How to choose my paddle tennis racket
We have all ever asked ourselves the question of which shovel should I choose? How to choose my paddle tennis racket? It is totally normal when you start playing paddle...
We have all ever asked ourselves the question of which shovel should I choose? How to choose my paddle tennis racket? It is totally normal when you start playing paddle tennis and you want to buy a racket that meets your expectations.
We could be talking about this topic for several days because for tastes, colors but I have summarized all the information that I consider essential so that you yourself can have a better criteria when choosing your next shovel. We are going to see the different criteria to choose the ideal shovel.
game level
Roughly speaking, we can widely differentiate two main groups of players: beginners and advanced intermediates. Within these two large groups, obviously, there is a very wide range that will have to do with each particular case.
The most important thing to keep in mind is that there is nothing strictly established and that each player must choose their own racket based on their tastes.
It is true that normally you start playing with a round-shaped racket and, as the player gains experience, they start to have a teardrop or diamond-shaped racket.
game type
Within the level of play we can also categorize ourselves between aggressive play and defensive play. Depending on your type of game, you will need one or another "working tool".
What types of paddle tennis rackets are there?
In the market there are countless choices and, without a clear guide, it is very difficult to make the decision of what shovel to buy? Beyond the brand, the price or the design, there are attributes that do determine the quality of the racket or if it meets your needs. These attributes are:
Take a look at the following image and I'll keep telling you below.
How to choose my paddle tennis racket?
The blades according to their shape:
round or oversize
Players who are new to the world of paddle tennis are usually recommended to start with a round-shaped racket, due to its perfect balance and its large sweet spot (the place on the racket where it is recommended to hit the ball), and weighing no more than 365gr. Below we will talk about the weight of the shovel.Tear
Following the scale of "experience" playing paddle tennis, the next option would be the teardrop-shaped blade. Rackets with this type of shape are the most common and used because they offer a better punch than round rackets and greater hitting power.
We could say that with the handling of a teardrop-shaped racket we will be able to maintain the control we had with a round racket but increase the power of our hitting.
Diamond
Finally we come to the diamond-shaped blades. These offer a smaller sweet spot, however, they generate more hitting power that will make it difficult for your opponent to hit the ball back.
The blades according to the balance:
The balance corresponds to the distribution of the weight of the racket along the mold.
The position of the balance will vary when choosing a racket because it generates a different sensation depending on the distance to the point of attachment (the wrist).
For example, a racket with a low balance, close to the wrist (such as the Side Spin HUNTER, round in shape) offers a light weight feel. On the other hand, the sensation of playing with a racket with a higher balance (such as the Side Spin STRIKER range, with a teardrop shape) is totally different and gives you a sensation of balanced weight, more versatile. In the same way, the blades with a balance farthest from the wrist are what some call "bigheads" which, far from being a bad thing, are for many a great ally when it comes to giving the ball extra power (as in the Sise Spin SNIPER range, diamond shaped)
Again, it is a matter of trying several blades and see what type of balance you feel most comfortable with. In the end, it is a matter of sensations and particular needs.
The blades according to the material:
Padel rackets can be made of different materials, and different qualities of materials and layers. Allow me to detail each of the parts:- Frame material : The frame or frame of the racket can be made of fiberglass or carbon fiber. Normally, the highest quality paddle tennis rackets are those made of carbon fiber since it has a plus of resistance compared to fiberglass ones, which can break more easily.
- Flat part material : In the same way that we have just seen, the flat part can also be made of fiberglass (all the blades have layers of fiberglass) and the last layer is what differentiates one from the other. Those that carry carbon can carry different types of carbon (3K, 6K, 12K, 18K). The materials and layers will later influence the final weight of the racket.
- Paddle core material : Between the two flat parts with which we hit the ball is the padel racket foam, which can be: Eva Mix, Eva Soft or Foam.
Therefore, when we talk about a 100% full carbon shovel, we are talking about shovels covered on all sides with carbon fiber. In Side Spin , for example, AW5 , HUNTER, SNIPER and STRIKER are 100% Full Carbon blades.
Blades according to thickness:
The thickness of the racket can also be a decisive factor when choosing which paddle racket to buy. The most common thicknesses are 36 or 38mm. Rackets with a thickness of 36mm offer better control and maneuverability, but are often used for children's rackets.
As you must already be imagining, the 38mm thick rackets allow a more aggressive game with greater playing power.
The blades according to their weight:
Finally we have the weight of the racket, one more factor that will help us determine which racket we want to buy. The weights oscillate, mostly, between 355g and 380gr. The manufacturing process of a paddle tennis racket is very manual. We will describe it in another blog post . So it is almost impossible for two shovels to come out in a row with the same weight.
The greater the weight of the racket, the greater the hitting power. Contrary to what is believed, a less heavy racket is not necessarily the best to avoid the famous epicondylitis, since a racket with less mass requires extra effort to give it speed. Epicondylitis is related to the quality of the core rubber, and the ability to dissipate the vibrations that the blade has due to its shape, its materials and the shape of its heart.
We will talk about epicondylitis in another note on our blog.
Leave us in the comments what topics you want us to talk about in the following articles, if you still have any doubts about which blade to choose ... We read and answer you all!