Find The Padel Racket for YOU!

There is a sea of brands and padel racket models out there! How do you know how to choose between them??
Here we discuss what each player should be looking for when choosing the right padel racket - with Manu Martin from Mejora Tu Padel!
Between us we have tested hundreds of rackets, so hopefully we can help you choose yours!
0:55 Type of Player
1:21 Shape
3:59 Weight
8:10 Hardness
10:20 Price
12:35 How to Test

[@jasonallen9208]

I play a lot here in Madrid and since Maxi Sánchez signed with Kuikma I have been playing against guys with a really, really good level (a level I'll never obtain lol) that are now using 99€ Kuikma rackets from Decathlon. Similarly, I've played against people with very little idea of the game that think a 350€ racket is going to improve their game. It won't. I myself am happy with the brand Kombat, I paid 95€ for the racket I use and it's served me very well. Better than rackets I've had costing twice the price.

[@joacimkindstrom2478]

Once again a top video Sandy! Mondays When your videos come are 👍. Thanks

[@sebulbathx]

Great and informative video! One thing I must say is technique trumps racket what I mean is I have noticed many people I play with often wants more speed in their shot for example which makes them choose racket that has more speed instead don't realize it's the technique that is missing. Especially when smashing complaining a racket has less speed and they don't get hard smashes anymore. Sure there can be something to it but I guess someone like Paquito could smash hard with either soft or hard yet the harder will probably give some extra speed. My point is most people often use the racket as the solution if shots don't work as they want but when it probably is the base technique that is missing talking from recreational level. But I am not saying there aren't any differences between rackets because there is and you should choose a racket that suits you. Although I am a material guy so buying and researching new equipment is really fun ;)

[@marcospat91]

Sandy + Manu = This is going to be a good video for sure.

[@Tech_Publica]

OMG :) "when you play and you forget about the racket, than that is your racker" Best advice I have ever, ever heard. Manu is an absolute genius of Padel.

[@ThePadelSchool]

Glad you enjoyed this video and think Manu is as brilliant as we do!

[@Tech_Publica]

@@ThePadelSchool not easy to do but I would love to see a lucky guy being trained by the both of you together

[@gustaflembre4191]

Some great tips here, love how eloquent he is as well with aforeign language

[@nicolascopece7530]

great video Sandy, excellent English Mr Martin, thanks for the very useful suggestions.

[@KTMLaranjinha]

You 2 are the bosses, so many vids and so plenty things i've learned from you both. Thanks 👍

[@ThePadelSchool]

glad you enjoyed!

[@danielbarroso6504]

Very good class, the way you explaned all the details about buying "the raquet" it's very good. Congrats.

[@ThePadelSchool]

Glad it was helpful!

[@wimnaessens6610]

Very nice. Seen quite a few videos on this topic but you guys nailed it. Very clear and concise. Good advice!

[@ThePadelSchool]

Glad you liked it!

[@xzbtier]

I brought a cutting board with a handle and a drilled 9mm single hole - it was fantastic. I am not coming back to those candy looking expensive padel bats.

[@WivoRN]

Congratulations on 100K well deserved!

[@ThePadelSchool]

Cheers!! Thanks for being a part of it with us 🙌

[@dimitristoul]

Great work very nice and Interesting suggestions thank you Sandy and Manu

[@ThePadelSchool]

Our pleasure!

[@p.s4677]

Great video! Thanks! I bought a rather expensive hybride racket 265 grams, rather head heavy, soft and rough surface. It plays really well on backspin slices and defensive play. However when i fire of a really hard strike it sounds like a riffle but doesn't fire off as expected with such a banging shot. Feel like i lose 30% or similar of the power into the racket. Thus would definitely have prefered a harder surface at thise moments.

[@el_sueco_espanol4535]

Very informative and good video. Always try before you buy.

[@ThePadelSchool]

Thanks for watching!

[@na_der]

Verrry informative! Thnx a million guys!

[@ThePadelSchool]

You're welcome! Thanks for the support :)

[@henriklindh]

Topp video as Always, I have been trying out quite some rackets the last few years and im currently playing with the starvie methora warrior a quite hard surfice but a softer core, i se that some brands have the other way around.. a softer surfice but a harder core whats the difrence between the 2 combos? :)

[@cuervo8926]

Perfectos, Manu y Sandy genios!!

