How to choose the weight of your padel racket to improve your game

Racket weight is very important, and some players — rightly or wrongly — can be particular about it, sometimes down to the gram. But it’s an essential factor: even if you buy the best padel racket, choosing the wrong weight could affect your game and put you at risk of injury.

We are therefore going to talk to you about the weight of padel rackets, why this parameter is decisive for your game, and give advice on choosing your racket based on your level and needs. We will give you an idea of the weight that suits you to be as comfortable as possible on the court.

General information on padel racket weight

Most padel rackets have a weight between 330 and 380 grams.

Of course, children's rackets are lighter (and also smaller), generally weighing under 345 grams.

Influence of weight on playing style

Weight

Put simply, the weight of a padel racket affects two things in your game: the racket’s manoeuvrability and ball control, and the power of your shots. The heavier a racket is, the more powerful your shots can be. The downside is that you lose ball control. A racket that’s too heavy can also cause early injuries to your wrist, elbow or shoulder and tire you out.

Conversely, a lighter racket gives you better control thanks to its greater manoeuvrability, but you’ll need to compensate for the loss of power by hitting harder. A racket that’s too light will therefore tire you out more quickly too, and the risk of injury also increases because your arm, rather than the racket, absorbs the impact of each shot.

Balance - weight distribution in the racket

Racket balance, which is often linked to its shape, is decisive when talking about the weight of a padel racket. It is directly linked to the distribution of weight on your pala. 

We’ve already covered this in our general article on how to choose a padel racket, but it’s important enough to revisit here:

• Round racket: the weight of a round racket is distributed more towards the handle, so the balance is said to be low. A low balance is ideal for handling the racket with greater ease. This type of racket is recommended for players starting padel, as these are the ones that (by choosing the weight recommended in the following section) will undoubtedly be the best for learning.

• Teardrop racket: a teardrop-shaped racket is a racket whose weight is located more in the middle of the face. With most of the weight in this area, it is harder to handle the racket when starting out.

• Diamond racket: its weight is mainly distributed towards the head. You must be careful not to choose a diamond racket that is too heavy because, added to the fact that the weight is at the top of the racket, it can be difficult to manoeuvre. They are mostly reserved for advanced or professional players. 

How to choose the right padel racket weight based on your level

As you will have understood, choosing the ideal weight for your new padel racket is a matter of compromise between power and manoeuvrability. We will try to give you weight recommendations based on your gender, your weight and above all your level, but it is often said that it is best to choose the racket you feel comfortable playing with. 

At an equivalent level, the weight of padel rackets for men is higher than for women. To start with, here is an indicative table of recommended racket weight for men and women, based on player weight:

Player	Player weight	Recommended racket weight
Men	50–60 kg	360-365 g
Men	60–70 kg	360-365 g
Men	70–80 kg	365-370 g
Men	80–100 kg	370-380 g
Women	40–60 kg	330-355 g
Women	60–70 kg	355-360 g
Women	70–80 kg	360-370 g

Men's padel racket weight according to your level

If you’re about to choose a padel racket for a beginner, we recommend choosing a lightweight racket weighing between 355 and 360 grams. That’s an ideal weight when you’re starting out. It gives you the manoeuvrability to return the ball easily without struggling to move the racket.

As you improve your level, it is advisable to increase the weight of your racket, for the simple reason that you are already loading your playing arm and, with a lower weight, you need to use more force to follow through on the shot. A good-level amateur player, able to manage all aspects of the game, should get a racket weighing at least 360-365 grams. This weight provides more power and above all prevents elbow injuries, because you have to use less force to hit.

Discover the best padel rackets for intermediate players here.

Professional players, meanwhile, have put in many hours of training. They need expert-level padel rackets, sometimes weighing over 375g to maximise the power of their shots. However, that is fairly rare: rackets seldom exceed this weight unless they are custom-made. If you don’t have the required skill level, using a padel racket of this weight can cause injuries and make the racket difficult to manoeuvre in many situations.

Women's padel racket weight according to your level

The weight of women's padel rackets generally ranges between 330 grams and 355 grams maximum. 

For a beginner female padel player who has never played a racket sport, the best choice is to look for a model with a weight between 330 and 345 grams. These are the lowest weights you can find in adult padel rackets. With good mobility, learning will be easier. 

For more advanced female players with good technique, a racket weighing between 350 and 355 grams is recommended. You can find our padel rackets for advanced players.

In the case of female professional players, they train and play their matches with rackets of at least 370 grams, or more.

In any case, this information is only indicative and one of the most important things in padel is to play with the most suitable racket, but also the one with which you feel best on the court. 

Tips to adjust the weight of your padel racket

We have tried to guide you towards the ideal weight for your next padel racket, but it is above all a matter of feel. Even when testing a racket in-store before buying it, you can make a mistake and want to change it. Before getting rid of your new racket, note that there are various tips to modify the balance and increase the weight of your padel racket.

Weights 

Some brands offer tips to increase the weight of rackets in strategic places. Bullpadel, for example, has created head weights and grip weights, which can be attached to the top of the frame or underneath the handle. However, these weights are unfortunately not compatible with other brands because they require special slots to insert the weights. 

Adidas, for their part, have released a special racket range that allows you to modify the weight of palas. Called Multiweight, their particular feature is having small screws on the side of the handle or on the top of the racket to attach extra weights. These weights, along with an Allen key to attach them, are supplied with the racket. 

Shock Out

The Shock Out are vibration dampeners that fit into the holes of your racket. As with lead stickers, place them in the lower section if you want a low balance, or in the upper section if you want a high balance. They also add weight, which can be useful if you want to increase your power.

If you still think it’s time to change your padel racket, the Esprit Padel team is here to offer personalised advice.