Where the specs come from
We take shape, balance, core, face, weight and recommended level from the manufacturer's own product page first. When a maker does not publish a spec, we use a major padel retailer and record which one. Every racket page links its sources. If we cannot verify a spec, we show it as not published rather than guess.
The ratings
Each rating is on a 0 to 10 scale and rounded to the nearest half point. They describe what the specs point to, not a lab measurement or a play test.
| Rating | Built from | Higher when |
|---|---|---|
| Power | Shape, balance, core, weight | Diamond shape (+3, teardrop +1.5), high balance (+2, medium +1), harder core (+0.5 to +1.5), weight 370 g or more (+1) |
| Control | Shape, balance, core | Round shape (+3, teardrop +1.5), low balance (+2, medium +1), harder core (up to +1.5) |
| Sweet spot | Shape, balance, core | Round shape (+4, teardrop +2), low balance (+1), softer core (+1) |
| Arm comfort | Core, balance, weight | Soft core (+3, medium +1.5), low balance (+2, medium +1), 355 g or lighter (+1); 370 g or heavier (−1) |
Starting points are 2 for power, 2.5 for control, 3 for sweet spot and 4 for arm comfort. A rating is left out when shape or balance is not published. Several brands do not publish how soft or hard the core is; for those rackets, power, control and sweet spot count the core as medium, the racket page says so, and arm comfort is left out because it depends on the core more than anything else.
What ratings cannot tell you
Two rackets with identical specs can still feel different because of the exact foam, face layup and construction. Hardness labels are also each brand's own, so a medium core from one brand is not guaranteed to match another's. Use the ratings to shortlist, then hold the racket if you can.
Rankings and money
Some buttons are affiliate links: if you buy through them we may earn a commission at no cost to you. Commissions never change a rating or a ranking; lists are sorted by the rule printed at the top of each one.