Padel Racket for Beginners: Round, Light and Forgiving

Q: What padel racket should a beginner buy?

A round racket with a soft core, around 350-370 g, and a fibreglass face. It gives you control and forgives the hits that do not come out of the middle.

Q: How much should you spend on a first padel racket?

You do not need to go over €100. Six of the seven beginner rackets in this guide cost between €58.90 and €72.95. A high-end racket rarely helps a beginner, because it is usually stiffer and more demanding.

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A padel racket for beginners should be round, relatively light and built with a soft core: at this stage, shape matters more than price. That combination is more forgiving on off-centre hits than a diamond racket or a stiff model aimed at advanced players.

These are seven 2026 rackets that PadelProShop’s English store lists for beginners, plus one intermediate model for when you move on, chosen from the spec sheet and the price on 10 November 2026. We have not played with these rackets on court.

Why a padel racket for beginners should be round

The shape decides where the sweet spot sits, the area of the face that sends the ball back most cleanly. On a round racket it is lower and more central, which is where a new player usually makes contact.

That is why a round racket forgives off-centre hits. A diamond shape shifts the weight towards the head: it can add power, but it asks for better technique and is harder on the arm.

A more expensive racket will not make you better if you are just starting out. Higher-end models are often stiffer and expect a swing you do not have yet. That is why seven of the eight rackets in this guide are round.

At a glance: which racket fits you

If you are…	Racket	Price (10/11/2026)
Starting out and want control	Bullpadel Impulse CTRL 2026	€69.00
After a soft core and a rough face	StarVie Arkos 2026	€69.95
On a tight budget	NOX X-Zero Red 2026	€58.90
Looking for a light racket	StarVie Nyra 2026	€72.95
A woman starting out	Bullpadel Impulse W 2026	€69.00
After an all-round racket you can grow into	Adidas Match Light 2026	€59.90
Willing to spend a little more	Head Radical Team Light 2026	€109.95
Already in control and thinking about the next step	StarVie Kenta+ 2026	€134.90

If the budget is your main limit, we also have a selection of padel rackets under €100, sorted by level. Once you have chosen, PadelProShop takes a further 10% off with the code:

The rackets compared

Racket	Shape	Level (spec sheet)	Weight	Face	Core	Price	With PUNTAZOS
Bullpadel Impulse CTRL	Round	Beginner	360-370 g	Polyglass	SoftEVA	€69.00	€62.10
StarVie Arkos	Round	Beginner	350-366 g	X-fiberGlass Tech	S-Eva Flex	€69.95	€62.96
NOX X-Zero Red	Round	Beginner	350-360 g	Fibreglass	HR3 White EVA	€58.90	€53.01
StarVie Nyra	Round	Beginner	340-355 g	X-fiberGlass Tech	S-Eva Flex	€72.95	€65.66
Bullpadel Impulse W	Round	Beginner	340-360 g	Fibreglass	SoftEVA	€69.00	€62.10
Adidas Match Light	Teardrop	Beginner	345-360 g	Fibreglass	Eva Soft Performance	€59.90	€53.91
Head Radical Team Light	Round	Beginner	340 g	Fibreglass	Foam	€109.95	€98.96
StarVie Kenta+	Round	Intermediate	350-366 g	Carbon 12K	S-Eva Flex	€134.90	€121.41

PadelProShop prices on 10/11/2026, excluding delivery. All eight were in stock that morning.

How we chose them. We looked at 2026 padel rackets that PadelProShop’s English store lists for beginners, mainly round ones, and opened each product page on 10 November 2026 to check the spec sheet, the price and the stock. Shape, weight, materials and level come from that page; where a detail is missing, we leave it out. We added one intermediate racket for players already thinking about the next step. This is a selection based on specs and price: we have not played with these rackets on court.

The rackets one by one

Bullpadel Impulse CTRL 2026

A straightforward round control racket, sold only at PadelProShop. The spec sheet rates it for beginners, at 360 to 370 g, with a Polyglass (fibreglass) face, a SoftEVA core and a smooth surface.

Who it suits: anyone starting from scratch who wants a racket that helps them place the ball.
Who should skip it: anyone after something light; it is one of the heavier rackets in this guide.

StarVie Arkos 2026

Its low balance makes it easy to manoeuvre: the weight sits closer to the handle. It weighs 350 to 366 g, with an X-fiberGlass Tech face, a soft-density S-Eva Flex core and a rough surface, which helps you put spin on the ball.

