For beginners and less experienced players, fibreglass rackets are often a superior choice as they are more durable and easier to play with due to a larger sweetspot. A larger sweetspot means you have a larger hitting area on the racket where you get a premium contact with the ball. Good contact gives you better impact and reduces the risk of elbow, shoulder and wrist strain injuries when playing padel.
If you are an experienced padel player who consistently hits the ball well, a carbon racket rewards you with more output in your strokes.
The core (middle) of the racket is usually made of different kinds of foam - often called either EVA or FOAM. The main difference between them is their ability to control the ball on hard hits. Again, EVA foam is most often used in advanced rackets, while FOAM is used in all types of rackets. In general, EVA foam is harder than FOAM, which is why it provides more power in your strokes and more in-play speed, but it is also more difficult to control.
The grip on your padel racket should not be underestimated. If it's too thin, you risk holding on too tightly and cramping your arm, which can lead to overuse injuries. If the grip is too thick, you lose control and manoeuvrability of the racket. That's why it's important to find the right grip size.
Unlike tennis, a padel racket does not come with different grip sizes. Instead, you adjust it through your grip. The general rule is that you add an overgrip on top of the original grip that is placed on your racket from the start.
Another way to adjust the grip to match your needs is to apply an undergrip. In this case you remove the original grip on the racket right down to the bare handle, and then fit your undergrip followed by an overgrip on top. The undergrip comes in different thicknesses and patterns, so you can play around with what's the optimal grip for you. Bullpadel's Hesacore grip is popular with many padel players who prefer contours and shock absorption in their grip.
Some padel rackets are also made with an extended shaft, so you have the option to apply a two-handed backhand when you need a bit extra stability in your stroke. Browse our large selection of grips here.