Worlds biggest best in test
Here are the best padel rackets 2022
- Published by: Anton Gustafsson
- Last updated:
This article contains affiliate links
We have tested over 100 different padel rackets and have now named the best padel rackets 2022 in 13 different categories. Elitepadel is probably the largest independent player in the world when it comes to testing padel rackets.
For each racket recommended, we offer:
- Racket specifications
- Our unique opinions and video reviews testing all rackets
- Price comparison for all rackets
We have tested the rackets
We at Elitepadel have tested all the padel rackets recommended on this page.
100+ padel rackets tested
We at Elitepadel are probably the world's largest independent racket reviewers in padel
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Please use the table of contents to navigate to the category that suits you best. Also, don’t miss our unique widgets from Pricerunner that help you find the lowest price for every racket.
Best in test padel rackets in different categories:
- Highest performing racket (Best in test)
- Best padelracket for Beginners
- Best padel racket for Intermediate
- Best padel racket for Competing players
- Best padel racket for Low budget
- Best padel racket for Medium budget
- Best padel racket for Premium budget
- Best padel racket for Control
- Best padel racket for Allround
- Best padel racket for Power
- Best padel racket for Women
- Best padel racket for Junior & Kids
- The best looking padelracket
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Best padelracket (Best in test)
Adidas Adipower Ctrl Lite
- Level: Intermediate/Advanced
- Shape of the racket: round
- Suitable for playing style: all-round
- Soft surface and core
- Provides a high level of control in strokes
- You can't get the same power as with a more advanced racket
You can also choose to order your racket here:
This is what we think of the Adipower Ctrl Lite:
Here's the ultimate rack for both control and feel! When I tried the Adidas Adipower CTRL lite 3.1, I found the racket very easy to maneuver and even the hits out to the frame delivered a great feel thanks to the large sweetspot in the racket. The soft core delivers really good control and the sandpaper like texture on the hitting surface helps add spin to the ball. A racket that suits a very wide audience ranging from an advanced player who loves the feel of control down to a beginner who needs a racket that delivers awesome control!
Best padel racket for beginners
Adidas RX20 Light
- Best padel racket for beginners
- Shape of the racket: Round
- Suitable for style of play: Offensive
- Easy to play with a large sweet spot
- Affordable for those who want to get started
- You can't get the same power as with a more advanced rackets
You can also choose to order your racket here:
Adidas RX200 Light is the sequel and this year’s new model of the Adidas RX20 Light.
Good to consider when choosing a racket for beginners
When looking for the best padel racket for beginners, there are some special features that are more important than others. You want an easy-to-play padel racket with a round shape. The round padel racket gives you, the beginner, a greater chance of hitting the ball cleanly over a larger area of the racket. Compared to an advanced racket, you have to hit on exactly the right surface to get a clean shot. Below, we’ve picked out our favourite when it comes to the best padel racket for beginners.
The Adidas RX20 Light is the best beginner’s racket according to us at Elitepadel. You get an easy to play padel racket with a large sweetspot and great design that is also very affordable.
Watch the video as we test the Adidas RX20 Light
(english subtitles)
Best padel racket for intermediate players
Adidas Adipower Ctrl Lite
- Level: Intermediate/Advanced
- Shape of the racket: Round
- Suitable for playing style: All-round
- Soft surface and core
- Provides a high level of control in strokes
- You can't get the same power as with a more offensive racket
You can also choose to order your racket here:
This is what we think of the Adipower Ctrl Lite:
Here's the ultimate rack for both control and feel! When I tried the Adidas Adipower CTRL lite 3.1, I found the racket very easy to maneuver and even the hits out to the frame delivered a great feel thanks to the large sweetspot in the racket. The soft core delivers really good control and the sandpaper like texture on the hitting surface helps add spin to the ball. A racket that suits a very wide audience ranging from an advanced player who loves the feel of control down to a beginner who needs a racket that delivers awesome control!
