Are you looking for a high quality but affordable racket on Black Friday to place under the Christmas tree for your loved one?
Our Spanish padel expert, Joaquín Serna Sánchez, will guide you towards the best-value purchases to enjoy the sport that people all over the world are falling in love with.
Before you read on, take a look at the rest of the articles in the series, where we recommend the best rackets for amateur, intermediate and advanced players – and our guide on what to consider when choosing a new padel racket.
Kuikma PR990 Hybrid Soft
This list had to start with one of Decathlon’s Kuikma padel rackets, a company that is focusing its attention on the world of padel.
Its design with blue and black tones make it attractive and advisable for drive players who are looking for a racket that allows them to have a lot of control over their shots.
Made of 12K carbon fibre, the Kuikma PR990 Hybrid Soft is a medium hardness racket weighing 362 grams with a large sweet spot as its strong point.
If you are an aggressive player who looks for the slightest opportunity to hit the ball at high speed, perhaps you should look for another model because this racket rewards technique more than power.
If you are beginning to play high-pace matches, this racket will help you to reduce your defensive errors, as it is made for players who play a conservative game based on extending the length of points.
This model is currently priced at around £100 at Decathlon.
Drop Shot Conqueror 10 Soft
This Drop Shot model was created for players who like to feel the impact of the ball on the racket when hitting a shot.
With a teardrop shape, large sweet spot and medium-high balance, this racket is suitable for versatile players looking to improve their attacking ability near the net.
Made of the latest generation 24K carbon, the Drop Shot Conqueror 10 Soft also features 3D Face technology, which will reward good technique in smashes to the side fence and bandejas directed to the side glass. This model responds reliably to game situations where the pace and speed are very high.
This model is currently available at a heavily discounted price (£100 instead of £240 when it was released) on Drop Shot’s website.
Adidas Metalbone Carbon
This racket is considered to be the best of the Adidas range in terms of value for money due to the quality and durability of its materials.
Designed for attacking players, the Metalbone Carbon has a diamond shape and an octagonal structure in the heart of the racket (the part above the grip) that gives it great strength and torsion resistance.
This model is ideal for players who dominate the game through volleys and seek to block their opponents’ shots to stay close to the net.
In addition, it is designed to start perfecting the smash, as it has the sweet spot towards the top of the racket, forcing players to make good contact with the ball for the shot to be successful.
The durability is ensured by its EVA Soft Performance rubber and 6K carbon fibre, which allows it to resist accidental blows against the glass and the fence.
It is definitely one of the most recommended rackets of the 2023 season. It can currently be found for around £220 on the Adidas website.
Nox AT10 Genius 18K Agustín Tapia
Last year’s release of Agustín Tapia’s signature racket had to appear on the list for its design and workability.
It is a very handy racket with a larger grip which makes it recommended for players looking to start making more powerful shots without losing precision.
In addition, it is a racket that will help those players who suffer in defence or who are badly positioned on the court, as its large sweet spot will allow them to return balls even if the area of impact is not the most appropriate.
It has the AVS system, which absorbs the vibrations produced by powerful shots, allowing players to maintain the correct grip in those longer points where the arm doesn’t stop moving.
It also includes the SmartStrap system, which allows changing and customising the string of the racket to adjust it to the needs and tastes of each player.
In short, it is a racket designed for Agustín Tapia but that fits the needs of players who play padel from low-intermediate to professional level.
It can currently be found for around £125 on platforms such as Padel Nuestro, a discounted price considering it is a racket from last season.
Babolat Technical Viper
One of the most recognised rackets in the professional environment as it has been the weapon of the best Spanish player in history, the ‘Wolf’ Juan Lebron, this season.
It combines explosive power and precision as it is a racket designed for attacking players who dominate at the net and hit over-the-fence smashes.
This has been achieved by the brand through a surface made of carbon with X-EVA technology and a diamond-shaped hole pattern that gives the shots great speed.
This is a racket made for players with great technique who want to surprise their opponents from either side of the court. It also includes other features such as the VIBRABSORB technology that curtails vibrations when hitting.
The only disadvantage is that players who have suffered shoulder, arm and elbow injuries may struggle when playing with this racket due to its considerable weight (365 grams).
Being a top-of-the-range racket from the current season, and identical to the one used by Juan Lebron, its price of £290 is decent considering its high quality.
