What are padel rackets made of? Faces, frames, cores and finishes

The parts of a padel racket

Strip a padel racket down and there are four layers that matter. The frame is a hollow tube that runs round the head and into the handle, giving the racket its shape and strength. Inside the head sits the core, a slab of foam roughly 38 mm thick at most, which is the FIP limit for the whole racket. Bonded to each side of the core is a face, a thin skin of woven fibre set in resin. Finally there is the surface finish, smooth or rough, and the holes drilled through the whole head, 9 to 13 mm in the centre area under FIP rules.

Each layer changes the feel. Get the combination right for your level and you will notice it more than any brand name.

Glass fibre faces

Glass fibre, often called fibreglass, is heavier for its stiffness than carbon and more flexible. On a slow ball the face bends a little and springs back, so the ball leaves the racket easily. That makes glass fibre faces forgiving and comfortable, which suits beginners and occasional players. The downside is that they tend to soften with time, and they feel less crisp on volleys. Fen and Pip use glass fibre faces.

Carbon faces and the K numbers

Carbon fibre is stiffer and lighter for its strength. It gives a firmer, more direct strike, so the ball goes where the face points, and it holds that feel longer than glass fibre. Carbon faces are labelled by the number of filaments in each strand of the weave: 3K is 3,000 filaments, 12K is 12,000 and 18K is 18,000. In general, higher numbers mean a tighter, stiffer face. The full breakdown is in 3K vs 12K vs 18K carbon, and the head to head of the two families is in carbon vs fibreglass.

The core

The core is where most of the feel comes from. EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate) is the standard: it comes in soft, medium and hard densities. Soft EVA compresses easily, gives a bouncy, comfortable response and makes slow balls travel. Hard EVA hardly compresses on a slow shot, so it feels dead at low pace, but on a full speed smash it stores and returns more energy. Some junior and entry rackets use softer foam for an even easier rebound. More in the padel racket core guide.

Rough or smooth surface

The FIP rules allow faces to be smooth or rough as long as they are flat. Rough faces have sand or a raised pattern in the top coat, which grips the ball on slice shots such as the bandeja and vibora. Smooth faces are more predictable for players who do not yet brush the ball on purpose. A rough finish does wear down with use, so its effect fades over months.

How materials map to price and level

Materials explain most of the price ladder. Glass fibre with soft EVA is the entry point; 3K carbon with soft EVA is the most common choice for improving club players; 12K and 18K carbon with medium or hard EVA appear on rackets aimed at intermediate and advanced players. Stiffer is not better for everyone: it is better for players with fast, clean swings.

Lobwell Fen

Forgiving glass fibre round racket for first sessions

• Round
• Glass fibre
• 350 to 360 g

£59

Choose Lobwell Fen options

Lobwell Tor

Round 3K carbon racket for your first year and well beyond it

• Round
• 3K carbon
• 355 to 365 g

£79

Choose Lobwell Tor options

Lobwell Arc

Teardrop 12K carbon all-rounder with a textured face

• Teardrop
• 12K carbon
• 360 to 370 g

£109

Choose Lobwell Arc options

Materials and how long a racket lasts

Foam cores lose some liveliness over time, and faces can crack or delaminate after hard knocks on the glass. Heat also softens EVA, so do not leave a racket in a hot car. A thermal racket cover and frame tape help. See when to replace a padel racket for the signs that a racket has gone.