Good things to consider when choosing a racket for intermediate and advanced players
Once you’ve been playing padel for a while, it can be fun to upgrade to a slightly better racket. They usually have a different shape and a slightly smaller hitting surface than the beginner racket. We’ve selected the Adidas Adipower Ctrl Lite as the best padel racket for intermediate and advanced players. We have published a whole article where we write more about the best padel racket for intermediate players.
Watch the video as we test the Adidas Adipower Ctrl Lite
Best padel racket for competing players
Babolat Viper Technical
- Level: advanced/competitive
- Shape of the racket: Diamond
- Suitable for style of play: offensive
- Hard surface and rigid frame
- A lot of power and weight in the overhead game
- You lose some control with the hard surface and rigid frame
You can also choose to order your racket here:
This is what we think of the Babolat Viper Technical:
Here is the model for the offensive player who likes to decide the score in the overhead game or in his heavy smashes. When I tested the Babolat Viper Technical, I felt that the offensive qualities of the racket were very prominent but also that the model is mainly aimed at the more advanced player who has a good basic technique and is easy to get right to the ball. So this model I would recommend to those who have the crucial role in the team but also feel confident in your fundamentals.
Good to consider when choosing a racket as a competitive player
Once you’ve been playing padel for a while, it can be fun to upgrade to a slightly better, and especially more advanced, padel racket. They usually have a different shape and a slightly smaller sweetspot (hitting area) than a beginner’s racket. A racket at a competitive level usually costs a bit more than the simpler rackets, so it’s important to get it right.
As a competitive player, you need a racket that really suits your style of play to do well on the course. With a Babolat Viper Technicals all-carbon hitting surface and three layers of EVA, it delivers tremendous power if you’re an offensive player who relies on your smash. The grooved surface allows you to get a good grip on the ball with every shot and also gives you the opportunity to screw the ball up considerably.
Watch the video as we test the Babolat Viper Technical
Best padel racket for those on a budget
Head Evo Sanyo
- Level: Beginner/Medium/Advanced
- Shape of the racket: Drop
- Suitable for playing style: all-round
- Soft surface and easy to play
- Very affordable
- Lacks some pressure in the overhead strokes for those who like to play extra offensive on the court
You can also choose to order your racket here:
Good to consider when choosing a cheap padel racket
Padel is not a very expensive sport to practice and rackets are available in all price ranges. Here we present our first choice when it comes to cheaper rackets that are also very affordable.
The Head Evo Sanyo is the best padel racket for those on a budget. The racket is very affordable and is best suited for those who are beginners or play at an intermediate level.
Watch the video as we test the Head Evo Sanyo
Best padel racket for those with an average budget
Adidas Adipower Ctrl Lite
- Level: Intermediate/Advanced
- Shape of the racket: Round
- Suitable for playing style: All-round
- Soft surface and core
- Provides a high level of control in strokes
- You can't get the same power as with a more offensive racket
You can also choose to order your racket here:
This is what we think of the Adipower Ctrl Lite:
Here's the ultimate rack for both control and feel! When I tried the Adidas Adipower CTRL lite 3.1, I found the racket very easy to maneuver and even the hits out to the frame delivered a great feel thanks to the large sweetspot in the racket. The soft core delivers excellent control, and the sandpaper like texture on the hitting surface helps add spin to the ball. A racket that suits a very wide audience, ranging from an advanced player who loves the feel of control down to a beginner who needs a racket that delivers awesome control!
Good to consider when choosing a mid-priced racket
By choosing a good padel racket for an average budget, you ensure that you will be able to play with the racket for a long time. Rackets in the lower price ranges have much poorer quality, but if you buy a racket for 200-300 Euro you will be able to grow with it.
In this case, we again recommend the Adidas Adipower Ctrl Lite as the best padel racket for those on an average budget. A large sweetspot, round shape and a soft surface/core give you an easy to play padel racket.
