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Intermediate padel rackets

Once you use the walls with confidence and play two or more times a week, a teardrop with a medium core gives more pace without losing control.

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Two club players on a blue outdoor court, one in green returning low by the glass and one in the foreground waiting with his racket.
Photo: Sherif Alyamany, CC BY-SA 4.0

Compare intermediate padel rackets side by side

Intermediate padel rackets: key specs
Racket Shape Face Core Weight Balance Level Price
Ridge Teardrop 3K carbon Medium EVA 360 to 370 g Even Improver, Intermediate £89
Arc Teardrop 12K carbon Medium EVA 360 to 370 g Even to slightly high Intermediate £109
RoundBig, low sweet spot. Control and comfort.TeardropRaised sweet spot. All-round play.DiamondHigh sweet spot, head heavy. Power.

Guides that help you choose

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 young padel player in a white T-shirt holds his racket high, ready to volley, on a blue indoor court with dark glass walls.GuidePadel racket balance: head light, even or head heavy, and how it changes your gameBalance is where a padel racket's weight sits along its length. A bright blue empty outdoor padel court with the net in the centre and trees behind.ComparisonSoft vs hard EVA: how the core changes a padel racket, and which one you should playSoft EVA cores compress easily and give the ball a lively push on slow and medium shots, which helps lobs, blocks and defence and feels comfortable. Four players spread across a green artificial grass padel court seen from high above, with long shadows on the turf.GuidePadel shots explained: the 16 strokes you will hear about, and when to play eachThe core padel shots are the groundstroke, the volley, the lob, the bandeja (a controlled sliced overhead), the vibora (a faster, more side spun overhead), the smash, the chiquita (a soft, low ball to the feet of net players) and the back glass return.

Questions about intermediate padel rackets

When should I move from a beginner racket?

When most of your shots hit the middle of the face and you want more depth and pace on overheads. That usually takes six months to a year of regular play.

Ridge or Arc?

Ridge (3K carbon, £89) is the gentler step up. Arc (12K carbon, rough face, £109) is stiffer and more precise and suits players with a full, clean swing.

Is a teardrop racket harder to use?

A little. The sweet spot sits slightly higher, so mishits near the throat lose more pace than on a round racket. Most improving players adapt within a few sessions.