Planning to purchase a padel racket? With numerous options to choose from being offered by different manufacturers, finding the right one that fits your style and budget and, at the same time, helps you bring your A-game can turn out to be pretty daunting.
If you’re spending Rs.90,000 – Rs.120,000 on a padel racket, you’d want to make sure that it doesn’t break during your first or second game, right?
Choosing the wrong padel racket can not only impact your game but can also cause injuries. We want you to choose a padel racket that not only fits your style of play but also helps you stay under budget.
And since there are not many content pieces offering an in-depth comparison of the different types of materials used to manufacture padel rackets, most players, especially beginner-level, find themselves confused and not being able to decide whether they should go with padel rackets made of fiberglass or carbon.
That’s the reason we’ve put together this blog post – where we’ll be offering an in-depth comparison of the different types of materials used to manufacture a padel racket.
Historical Padel racket from 70’s
The Different Types of Materials Used to Manufacture Padel Rackets
Different types of materials are used across different areas of a padel racket like frame, core, face, and grip. And while there are numerous options available on the market, it’s important to seriously take into consideration the materials used in the frame, core, and face. If you’re someone who’s just starting out and don’t really want to invest in an expensive padel racket, you can always go with fiberglass. But note, while rackets made of fiberglass are cheap, they’re not really durable. On the other hand, advanced padel rackets are made of carbon fiber, which can not only help you ensure durability but also level up your performance.
To help you better navigate the space, we’ll be covering the different types of materials used across different areas of a padel racket, allowing you to make a better purchasing decision:
Frame Material
Core Material
Face Material
Let’s explore.
Frame Material
It’s the part of the padel racket that surrounds the face – which is why high strength, as well as density materials, are used for this area. Some of the most common types of frame materials include:
- Carbon Frame
- Fiberglass Frame
- Kevlar Frame
As a result of carbon’s ability to offer an outstanding balance between hardness, lightness, and resistance, most padel rackets these days are built of carbon frames. Not only are padel rackets made of carbon frame wear-resistant, but they can also help you bring your A-game, as you’ll find these rackets to be lightweight and easy to use.
Fiberglass Frame
Fiberglass frames are used in beginner-level padel rackets, and when compared with carbon frames, they are a lot cheaper. Fiberglass is known for its elastic properties – which makes it a lot softer than carbon frames, yet the one big problem is – it’s heavier than carbon frames.
Kevlar Frames
Kevlar Frames are stronger than carbon fiber, but the only problem is – rackets made of Kevlar frames are insanely expensive. These frames are used in high-end professional padel rackets. So, unless you have a gigantic-sized budget or are a professional tennis player, we’d advise you to stick to the other two frame material options.
Core Material
Let’s talk about the core – another important part of padel rackets. Since all the control of the power of a padel racket comes from the inner part (core), it’s important to choose the right core material. A racket’s core is usually built of the two types of materials:
- Foam
- EVA (Ethylene Vinyl Acetate) is soft, flexible plastic with stress-crack resistance and low-temperature toughness. EVA can be further be divided into:
EVA Ultra Soft Rubber – With an elastic and spongy touch, EVA Ultra Soft Rubber is the softest of all the available options. Racket cores made of EVA Ultra Soft rubber are comfortable and vibration-free – with a BIG advantage being that such rackets have a greater rebound. However, one of the BIG disadvantages is that the power of these padel rackets is limited. So, if you are looking for a powerful racket, a racket core made of EVA Ultra Soft Rubber may not be the right fit.
EVA Soft Rubber – It’s the most popular core material used in padel rackets. Padel Rackets made of EVA Soft Rubber are not only well known for a perfect balance between power and control but are also praised for their soft touch.
EVA Medium Rubber – Racket cores made of EVA Medium Rubber will give you a firm feel alongside good power and control.
EVA Hard Rubber – Advanced players prefer racket cores made of EVA hard rubber – as they favor power. And since advanced players are not looking for a softer feel, it’s a great option. However, an important point to take into consideration is that even though the material is hard, it doesn’t really eliminate the absorbent feel.
Apart from EVA, another common and popular padel racket material type is foam.
Foam
If you are someone looking for a soft touch or feel and minimum amount of vibration along with a lot of bounce or spring off, racket cores made of foam may be the perfect fit for you. We’d only recommend it for players who are just starting out. However, one of the biggest minus points of choosing foam over EVA is in terms of durability.
If you’re looking for something durable, we’d advise you to avoid padel rackets made of foam. Instead, you can always go for EVA – but the EVA material you should choose depends on your level and style of play.
Lastly, let’s talk about the materials used in the racket face.
Face Material
Overall, padel rackets are made of fiberglass or carbon. And while fiberglass has historically been used to manufacture padel rackets, we’re witnessing an ever-increasing number of players switching to carbon fiber rackets.
At the same time, it’s important to note that while the popularity of carbon fiber rackets is growing, there are different sub-divisions based on quality and hardness:
- 3K
- 6K
- 12K
- 15K
- 18K
- 21K
- 24K
This brings us to the BIG question:
“What’s the difference between these materials, and how can you make a better decision based on your play style and budget?”
Let’s explore.
Fiberglass
If you’re just starting out, fiberglass padel rackets can work well for you. Historically, racket faces made of fiberglass have a comfortable feel and are cheap. However, the minus points are that such rackets aren’t durable and are not recommended for players (advanced players) looking for control and power. At the same time, rackets made of fiberglass are heavier when compared with the ones made of carbon fiber.
While fiberglass has historically been used to manufacture padel rackets, we’re seeing things changing in the racket industry. Not only are players looking for something lightweight, but since they’re already spending their top dollars, they want to purchase a racket that’s durable and gives them more control and power.
Carbon Fiber
Carbon fiber is constructed like a fabric with groups, tows, of threads spun together. The fewer the threads per tow, the larger the carbon threads are, and the more rigid the resulting carbon is.
This is why 3K carbon fiber is harder than 12K, and 12K is more rigid than 18K, and so on.
How does carbon fiber impact the durability of a padel racket?
Carbon fiber’s exceptional strength makes padel rackets highly durable. However, it’s important to note that the durability of a racket depends on various factors, including the quality of the carbon fiber used, the construction techniques employed, and the player’s style of play. While carbon fiber rackets are generally more robust, they may still experience wear and tear over time, especially when subjected to significant impacts or mishandling.
Are carbon fiber rackets suitable for all skill levels?
Carbon fiber rackets cater to players of all skill levels. However, choosing the right racket involves considering factors such as stiffness, balance, and weight distribution, which can impact how a racket feels and performs. Beginner players may prefer rackets made from fiberglass with more forgiveness and a larger sweet spot, while advanced players often seek rackets with greater power and control.
Ready to Level Up Your Game?
While different materials go into the making of padel rackets, the right padel racket fit for you will depend on different factors like the budget, the level of your game, and your personal preferences like control vs. power, durability vs. money, and more.
To help you make a better decision, we’ve put together a “What to Look For When Buying a Padel Racket”