Watch the video as we test the Adidas Adipower Ctrl Lite
Best padel racket for those on a premium budget
Adidas Metalbone 3.1
- Level: Advanced/Competition level
- Shape of the racket: Diamond
- Suitable for style of play: Attack/Offensive
- Extended hitting area and sweet spot despite diamond shape
- Top-heavy which gives you extra power in smashes
- It takes a good player to get the most out of the racket
You can also choose to order your racket here:
This is what we think of the Adidas Metalbone 3.1:
The successor of the extremely popular Metalbone series is here and it has a new updated design. When I tested the Adidas Metalbone 3.1 racket, I found it to be a very offensive racket mainly aimed at the player whose strongest suit is the overhead game and who likes to decide the score. The top-heavy balance and stiff hitting surface make it an awesome choice for the offensive type of player!
Good to consider when choosing a racket in the upper price range
When you choose a premium racket with a high price tag, it’s extra important to get it right. Not only because it costs more money, but also because these rackets tend to be more high-end and different rackets suit different types of players.
In this case, we recommend the Adidas Metalbone. Here you get a top-heavy diamond-shaped racket that is also oversized and with a larger sweetspot (and soft core) than is common for diamond-shaped rackets. Simply perfect for the offensive player who still wants to be able to play with control over the entire court.
Watch the video as we test the Adidas Metalbone
Best padel racket for control
Adidas Metalbone CTRL 3.1
- Level: intermediate to Advanced/Competitive
- Shape of the racket: Round
- Suitable for playing style: All-round/Control
- Large sweetspot with low/medium balance gives you a great all-round racket
- Particularly suitable for the player who wants to control the game with placements
- Difficult to generate maximum power in smashes
You can also choose to order your racket here:
This is what we think about the Adidas Metalbone CTRL 3.1:
When I tested this racket, I found it to be a very easy to play racket all over the court. The Adidas Metalbone CTRL I would mainly recommend to the player who plays on the forehand side and who likes to build and control the game rather than deciding in smashes. The large sweetspot and soft core contribute to a very forgiving feel and control.
Good to consider when choosing a racket for extra control
Are you a player who likes to outplay the opponent with clever placements instead of constantly going for power? Then this is the racket for you. Our pick for best padel racket for control lands in the Adidas Metalbone Ctrl 3.1.
You get a premium racket with low/mid balance (which can also be adjusted to more top-heavy with weights on the sides) that gives you great all-round play across the court.
Watch the video as we test the Adidas Metalbone Ctrl 3.1
Best all-round padel racket
Babolat Viper Counter
- Level: Beginner to Intermediate/Advanced
- Shape of the racket: Round
- Suitable for playing style: All-round
- Large sweetspot with low/medium balance gives you a great all-round racket.
- Top-heavy giving you powerful volleys and overhead shots
- Difficult to generate maximum power in smashes
You can also choose to order your racket here:
Det här tycker vi om Babolat Viper Counter:
The Babolat Viper Counter is the more defensive oriented model in the series but when I tested this rack I also got the feeling of good offensive qualities thanks to the top-heavy balance. This rack has a combination of a round shape and a top-heavy balance which is quite unusual but also, despite its defensive good qualities, also makes it an offensive threat. A rack I would recommend to those who like to build up the game and then decide the score when the opportunity arises.
Good to consider when looking for an all-round padel racket
If you’re a player who may not have been playing padel for long and don’t really know what you want to go for, an all-round racket is a wise choice. They are suitable for several types of games and you can usually also develop along with your racket. But an all-round padel racket isn’t just for beginners – they can be just as effective for experienced players!
