How to Choose a Padel Racket: Shape, Weight and Balance

To choose a padel racket, start with the shape: round if you are starting out, teardrop once you control the ball and diamond only if you attack. Then check the weight and the balance: they fine-tune a racket that already fits your level, they do not change it.

Below is a quick table by level and five 2026 rackets from PadelProShop’s English store that match each profile, chosen from the spec sheet and the price on 11 November 2026. We have not played with these rackets on court.

The quick rule: your level, your racket

Level	Shape	Weight (guide)	Core feel	Balance
Beginner	Round	Under 360 g	Soft	Low
Intermediate	Teardrop	365-370 g	Medium	Medium
Advanced	Diamond	370-390 g	Medium or hard	High

These are starting points, not fixed rules. Shapes and balances follow PadelProShop’s guide to choosing by playing style and the weights come from its weight guide; the core-feel column is our own reading of how PadelProShop describes each core type. Many rackets are sold in wider ranges: the advanced Fenix Elite 6 below weighs 355 to 375 g.

If you are just starting, our guide to the padel racket for beginners goes through eight models one by one.

Shape: round, teardrop or diamond

The shape decides where the sweet spot sits, the part of the face that sends the ball back most cleanly. It is the first thing to look at on a spec sheet.

• Round: the weight sits towards the handle and the sweet spot is wide and central. It gives control and forgives off-centre hits.
• Teardrop: the middle ground. It balances control and power and suits players who want to do a bit of everything.
• Diamond: the weight moves towards the head and the sweet spot is smaller and higher. More power, but it asks for good technique.

If you are starting out, go round or, at most, teardrop. A diamond makes sense once you finish points with a smash on a regular basis.

Weight: how heavy should your padel racket be?

Most padel rackets weigh between 330 and 400 g, according to PadelProShop. Its weight guide sets these references by level:

• Beginner: under 360 g.
• Intermediate: 365 to 370 g.
• Advanced: 370 to 390 g.

A lighter racket is quicker to move; a heavier one adds punch. PadelProShop puts light at 350 to 365 g and heavy from 370 g, which needs more effort from your arm. If you are torn between two ranges, take the lighter one.

Balance: low, medium or high

Balance tells you where the weight sits along the racket, and it goes hand in hand with the shape.

• Low balance: the weight is near the handle. More control and faster hands in defence and off the glass. Common on round rackets, but not all: the round Kenta+ below has a medium balance.
• Medium balance: a mix of control and power for an all-round game, typical of teardrops.
• High balance: the weight is towards the head. More leverage on smashes and volleys, but it needs technique. Typical of diamonds.

Core and face: soft or hard, fibreglass or carbon

How hard a racket feels depends on the core and the face together. PadelProShop separates the core into four types:

• EVA: the standard, for durability and control.
• Soft EVA: a comfortable feel and a lively ball.
• Hard EVA: a firm feel, with more precision and power if you hit hard.
• Foam: very soft, with the most ball output for little effort, but less durable.

Carbon faces go with higher levels. PadelProShop links carbon faces and a medium or hard feel to advanced players. The beginner racket in this guide, the Nyra, has a fibreglass face, but there are exceptions: the Kenta+ below is an intermediate racket with a Carbon 12K face and a soft core.

Common mistakes with a first racket

• Buying your favourite pro’s racket. PadelProShop points out that “pro” rackets are usually harder and heavier.
• Thinking that pricier means better. The right racket fits your strength and technique, not your budget.
• Ignoring the weight. Check it against the table above before you buy.
• Chasing power. If the ball keeps flying long, PadelProShop suggests a teardrop or a round control racket.
• Forgetting the grip. If the handle does not feel right, an overgrip changes its thickness and feel.

Five rackets matched to each profile

There is one racket for each row of the table, plus a second option for power. Prices were checked on PadelProShop’s English store on 11 November 2026. If budget is the main limit, there is also a selection of padel rackets under €100, sorted by level and style.

