What racket shape is best for you?
Round-shaped rackets
Let’s start our analysis of Padel racket shapes with round-shaped Padel rackets. They have the following characteristics:
Lower balance
Round Padel rackets generally have a weight distribution closer to the grip, resulting in a low balance. This makes the racket easier to handle on the Padel court. Padel rackets with low balance also reduce the risk of injuries and tendonitis.
The sweet spot is bigger
Round-faced rackets have a larger sweet spot than the teardrop or diamond shaped rackets. They have a sweet spot that is found in the middle of the racket face and usually reacts in a forgiving manner when hitting the ball out the sweet spot area.
Who should have a round-shaped racket?
The natural choice for Padel beginners is a round racket. You can also see more experienced players using them when seeking maximum precision and control. If you are looking for an easy-to-handle and want to avoid injuries, a round Padel racket is recommended.
As for professionals, Matias Diaz (Star Vie Mehteora Warrior 2021) and Miguel Lamperti (NOX ML10 Pro Cup) both use round shaped rackets.
Diamond-shaped rackets
Next up are the diamond-shaped rackets. They have the following characteristics:
Topside balance
Unlike the round rackets, diamond-shaped rackets have a distribution of the weight towards the top of the racket, giving it a higher balance. This results in a racket that is often harder to handle, but the shape hugely helps generate power in the shots.
Smaller sweet spot
Diamond-shaped rackets have a smaller sweet spot than the round-shaped ones. The sweet spot is located in the upper part of the racket, and they are normally not very forgiving at impacts that are not within the sweet spot.
Who should choose a diamond-shaped racket?
If you are an experienced player and like to play an attacking game with good technique and look for maximum power when smashing, the diamond-shaped racket will be best choice for you.
If you have previous injuries or feel pain in your elbow, then a diamond shape racket is definitely not recommended.
Paquito Navarro (Bullapdel Hack 02) and Maxi Sanchez (Bullpadel Vertex 02) are examples of professional players using diamond-shaped rackets.
Teardrop-shaped rackets
Lastly, tear-drop shaped rackets have the following characteristics:
Medium balance
Medium-sized sweet spot
Rackets with a teardrop shape generally have a medium-sized sweet spot that is found in the centre of the racket or slightly higher. They are not as forgiving as round-shaped rackets when hitting the call outside the sweet spot area, but more forgiving than the diamond-shaped rackets.
Who should choose a teardrop-shaped padel racket?
Are you an all-round player who wants enough power in the attacking game without sacrificing too much control? Then a teardrop-shaped padel racket may be the right choice for you. It could also be a natural next step if you are playing with a round-shaped racket today and are heading for a diamond-shaped racket in the long run.
Sanyo Gutierres (Head Alpha Pro V) and Luciano Capra (Siux Genesis Hybrid Gold Carbon) are examples of professional players using teardrop-shaped rackets.
TL:DR - Summary
Racket shapes are important to understand. The choice of shape on your racket should be based on your playing style and what level you are playing on.
If you are a beginner looking for an easy-to-play racket, you should choose one with a round shape. The same applies to more experienced players looking for maximum security and control in their game.
If you have a good technique and are an attacking player, a diamond-shaped racket is recommended. It generates more power in volleys, bandejas and smashes than the round one.
A teardrop-shaped padel racket is a great choice for the all-round player who wants a good combination of power and control.
The shape is one of the main aspects to look at when choosing a padel racket, but several other factors also affect the feeling and playability. Weight, balance, and density of the inner core are a few examples.