Free UK delivery over £50Opening soon: tap Notify me on any product30 day returns on unused kit

Racket finder

Padel buying guides

Each guide starts with what to look for, then shows our picks and says plainly who should buy something else.

A yellow padel ball rests on green artificial turf beside the blurred line of the net.Buying guideThe best padel rackets for 2026: what actually matters, and the right racket for each levelThe best padel racket is the one that matches your level: a round, soft cored racket of 340 to 365 g for beginners and improvers, a teardrop of 360 to 370 g with a medium core for intermediates, and a diamond with a hard core and high balance for advanced attackers. A padel court built on a moored barge on a city quayside, enclosed by tall black netting.Buying guideThe best padel racket for beginners: the spec to look for after three sessions on a hire racketThe best padel racket for a beginner has a round head, a soft EVA core, a weight of about 340 to 365 g and a low (head light) balance. A blue padel show court with red surrounds and stands set up in a square next to an ornate stone cathedral.Buying guideThe best padel rackets under £100: where the value is, and what you give upUnder £100 you can buy a properly specified padel racket for beginners, improvers and many intermediates: round or teardrop heads, soft or medium EVA cores and 3K carbon faces. A padel player stretches up to hit a high ball beside the glass wall while a packed stand watches.Buying guideThe best padel rackets for intermediate players: when to move up and what to move toMost intermediate padel players suit a teardrop racket of 360 to 370 g with a medium EVA core, an even balance and a 3K or 12K carbon face. A woman in blue lunges to return a ball low by the net while her opponents watch from the far side in front of a full stand.Buying guideThe best lightweight padel rackets: who should go light, and how light is too lightA lightweight padel racket weighs roughly 335 to 350 g, against the usual 355 to 375 g, and is best for lighter players, older juniors, players returning to sport and anyone who tires late in a session. A player in a red shirt crouches in the ready position with her racket in front of her on a blue indoor court.Buying guideThe best padel racket for tennis players: what transfers, what does not, and what to buyMost tennis players should start padel with a round or gentle teardrop racket of about 355 to 370 g with a soft or medium core, even if they are strong tennis players. An empty outdoor padel court with green steel frame and glass walls under a dramatic cloudy sky.Buying guideThe best padel rackets for power: the specs behind a heavy smash, and who should use themA power padel racket combines a diamond or high teardrop head, a high (head heavy) balance, a hard EVA core and a stiff 12K or 18K carbon face, usually at 365 to 375 g. An outdoor padel court with a clay-coloured surface, glass walls and white mesh, in front of tall pine trees.Buying guideThe best padel rackets for control: specs for defenders, builders and right side playersA control padel racket has a round head, a low (head light) balance, a soft to medium EVA core and a 3K carbon or glass fibre face, usually at 340 to 365 g. Eleven smiling padel players line up behind the net on a blue covered court, holding rackets and balls.Buying guideThe best padel balls: how to choose between pro and club balls, and the five we stockThe best padel ball depends on how you play: a faster pro ball such as HEAD Padel Pro+, Wilson Premier or Bullpadel Premium Pro for competitive and attacking games, and a slightly slower club ball such as HEAD Padel Pro S+ or Dunlop Pro for social play, learning and longer rallies. A packed indoor arena surrounds a blue padel show court on a red floor, seen from the top of the stands.Buying guideThe best padel bags: which size you need, what a thermal sleeve does and our three bagsThe best padel bag depends on what you carry. Several blue padel courts inside a large dark hall during the Asian Games, with players mid-match and flags along the wall.Buying guideThe best padel starter kits: one player, two players, a family or an upgradeA good padel starter kit contains a round, soft cored racket of about 340 to 365 g, at least one tube of pressurised balls and a few overgrips; a thermal cover is a useful extra. A player leaps sideways off the ground to reach a low ball by the side glass while three others wait across the net.Buying guidePadel gifts: useful ideas for every budget, for him, for her and for juniorsThe best padel gifts are things players use up or replace often: overgrips (£5.99 for three), tubes of balls (£4.49 to £5.49), a ball pressuriser (£14.99), a thermal racket cover (£12.99) or a bag (£29 to £69).