Coaches' Picks: The 5 Best Padel Rackets for Every Skill Level
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Time to read 6 min
How to Find the Right Padel Racket
Court games are having a moment, and padel is no exception. As with its sister sports, tennis and pickleball, padel has plenty of benefits: Studies show that playing regularly can improve your cardiovascular health, upper body strength, grip strength, speed, and agility.
But to make the most of your game, you need the right equipment. Whether you're a pro or a beginner, the right padel racket can help you control the ball, increase your power, and unleash a whole new level of skill.
Today I am going to show you the BEST padel rackets for every level, and the attributes and characteristics you need on a padel racket for this.
OUR TOP PICKS
Best Padel Racket for Beginners
Nox X-One Evo
The Nox X-One Evo is an easy to play, comfortable, and forgiving racket. With a soft fiberglass hitting surface and a soft core, it effectively absorbs vibrations. Meanwhile, the carbon fiber frame makes the racket more durable. When playing padel for hours on end, the lightness and softness reduce the risk of injury.
For beginners looking for an easy-to-play racket, the Nox X-One Evo deserves to be on our list of the best padel rackets of 2024.
✔️ PRO'S
- Easy to play with
- Forgiving
- Comfortable
❌ CON'S
- Lacks some weight in the overhead game
EDITORS NOTE: How to choose a beginner’s racket
You often spend many hours on the padel court when you discover padel. You should consider buying a padel racket designed for beginners to benefit your development and avoid injuries. Pick a light and relatively soft racket with a large sweet spot. Ensure you have the correct grip thickness so you won’t strain your forearms unnecessarily. If necessary, add more overgrips.
Best Padel Racket for Intermediate Level
Babolat Veron Air
The Babolat Veron Air updates last year’s bestseller. It isn’t as hard and challenging to play as the Viper Air. Fast players looking for an easy-to-maneuver, powerful racquet will find this model to be ideal.
Veron Air weighs only 355 grams and has a hybrid shape. For a comfortable hitting experience, the hitting surface is CarbonFlex, a combination of fiberglass and carbon fiber.
The Babolat Veron Air is the perfect racket for players who prefer a lightly swung racket with great playability on the court. This model is a great choice if you are an intermediate level player looking for a racket that can take your game to the next level. A well-deserved spot on our list of the best padel rackets of 2024.
✔️ PRO'S
- Easy to swing
- Well-balanced
- Comfortable
❌ CON'S
- For good speed, a relatively clean hit is required
EDITORS NOTE: Tips when choosing an intermediate level racket
The game becomes more than just getting the ball over the net when you get past the beginner phase. Experiment with different rackets to see what effect they have on your game. When picking out a racket, do you prefer one that strengthens your favorite shots or minimizes your weaker shots’ mistakes? Test out rackets until you find one that takes your game to the next level.
Best Padel Racket for Advanced Level
Nox AT10 Genius 18K By Agustín Tapia
This AT10 Genius 18K By Tapia racket from Nox exudes exclusivity. The racket of choice for Agustin Tapia in 2023. Drop-shaped and balanced, this racket offers a great feel. The balance is a bit higher than on a classic control racket, but it is not as top heavy as it is on many diamond shaped rackets. As a result, the racket is capable of delivering offensive and defensive performance. There is a Carbon 18K carbon fiber hitting surface, and a HR3 core. In addition to the carbon fiber frame, the hitting surface has a sandpaper-like texture for better ball spin.
If you want a racquet that performs equally well across the court, the AT10 Genius 18K is a great choice.
✔️ PRO'S
- Responsive
- Strong in all parts of the game
- Premium feel
❌ CON'S
- Some players may find it too rigid
EDITORS NOTE: How to choose an advanced level racket
Competition is often a game of details. Pick a racket that can give you the finishing touch to win matches by analyzing your game. You may want to purchase a spare racket of the same model when you find a racket you like. Lastly, don’t forget that feel is key. Even a racket with excellent playing characteristics is useless if it does not inspire confidence on the court.
Best Padel Racket Budget Choice
Bullpadel Indiga CTR
Bullpadel’s Indiga CTR is an updated model for 2024. Padel beginners and those on a tight budget will enjoy it. With its hybrid shape and neutral balance, the Indiga CTR provides all-around performance. A fiberglass hitting surface makes the racket more forgiving. The core is also of softer variety to provide a comfortable bounce on the ball that easily provides speed. As a result, you will be able to avoid injuries such as padel elbow.
For those who want to develop their game using a racket at an affordable price, we recommend the Indiga CTR. In our edition of the best padel racket 2024, we choose this model as our budget pick.
✔️ PRO'S
- Easy to play
- Good control and power
- Comfortable
❌ CON'S
- Need to be upgraded as you get better
EDITORS NOTE: How to choose a cheap padel racket
Approximately how often do you plan to play padel? A cheap padel racket will do if you’re only going to play occasionally. However, if you play regularly, it may be worthwhile to invest in a better racket. In addition to better materials, you’ll also be able to keep the racket as you improve. Be sure to choose an affordable padel racket that has good playing characteristics so that you can have a positive experience on the court.
Best Mid-Priced Padel Racket
Nox ML10 Pro Cup Rough Surface Edition
Nox’s ML10 Pro Cup is its best-selling padel racket. There is no difference in the construction of this version, but the surface has a sandpaper texture. With this model, the design has been updated. With a large sweet spot, even hits further out towards the frame deliver good speed and feel. Low balance makes the racket easy to handle defensively and relieves elbow strain. Vibrations on ball impact are greatly reduced by the racket, reducing the risk of injury.
For players of all levels who want an affordable and easy to play padel racket, we recommend the ML10 Pro Cup.
✔️ PRO'S
- Easily maneuverable
- Comfortable
- Suitable for many different playing styles
❌ CON'S
- It lacks some power when smashing
EDITORS NOTE: How to choose a mid-priced racket
There is a big difference between different padel rackets in the middle price range. You can find models with top features at an affordable price in this segment. However, there are also a lot of inferior options to avoid. Make sure you do proper research before choosing your model and ask a friend or another person who has been playing with it for a while.
How We Selected the Best Padel Rackets
To choose the best padel rackets, we first ask experts for their guidance on top brands, materials, features, and more.
Then, we research dozens of rackets from the top, trusted brands. We examine each racket’s design, including which materials it was made of and its dimensions. We also consider how easy each racket is to use, which skill levels they’re best for, and how they’ll affect your playing style. To assemble our final list, we take price and overall value into account, too.
The Author: Mark A. Simmons
Mark A. Simmons is a dedicated padel instructor with over a decade of experience guiding sports enthusiast on their wellness journey. He emphasizes the fusion of skill, strategy, and spirit in every coaching session.
