Top 5 Professional Rackets

1. Bullpadel Vertex 03 by Maxi Sánchez

The Bullpadel Vertex 03 is the weapon of choice of formidable left-side player Maxi Sànchez. After several years with the Vertex 02, the current world number five has recently switched to its successor: the Vertex 03. One of this racket’s greatest strengths is undoubtedly its versatility. It suits professional players, amateurs and even beginners. Thanks to its multi-layer foam, the Vertex 03 lets you get a feel for all balls, whether they’re 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 especially for Bela. If you haven’t heard of 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.

Wilson has dedicated an entire range of rackets to him, comprising the Bela Pro, the Bela Elite and the Bela Team. From the stiffest to the softest, Wilson has developed this range to appeal to every type of player.

• 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 gives advanced players a stiff racket that delivers control and power on hard shots.

 

3. Babolat Technical Viper by Juan Lebrón 

Part of 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. Here’s a reminder of some of the Spanish player’s finest moments.

This racket suits attacking players looking for power in their shots. With its diamond shape and very firm feel on impact, this Babolat delivers maximum power on full-force smashes.

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

There is also an intermediate range using the same racket shapes but different internal components. It includes the Technical Veron, Air Veron and Counter Veron.

In short, the Babolat Veron rackets are softer than the Babolat Viper rackets, offering better feel than their bigger siblings and more ball output on softer shots. The trade-off is a loss of power on explosive shots such as smashes.

 

4. Head Alpha Pro by Sanyo Gutiérrez

Straight from the new Alpha range, the Head Alpha Pro is used by star player Sanyo Guitierrez. The current world number five is known for his incredible level of play, but above all for his many puntacos (spectacular rallies, in padel speak 😉).

The Alpha Pro is a teardrop-shaped racket, making it easier to manoeuvre in defence and on the volée than rackets with a diamond shape. As for its components, its firm foam provides plenty of control but limited power off the ball in the short game. On sharp, hard-hit shots, however, it performs better than other rackets with softer foam.

If you want a little more feel from a slightly softer racket, don’t worry: Head has you covered with the Alpha Motion, Alpha Elite and 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 write an article on our top five professional players’ rackets without mentioning the current world number one! Yes, as you may know, the Bullpadel Hack is the racket of the talented showman Paquito Navarro. Here are a few of the Spanish player’s spectacular points to refresh your memory.

From the latest Bullpadel racket range, the Hack is shaping up to be an attacking racket. Ideal for left-side players, this racket is stiffer than its cousin, the Vertex 03, and slightly less head-heavy. That means less power off the ball but more control on softer shots, while offering a little more snap and effectiveness on sharp shots such as flat smashes. Although Bullpadel considers the Hack a diamond-shaped racket, it is more of a hybrid between a diamond shape and a teardrop shape. This makes it more manoeuvrable than the Vertex 03 in defence and on the volée.

 

Bonus: Babolat Revenge Woman by Victoria Iglesias

This is the women’s racket in our selection! It’s wielded to perfection by Victoria Eglesias. The current world number 17 has set her sights on the Babolat Revenge Woman, designed to be comfortable and exceptionally 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, a huge fan of par 3 smashes