With over 250 padel racket brands and over 3,000 different padel racket models on the market, the search for the right racket for your own player type and the right level of play is like a hike through an unknown jungle for many padel newbies (and not only them). We want to help you with a few simple tips and information to cut a path through the confusing thicket.
The essential factors for the playing style of a padel racket are:
- Head shape
- Balance point
- Sweet spot (the optimal point of impact of the racket)
- Frame material
- Foam type (the "racket core")
- Weight
In the first blog post we will cover:
Racket shape / balance point / sweet spot
Basically, there are three types of padel rackets:
- Around
- diamond
- Drops (Hybrid)
Around
Padel rackets with a round head shape usually have a high balance point and are therefore "handle-heavy" with a central sweet spot (the optimal point of impact for the racket). Advantage: This has a positive effect on ball control. This racket shape is ideal for defensive players with good touch, whose strength lies in precise ball placement. Disadvantage: A low balance point has a negative effect on the power of a racket. Conclusion: A round racket offers you control and a secure feel. You only have to make small compromises when it comes to the power of smashes.
Tip: Many beginners prefer rackets with a round head shape because of the good control (at the beginning).
diamond
This racket shape has a low balance point (head-heavy) with a high sweet spot. Advantage: The high sweet spot creates a larger lever (i.e. the distance between the ball impact and the player's hand) during the stroke and the shot automatically has more power. This racket shape is particularly suitable for aggressive players who feel more comfortable at the net than behind the glass and whose favorite shot is usually the smash.
Disadvantage: The larger lever makes the strokes more difficult to control.
Drops (hybrid form)
This racket shape usually has a middle balance point and a sweet spot that is somewhere between the other two. This type of racket is particularly suitable for the all-round player who likes to defend but also feels comfortable in attacking play. Advantage: more power than the round racket and more control than the diamond racket. Disadvantage: less control than the round racket and less power than the diamond racket.
However, it is not only the head shape that determines how much power or control your padel racket has. Frame material, foam core and weight play a role also plays a role. More on this in the next blog post. Hasta luego