[@ThePadelSchool]

Thanks Cuervo!

[@williamreinhart8551]

Great video - lots of help - but how do you get a store to let you take 2-4 rackets to a court to try?

[@barrycoffey492]

Very interesting and informative video. Thanks.

[@ThePadelSchool]

Thanks Barry!

[@user-cl7dv1ir6d]

Great vid and an amazing guest. If you can Sandy I'd love a review for some Varlions abd siux. Siux especially in our region are filthy expensive.

[@jlparcerisa]

Everywhere in the world my friend, Siux is a expensive brand

[@user-cl7dv1ir6d]

@Jose Parcerisa I hear you, but is it 720 dollars expensive in some cases? Padel is new here, so some vendors are taking advantage of people.

[@MarioSernicola]

Am I correct if I say that Padel rackets are too much expensive for the technology they offer? We have also to consider that Padel rackets are not durable (compared to a tennis racket for instance). Medium level Padel racket is sold at the same price of an excellent tennis racket.

[@linosoviedo]

Factor in the string change cost of that same tennis racket in the 1-2 years that a padel racket can last you…

[@MarioSernicola]

@@linosoviedo You're right but... As a third category player, I spent € 20-30 per month for tennis strings. If you have a deal or a contract you can spend less. If you're a tennis amateur, you spend € 50 in a year. If you buy a Padel racket you risk to fracture it. I know people that never brake strings (amateurs) but spent € 200-300 for a Padel racket.

[@itsilcapitano84]

Absolutely agree, so inflated price driven by the new players wanting to improve in a heartbeat! And the marketing for these racquets is crazy with inventing new names for things that aren’t even technology.

[@guillermofidelio]

IDK About tennis but padel rackets are HAND MADE and molds are extremely expensive. But yeah, most of them are slightly overpriced.

[@mazenelkashef1460]

Lol loved the Wine Reference. so Spanish of him!

[@ThePadelSchool]

Haha!

[@james4992]

Vamos manuuuu!!! No me esperaba esta colaboración jajaja

[@ThePadelSchool]

Was great to work with Manu! Glad your enjoyed

[@luisaugustobf]

great video, thank you very much

[@ThePadelSchool]

You are welcome!

[@danielepagano2552]

Hi Sandy, playing 3-4 times a week every how often do you suggest to change racket? Tnx

[@glennhoremans5087]

The shop isn't going to let me play with 4 rackets before buying :P but good video

[@TheFunmon]

Very nice thanks 🙏

[@ThePadelSchool]

Most welcome 😊

[@roykhoury6613]

U are a genius useful video is underrated 👏 💯

[@ThePadelSchool]

glad you enjoyed!

[@sergeydeyev8465]

The question should be “why do you need to avoid cheap rackets”. IMO , even for beginners racket quality does matter as this makes first impression from the game as well as pleasure/unpleasure. I am former (better to say- not so active now) tennis player (regional level) playing padel just less than 4 month - and switched to pro gear almost immediately. BTW, would recommend high balanced racket for tennis players switching to padel - this gives you better feel , closer to tennis racket one. As per padel racket weight - if you have classic tennis school in your portfolio and early preparation, massive racket will give you more power and allow you to play with relaxed hand, and, as a result , less vibrations transmitted to your joints.

[@ThePadelSchool]

Unfortunately cheap does not necessarily mean lower quality. And certainly the more expensive does not mean better quality materials are being used…

[@sergeydeyev8465]

@@ThePadelSchool, of course, but how cheap? Kuikma for 99 Euro - is it cheap? If you mentioned this, I agree, their quality is bargain for the money. I just mentioned some multiple “no names” for less than 50-80 Euro.

[@ThePadelSchool]

@@sergeydeyev8465 oh wow, that is cheap…I would consider 99 euros cheap compared to most brands!!

[@cezarykaminski2556]

What if the Raquet is on sale? You can still find good deal quality racket for 40-50 EUR

[@indjke]

@@cezarykaminski2556exactly I bought second hand head alpha pro for 70 euro. Maybe it’s a bit hard/heavy for a beginner but for that price I think I should not care 😄

[@Afmu]

¡Grande Manu!

