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Choosing the racket you are going to play many matches with is often a difficult task. Padel is a new, rapidly growing sport with many players in the market. There are hundreds of brands and, for each one, dozens of models, which makes the choice very complicated when looking to get equipped. That is why we are here through our blog posts to help you make your choice.
Here is the list of the 3 most common mistakes made by padel players looking to get a new racket.
1. Choosing a racket that is too light
People often think that a lightweight padel racket allows you to play better and reduces the risk of injury.
a. Do you really play better with a lighter racket?
It is important to point out that a lightweight racket provides better handling and greater manoeuvrability on most shots. But beware, because weight is a very important factor for a padel racket. A weight that is too light can lead to a cruel lack of power. And you might say to me: "but we don't need power in padel!" And I will answer: "Exactly!"
In reality, however, when you hit a forehand, a bandeja or a volée, you need the racket's inertia to put what is known as weight into the ball. This weight in the ball produces better ball output and greater depth.
A higher weight will also increase the stability of the racket at impact, which brings better forgiveness from the pala.
b. Are you less likely to get injured with a lightweight racket?
Having a racket that is too light can have the opposite effect of reducing pains such as tendonitis, tennis elbow, etc.
That's right! Because with a very light racket, you tend to want to hit harder to send the ball to the same place as with a heavier racket. Hitting the ball harder will therefore increase the strain on your arm as well as vibrations in the racket, and ultimately increase your potential arm pain...
That is why it is important to find the right weight for your future racket. The right weight, but also materials suited to your needs.
The average weight is between 360g and 370g. Lighter rackets may suit young players, women, or beginners looking for better manoeuvrability for rapid progress, but they will be limited more quickly by these rackets.
2. Buying the same racket as the professionals
It is probably thanks to this type of video that you feel like coming to sweat on a padel court!
Professional players are very impressive and achieve extraordinary points with rackets at the cutting edge of technology. These rackets meet specific needs that these players maintain year after year.
As you might expect, these needs are not the same as those of amateur players. Some rackets used by the greatest padel players are comfortable and can be recommended to beginner or advanced players looking to enjoy themselves. We can take as examples the Vertex 03 CTR of Fede Chingotto, the Alpha Motion of Ariana Sanchez and the Vertex 03 Comfort of Juan Tello, which are 3 pleasant rackets, at the cutting edge of technology and very easy to handle. You can also check out our blog posts comparing different racket brands, such as our article on Babolat vs Bullpadel, which will surely help you make your choice.
In general, professional players' rackets are not suitable for beginner players because they do not offer characteristics that provide good feel and pleasant sensations during play. We can take as an example the Viper from Babolat, which are aimed at advanced level players. That is why the French brand has broken down its racket line into different racket ranges:
- The Viper range, very rigid and very explosive at Counter Viper / Air Viper / Technical Viper
- The Veron range, less rigid and easier to play at Counter Veron / Air Veron / Technical Veron
- The Vertuo range, more flexible and much easier to handle at Counter Vertuo / Air Vertuo / Technical Vertuo
In summary, you can buy the same racket as your idol, but be very careful about the model you choose, do your research beforehand, test it if possible, because you might be disappointed during your first match with it.
3. Wanting a racket that is too head-heavy
It is true that in padel, one of the ultimate achievements is knowing how to smash the ball out of the court with a "par 3" or "par 4". To do this, it will indeed be easier to put power into the ball with a head-heavy racket. A racket is considered head-heavy from a balance of 265mm. Generally, diamond shape palas provide the most head weight.
Indeed, their shape is designed so that there is more material at the very top of the racket. As you may have seen in the article "better understanding rackets to choose them better", these palas are more powerful but harder to handle.
It is therefore natural that offensive-minded players, who want to hit balls out of the court, turn towards palas with weight distributed towards the head of the racket. There is one thing that is rarely said to players... If they can't get balls out with a round or teardrop racket, they won't manage it with a diamond racket. It is mostly a matter of technique. And having a head-heavy racket with very rigid foam can have the opposite effect to what is intended if you don't have the right technique.
That is why in padel, especially when starting out, it is better to choose a racket that will help you progress quickly. And this is where diamond shape rackets are not really recommended for players wanting to learn quickly while giving themselves the best chance.
Joffrey GILANT