Racket	Profile	Shape	Level (spec sheet)	Weight	Balance	Price	With PUNTAZOS
StarVie Nyra 2026	Starting out	Round	Beginner	340-355 g	Low	€72.95	€65.66
Siux Astra Hybrid 2026	All-round improver	Teardrop	Intermediate	355-375 g	Medium	€77.90	€70.11
StarVie Kenta+ 2026	Improver who wants control	Round	Intermediate	350-366 g	Medium	€134.90	€121.41
Siux Fenix Elite 6 2026	Advanced attacker	Diamond	Advanced	355-375 g	High	€124.90	€112.41
NOX Nextgen Pro Attack 12K NFA 2026	Advanced attacker	Diamond	Advanced	360-375 g	High	€144.95	€130.46

PadelProShop prices on 11/11/2026, excluding delivery. All five were in stock that morning.

-10% withPUNTAZOSCopy

How we chose them. We looked for 2026 rackets on PadelProShop’s English store whose spec sheet fits each row of the table (shape, level and balance), and opened each product page on 11 November 2026 to check the specs, the price and the stock. Where a detail is missing from the page, we leave it out. This is a selection based on specs and price: we have not played with these rackets on court.

StarVie Nyra 2026: if you are starting out

The lightest of the five: 340 to 355 g. It is a round control racket rated for beginners, with a low balance, a fibreglass frame and face (X-fiberGlass Tech), a soft-density S-Eva Flex core and a rough surface.

• Who it suits: beginners who want a racket that is easy to move and forgives off-centre hits.
• Who should skip it: players who already hit hard and want power.

Siux Astra Hybrid 2026: if you play and want to do everything

A teardrop with a medium balance, rated intermediate. It weighs 355 to 375 g, with a fibreglass frame and face, an EVA core and a rough surface. The product description gives it a hardness of 4 out of 10 on Siux’s own scale.

• Who it suits: players who have the basic shots and want one racket for defence and attack.
• Who should skip it: anyone looking for the lightest racket possible.

StarVie Kenta+ 2026: if you are an improver who prefers control

Still round, but with a carbon face. The spec sheet rates it intermediate, with a Carbon 12K face, a carbon-fibre frame, a medium balance and a low-density S-Eva Flex core, so the feel stays soft. It weighs 350 to 366 g.

• Who it suits: players who are on court often, prefer placing the ball to smashing it and want carbon with a soft core.
• Who should skip it: beginners; at this price, a beginner’s racket makes more sense.

Siux Fenix Elite 6 2026: if you are advanced and attack

A diamond power racket with a high balance, rated advanced. It has a carbon-fibre frame, Carbon 3K faces, an EVA core and a rough sandy matte finish. At 355 to 375 g it sits partly below the advanced weight guide, and the description gives it a hardness of 9.5 out of 10 on Siux’s scale.

• Who it suits: players with good technique who smash regularly and want power.
• Who should skip it: beginners, or anyone who does not yet finish points overhead.

NOX Nextgen Pro Attack 12K NFA Series 2026: a second option for power

Another diamond with a high balance, for advanced or competition players according to the product page. It has Carbon Fibre 12K faces, a rough surface and a weight of 360 to 375 g. The core is EVA Soft, softer than many power rackets, which the product page describes as a more comfortable response on impact.

• Who it suits: attacking players who smash often and want power without a very dry feel.
• Who should skip it: beginners, or anyone who does not yet smash regularly.

Where to buy: PadelProShop with PUNTAZOS

All five rackets are at PadelProShop, and the code PUNTAZOS takes 10% off everything, including items already on sale. There is no minimum order, no expiry date and no usage limit, and it works in every language store. The StarVie Nyra, for example, comes to €65.66. Our PadelProShop discount code page shows how to apply it. See how to apply the code (video).

Frequently asked questions

How do I choose a padel racket for my level?

Start with the shape: round for beginners, teardrop for intermediate players and diamond for advanced attackers. Then check the weight: PadelProShop’s guide puts beginners under 360 g, intermediate players at 365-370 g and advanced players at 370-390 g.

What is the difference between a round, teardrop and diamond padel racket?

A round racket gives control, with a low balance and a wide, central sweet spot. A teardrop sits in the middle and suits all-round play. A diamond has a high balance and gives power, but it demands more technique.

Is a soft or a hard padel racket better?

Soft if you are starting out or do not hit hard: it feels more comfortable and the ball comes off the face with less effort. Hard if you hit hard and want a firm feel, with more precision and power.

Is a carbon padel racket better than fibreglass?

Not for every player. PadelProShop links carbon faces with advanced levels and a medium or hard feel. The core matters too: the Kenta+ pairs a carbon face with a soft core.

Shape gets you to the right racket; weight and balance fine-tune it.