[@ThePadelSchool]

👍

[@joaoroberto9020]

great video

[@ThePadelSchool]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it 👊

[@stefanhoutsma8614]

Also, is there any difference for rackets that have a rough surface? Do they actually provide more spin or are these changes neglectable?

[@QuimDosChurros]

They do provide more spin, yes.

[@sichoulelouse8779]

It's really neglectable tho. It's really for marketing before anything else.

[@pedroleon1025]

They do provide a lot more spin

[@OOOOOOOKKKKKKK69]

If they created a lot more spin all pro players would use it (they don't) It does help you 'feel' the ball better when the ball is on your racket when you swing, which is great if you're not extremely experienced in padel

[@DavizinhoEU]

I'm a beginner, I bought the Kuikma PR510 white, idk if it's a good one racket but it seems ok. Those who knows can say me if it's a good racket?

[@Korkzorz]

So slightly related question.. I tried a friend of mine's bat, an abolat counter veron version.. I really enjoyed it and played much better with it than the viper I had before, so I bought my own. My new veron feels very different though.. does it take time for them to be "played in" so to speak? My GF also started out by dropping it on a tile floor.. can that break it?

[@maguila55555]

There’s an intrinsic variability between each padel racket, even if they are the same model. Furthermore, what you experienced regarding your friend’s racket and your new Veron is pretty common, as the material sometime has to be “played in” as you say. Sometimes it takes a bit of time/matches/practice to get used to it!

[@Korkzorz]

Thanks for your reply. I just went from hitting almost every ball exactly how I wanted it and where to feeling like a complete beginner

[@ntnnot]

@@Korkzorz Did you get used to the new racket? What was the difference between the Viper and the Veron in terms of the feel and playability? I know the former is all carbon and the latter uses a combo of carbon and fiberglass in the face for a slightly softer feel. I've been thinking of maybe trying one of those fiberglass/carbon combos out. Have been playing with a Vertex, which has been ok for me (quite a nice balance to my liking), but just curious to try out sth softer.

[@Eric-rf6te]

The hardest part is to actually test the rackets. For example, I would LOVE to test the Round Slazenger model, since I currently use the Nox ML10, and that one seems pretty similar. But how and where would I do that?

[@ThePadelSchool]

I suppose the best option is to borrow from a shop or a friend?!

[@sicconicolai1782]

You can rent from websites

[@afonsolamy8099]

Sanchez proved you can hold a KUIKMA 990 on a WPT Final. There is nothing else to say.

[@jasonallen9208]

Afonso, exactly 👍🏻

[@iccotom]

Manu Martín sounds like Connor Moore imitating Carlos Sainz.

[@cpasa798]

Nobody needs an expensive racket because the ones promoted by the professionals that you can buy in stores are not the rackets used by the them. The rackets that you can buy in stores are softer, lighter and in some cases not even the shapes are the same. So buy a 100€ racket with the same materials and 1/3 of the cost

[@yusufabdulrahman4740]

Am always testing my friends rackets and now I have them for free

[@ThePadelSchool]

Nice one!

[@youngsuit]

for high-level tennis players transitioning into padel, is there a particular type of racquet you would recommend?

[@ThePadelSchool]

It really depends on what you want out of your game, power, control etc, rather than your level. We have some videos on how to choose: pulse.ly/97fpf0oopq

[@ThePadelSchool]

Also, on our website we have lots of racket reviews. You can access these with a free 7-day trial!

[@samuelhabib5727]

What brand

[@ian-th7rd]

The Prius caught a low blow

[@Eric-rf6te]

Why "Diamond" , when it's clearly a triangle?

[@ThePadelSchool]

Haha not sure either give the exact shape, but both are close enough! ha

[@adoyer04]

padel rackets are in general just overpriced due to other racket sports.

[@ThePadelSchool]

there is plenty out there for all price ranges!

[@michaelmariuzzo5882]

Sottotitoli in italiano

[@ThePadelSchool]

thanks for the feedback, we'll see what we can do 👊