance:

1. Head-heavy (high balance)

2. Head-light (low balance)

3. Evenly balanced

As a beginner, you don’t want to pick a head-heavy racket. The reason is that even if they offer more power, these rackets are harder to control and manoeuvre. For your first games, you will search for more control and precision.

If this notion is a bit blurry, try to picture yourself with a hammer. Hold it close to the head, and you will have more precision; hold it at the bottom of the handle, and you will have more power. You Nailed it 😉

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4. Core composition: soft.

There are two main types of core compositions:

1. Soft.

2. Hard.

The soft core is the one that provides the most comfort by absorbing more vibrations. It reduces the risk of arm injuries as well, making it perfect for beginner players.

5. Price

Finally, the price. It’s something that shouldn’t impact your choice before meeting the first four criteria.

Of course, your budget plays a significant role in your decision. But like anything you buy, buying something too cheap won’t offer you the full experience and will have fewer chances to last a long time.

Padel rackets vary widely in price, from affordable beginner options to high-end professional models. An entry-level racket is typically priced between $120 AUD and $200 AUD.

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