We choose to highlight the Babolat Viper Counter as the best all-round padel racket. The racket has the somewhat unique feature of being defensively built with a higher balance that also gives the player the ability to build up an attack by getting on net and attacking with the top-heavy racket
Watch the video as we test the Babolat Viper Counter
Best padel racket for power
Adidas Adipower 3.1
- Level: Intermediate to advanced/competitive
- Shape of the racket: Diamond
- Suitable for style of play: Offensive
- The primary focus of the racket is power and precision
- High balance and stiff racket (aluminium-reinforced carbon fibre) gives you plenty of power to smash the ball out when given the opportunity
- Loses some control in favor of power
You can also choose to order your racket here:
This is what we think about the Adidas Adipower 3.1:
The Adidas Adipower 3.1 is a racket from Adidas with top-heavy balance and diamond shape is made to extract speed! When I tried this racket, I experienced a very comfortable racket but lovely hitting feel that delivered good control even though it is a speed racket. The grooved surface of the racket also helps to extract good spin in the ball.
Good to consider when looking for a padel racket with power
If you want more power in your strokes, but don’t quite feel you’re getting the technique, a different padel racket can give you the power you’re looking for. A racket with a harder core will allow the ball to bounce more strongly off the racket and you won’t have to hit as hard. Read our full test of best padel rackets for power.
Watch the video as we test the Adidas Adipower 3.1
Best padel racket for women
Adidas Adipower Light 3.1
- Level: Intermediate to Advanced/Competitive
- Shape of the racket: Round
- Suitable for playing style: All-round
- The successor to the bestseller Adidas Adipower Light 3.0
- Light weight adapted for ladies
- Loses something in the overhead game due to the low weight
You can also choose to order your racket here:
This is what we think about the Adidas Adipower Light 3.1:
The Adidas Adipower Light 3.1 is the lightest racket in the Adipower series and with its weight of 345-360 grams, the feeling when I tested the racket was that it was a really quick model. Whether you're in front of the net and need quick reflexes or behind the glass and need to save a ball, it's a light and fast racket that makes it easier when you need to get right to the ball. The low weight also reduces wear and tear on the arm and reduces the risk of injury.
Good to consider when looking for a women's padel racket
There are padel rackets for both men and women. Women’s rackets are better suited to women in terms of weight, ergonomics and shape. They provide a gentle game and they provide a good match. You can read our full test about the best padel racket for women.
The Adidas Adipower Light 3.1 is the signature racket of female world star Marta Ortega. The racket is not for beginners, instead we recommend that you have been playing for a few months and thus have become more confident in your game. If you’re a beginner, we recommend looking at the best beginner racket at the top of the page instead.
Watch the video as we test the Adidas Adipower 3.1
Best padel racket for juniors and kids
Adidas Adipower Junior 3.1
- Level: Junior
- Shape of racket: Diamond/Round
- Suitable for playing style: All-round
- Only 310-330 grams heavy
- Forgiving racket that fits the junior perfectly
- Hard to know when it's time to go from junior to senior
You can also choose to order your racket here:
This is what we think about Adidas Adipower Junior:
The Adidas Adipower Junior 3.1 is a very light rack that weighs in at 310-330 grams and has a smaller size that makes it easier to maneuver. The model has a smooth balance and a large sweetspot that makes it easier to get right to the ball, and the racket helps to extract good speed without having to push the ball particularly hard. A great racket for the junior who wants to learn how to play padel!
Good to consider when looking for a padel racket for juniors and children
When looking for the best padel racket for junior and children players, you should look for a racket with a lighter weight. This comes naturally as children tend to have a little less strength than adult humans. You also need to choose between whether the child is a beginner or intermediate-advanced.
We’ve chosen to highlight the Adidas Adipower Junior 3.1 as the best padel racket for kids who have been playing for a while and want to take the next step in their development.
Watch the video as we test the Adidas Adipower Junior 3.1
Best looking padel racket
Bullpadel Vertex 03
- Level: Intermediate-Advanced
- Shape of the racket: Diamond
- Suitable for style of play: Offensive
- An offensive racket for those who want to decide the balls with power
- Very aesthetically beautiful padel racket
- Misses some control in favor of power
You can also choose to order your racket here:
Good to consider when looking for stylish padel rackets
It’s important not to just think about how the racket looks when choosing the best-looking padel racket. If you want to get the most out of your game, it’s more important to choose a racket that best suits you, your playing style and your level.
