Top 5 Professional Rackets

1. Bullpadel Vertex 03 by Maxi Sánchez

The Bullpadel Vertex 03 is the ultimate weapon of the formidable left-side player Maxi Sánchez. After several years playing with the Vertex 02, the current world number 5 recently switched to its latest evolution: the Vertex 03. One of the biggest strengths of this pala is without doubt its versatility. Indeed, it suits professional players as well as intermediate and even beginner players. Thanks to its multi-layer foam, the Vertex 03 lets you handle every ball comfortably, whether fast or slow.

“Playing comfort” and “explosiveness” are two qualities that describe this Bullpadel pala to perfection.

 

2. Wilson Bela Pro by Fernando Belasteguín

As its name suggests, the Wilson Bela Pro was designed specifically for Bela. For those who don't know Bela yet, he is one of the greatest players in padel history.

Currently world number 7, Fernando Belasteguín was world number 1 for 16 consecutive years.

The brand Wilson has dedicated an entire range of rackets to him, consisting of the Bela Pro, the Bela Elite and the Bela Team. From the stiffest to the most flexible, Wilson designed this range to suit every type of player profile.

• The Wilson Bela Team allows intermediate players looking to improve to progress with great playing feel.
• The Wilson Bela Elite allows players wanting a bit more firmness to enjoy better feel and higher output.
• The Wilson Bela Pro allows advanced-level players to have a stiff racket that provides control and power on hard-hitting shots.

 

3. Babolat Technical Viper by Juan Lebrón 

From Babolat's 2021 Viper range, the Babolat Technical Viper is used by one of the most spectacular players on the World Padel Tour: Juan Lebrón. As a reminder, here are some masterstrokes produced by the Spanish player.

This racket is suited to offensive players looking for power in their attacking shots. Diamond-shaped and very firm on impact, this Babolat delivers maximum power on heavy smashes.

In the same racket range, the Technical Viper is complemented by the Air Viper (lighter and more aerial) and the Counter Viper (less head-heavy and easier to handle).

There is also an intermediate range that uses the same racket shapes with different internal components. This includes the Technical Veron, the Air Veron and the Counter Veron.

To sum up, the Babolat Veron rackets are more flexible than the Babolat Viper; they provide better feel than their older siblings and a higher ball output on low-power shots. On the other hand, they sacrifice some power on crisp strikes such as smashes.

 

4. Head Alpha Pro by Sanyo Gutiérrez

Straight out of the new Alpha range, the Head Alpha Pro is used by star player Sanyo Gutiérrez. The current world number 5 is renowned for his incredible level of play, but above all for his numerous puntacos (spectacular rallies in padel lingo 😉).

The Alpha Pro is a teardrop-shaped racket that provides better manoeuvrability in defence and at the volée compared to diamond-shaped rackets. Regarding its components, it features a stiff foam that delivers plenty of control, though with low-powered ball output on soft touch play. However, on crisp strikes, it offers better output than other rackets with softer foam.

If you need a bit more feel thanks to slightly more flexible rackets, don't worry, Head has everything covered with the Alpha Motion, the Alpha Elite and the EVO Sanyo.

We also highlight the very sleek and understated design of the entire Alpha range. A big congratulations to Head, who has managed to combine aesthetics and technology brilliantly.

 

5. Bullpadel Hack 02 by Paquito Navarro

We couldn’t have written an article on our top 5 professional rackets without mentioning the current world number 1! Indeed, as you might know, the Bullpadel Hack is the racket of the talented showman Paquito Navarro. As a reminder, here are a few puntacos from the Spanish player.

Coming from the latest Bullpadel racket range, the Hack stands out as an attacker's racket. Ideal for left-side players, this pala is stiffer than its cousin the Vertex 03 and slightly less head-heavy. This means it offers a less powerful ball output but more control on low-intensity shots, along with a bit more punch and output on crisp hits like flat smashes. Considered a diamond-shaped racket by Bullpadel, the Hack is actually more of a hybrid between diamond shape and teardrop shape. This pala is therefore more manoeuvrable on defensive shots and volées compared to the Vertex 03.

 

Bonus: Babolat Revenge Woman by Victoria Iglesias

It’s the women’s racket in our selection! In fact, it is wielded to perfection by Victoria Iglesias. The current world number 17 chose the Babolat Revenge Woman, designed to be comfortable and extremely easy to play with.

Thanks to its medium-density EVA foam, you'll benefit from extra punch whenever you want to speed up the pace, while maintaining great touch on lower-powered balls.

With its weight of 350 grams and teardrop shape, it is among the lightest and most manoeuvrable rackets on the market. Its “Dynamic Stability System” technology increases stability on impact and enhances tolerance. This means that the sweet spot is slightly larger, making it possible, for instance, to compensate for weaker footwork.

A racket that we therefore recommend to all women looking to have fun on the court while having a racket with great responsiveness.

 

In conclusion, and as you've noticed, all these models represent the cream of the crop of padel rackets, with the added benefit of being accessible to intermediate and even beginner players who want to treat themselves to an excellent racket to progress.

 

Joffrey Gilant, passionate fan of the par 3