Who it suits: players who want the ball to come off the face with little effort.
Who should skip it: big hitters already looking for power.

NOX X-Zero Red 2026

The cheapest racket in this guide, at €58.90. It is a round beginner’s model, 350 to 360 g, with a fibreglass face, an HR3 White EVA core and a smooth surface. The spec table rates it for beginners; the product description also mentions intermediate players.

Who it suits: anyone who wants their first racket of their own without spending much.
Who should skip it: players who want a rough face for spin: this one is smooth.

StarVie Nyra 2026

The lightest of the rackets under €100 here: 340 to 355 g. Like the Arkos, it has an X-fiberGlass Tech face, a soft-density S-Eva Flex core, a rough surface and a low balance.

Who it suits: players who do not hit hard, or who feel their arm loading up late in a match.
Who should skip it: anyone who prefers a heavier racket that puts more weight behind the ball.

Bullpadel Impulse W 2026

The spec sheet presents it as a women’s racket, for beginners (the product description also says beginner to intermediate). It is round, 340 to 360 g, with a soft EVA core, a fibreglass face and a handle the shop describes as adapted to women’s hands. It is also exclusive to PadelProShop.

Who it suits: women starting out who want control and a slimmer handle.
Who should skip it: anyone looking for an attacking racket.

Adidas Match Light 2026

The only teardrop in this guide, the all-round shape that balances control and power. It weighs 345 to 360 g, with a fibreglass face, an Eva Soft Performance core and a medium balance, according to the product page.

Who it suits: players who have already played another racket sport and want a racket that will still work as they improve.
Who should skip it: complete beginners who need the extra forgiveness of a round racket.

Head Radical Team Light 2026

The first racket in this guide to go over €100. It is a round model at a fixed 340 g, with a fibreglass face and frame, a Foam core, a smooth surface and a low balance. The spec table rates it for beginners; the product description talks about evolving players. With the code, it comes to €98.96.

Who it suits: players who want a light round racket and are happy to spend a little more.
Who should skip it: anyone who wants to choose their weight: the sheet only lists 340 g.

StarVie Kenta+ 2026

This is the racket for when you are no longer a beginner. It is still round, but the spec sheet rates it as intermediate and swaps the fibreglass face for Carbon 12K, with a soft S-Eva Flex core and a weight of 350 to 366 g.

Who it suits: players who already control the ball, play several times a week and still want a round racket.
Who should skip it: anyone in their first lessons: the sheet puts it at a level you do not have yet.

What to look for in your first padel racket

Shape: round. That is what helps most at the start, ahead of the brand.
Weight: 350 to 370 g for adults. If you do not hit hard, stay towards the lower end of that range.
Core: a soft one (soft EVA or foam). It helps the ball leave the face and soaks up vibration.
Face: fibreglass, which every beginner racket in this guide uses.
Grip: make sure the handle is not too thick; an overgrip makes a difference too.

Club racket or your own?

For your first sessions, a club racket is enough. It lets you try the sport without buying anything, and to see whether you want to keep playing.

Once you are on court every week, it is worth having your own racket: the same weight, the same grip and the same feel each time, which makes it easier to correct your shots.

Where to buy: PadelProShop with PUNTAZOS

All eight rackets are at PadelProShop, and the code PUNTAZOS takes 10% off everything, with no minimum order, including items already on sale. It has no expiry date and no usage limit, and it works worldwide, in every language store. The NOX X-Zero Red, for example, comes to €53.01. Our PadelProShop discount code page shows how to apply it. See how to apply the code (video).

You will also need a decent grip and some balls, and shoes that match the court: our guide to padel shoes explains which sole to look for.

Frequently asked questions

What padel racket should a beginner buy?

A round racket with a soft core, around 350-370 g, and a fibreglass face. It gives you control and forgives the hits that do not come out of the middle.

How much should you spend on a first padel racket?

You do not need to go over €100. Six of the seven beginner rackets in this guide cost between €58.90 and €72.95. A high-end racket rarely helps a beginner, because it is usually stiffer and more demanding.

When should you change your beginner racket?

When you already control the ball and play several times a week. Then a versatile teardrop, or a round intermediate racket such as the StarVie Kenta+, can make sense.

Shape helps you get started; your level tells you when to change.