If we only look at looks, we love the design of the Bullpadel Vertex 03 and choose to highlight the racket as the best looking on the market!
Watch the video as we test the Bullpadel Vertex 03
Here's how we've come up with the best padel racket 2022
Over the past year, we have tested almost 100 different padel rackets in order to select the best padel racket 2022 in different categories. The testing was done while recording our Youtube reviews which we then compiled and created this guide.
- The article was published by Anton Gustafsson
- The test was last updated on
Sources of information and specifications:
When we tested the padel rackets, the following tests were carried out:
- Basic strokes from the baseline
- Volleyball
- Smashes after the lob
- Ability to kick the ball out of the court
- Overhead play after short lobs
- Both offensive (bajada) and defensive strokes after long lobs
- Lobbing from the back of the court
- The feel of the racket in the hand
- Reviews from previous customers imported from Tengo.se (Get our exclusive 10% off coupon and discount code for Tengo)
We have also published best reviews test guides for padel rackets in different categories:
Summary of our test for the best padel racket 2022
- Best reviews: the Adidas Adipower Ctrl lite
- Beginner: Adidas RX20 Light
- Intermediate/athletic: Adidas Adipower Ctrl Lite
- Competitive players: Babolat Viper Technical
- Low budget: Head Evo Sanyo
- Medium budget: Adidas Adipower Ctrl lite
- Premium budget: Adidas Metalbone
- Control: Adidas Metalbone Ctrl
- Allround: Babolat Viper Counter
- Power: Adidas Adipower 3.1
- Women: Adidas Adipower Light 3.1
- Junior: Adidas Metalbone Junior
- Best looking: Bullpadel Vertex 03
Important to know before choosing a padel racket
As for the padel racket, they come in three different types and shapes, round, drop and diamond. Here we give you some more information about how the racket’s properties are affected depending on its shape.
Which is the best 2022 padel racket for you, only you can decide. But you can assume that you choose between three different shapes of padel racket:
- Round
- Drop
- Diamond
Round
Round rackets usually have their balance at the bottom edge or in the middle of the hitting surface. This gives less speed but greater control of the game. A round racket usually has a larger hitting surface and is really good for beginners.
Drop
Drop-shaped rackets are a kind of hybrid between diamond-shaped and round ones. Suitable for advanced and competitive players as they provide both speed and control.
Diamond
Diamond-shaped rackets are mainly suitable for advanced players as they provide a high speed of play, but due to the higher balance point, control is a bit less. Suitable for competitive players who want to control the matches.
We who are behind the test
Elitepadel.se is operated and managed by the company Elitepadel Sweden AB (registration number: 559351-5181). Below are the people behind our best in test guide for the best padel racket 2022.
Anton Gustafsson
Writer of the article and co-founder of Elitepadel.com. Anton plays padel 3-4 times a week and is at level 7 in MATCHi’s levels for padel players.
Anton has compiled the information about all the rackets in the test and combined it with Michael’s unique opinions about each racket.
Mikael Rohana
Elitepadel’s official padel racket tester and co-founder of Elitepadel.com. Mikael plays padel 3-4 times a week and is at level 7 in MATCHi’s levels for padel players.
Mikael was the most important part to conduct the test. He contributes his own personal opinions and has put in many hours to be able to conduct the test play of all 50+ rackets.
Robin Lund
Elitepadel’s cameraman and editor and co-founder of Elitepadel.com. Robin plays padel 1-2 times a week and is at level 6 in MATCHi’s levels for padel players.
Robin is behind all our unique photographs of the rackets and the recording of all our Youtube clips. Together with Mikael, they drive Elitepadel’s Youtube channel forward.
