For Padel racket choices, the round-shaped racket suits beginners with a larger sweet spot, and allows the drop shot and intermediate players offering a balance of power and control. The diamond-shaped racket is suited for advanced players, prioritising maximum power but can be hard to control.

A round-shaped padel racket is the best option for beginners, it offers a larger sweet spot, with more control and forgiveness, making it ideal for those starting out in the sport.

Padel tennis rackets are typically made from:

Core Materials:

• Eva Foam: Offers balanced power and control.
• Polyethylene (PE) foam: Softer, providing better comfort and control.

Frame Materials:

• Carbon fiber: Lightweight, durable, and offers power and control.
• Fiberglass: Flexible and more affordable, often found in beginner rackets.

Surface Materials:

• Carbon fiber or Fiberglass: Both provide strength, with carbon offering more control and durability.

It varies depending on the ability of the players, court type and weather conditions. Typically padel balls last between 2–4 matches at their best.

How to test your balls:

• Pressure test: Squeeze the ball. A good padel ball should feel firm.
• Bounce test: Drop the ball from shoulder height onto a padel court, it should bounce to hip height.
• Consistency: If it feels bouncy or irregular, it’s losing air.
• Sound: A dull sound is a sure sign it’s worn out.

Padel is a fun & fast-paced racket sport played on a smaller, enclosed court. It combines elements of tennis and squash, typically played in doubles. The game uses a solid, perforated racket and a pressurised tennis ball but the court has walls (like squash) you can hit off, extending rallies.

Key features:

• Played on a court one-third the size of a tennis court, surrounded by glass walls.
• Scoring system is identical to tennis.
• Easy to learn, social and accessible, making it popular for players of all skill levels.