Padel racket finder: match a racket to how you play

The questions separate playing preferences from eligibility. Budget sets a firm limit; the other answers help order the rackets that qualify.

• Level compares your answer with the shop’s Beginners, Advanced or Tournament rating. Without a rating, shape, core and face materials provide an estimate.
• Style changes the emphasis on shape, balance and the shop’s game-type label. Control favours round heads and lower balance; attack reverses that preference; all-round favours teardrop heads and middle balance.
• Arm concerns add a preference for softer cores, lighter rackets and fibreglass or mixed faces, rather than excluding other constructions.
• Weight compares your preference with the listed weight in grams. HEAD says heavier rackets offer more power and stability but can be harder to handle.
• Shape favours your selected head shape. HEAD describes teardrop, a shape between round and diamond, as a mix of power and control; the catalogue also includes hybrids.
• Budget excludes rackets whose lowest eligible shop price exceeds your limit. Price also contributes to the match score.

The weights are level 30%, style 25%, arm 15%, racket weight 10%, shape 10% and price 10%. Each answered question receives a match value from 0 to 1; the weighted total is divided by the sum of the active weights. Arm contributes only when answered yes. The scoring method explains this calculation.

Hard filters require an adult racket, a listing at a catalogue shop, known shape, weight and balance, and an eligible shop price within budget. Prices older than 7 days are not used. The finder shows five results, with ties going to the cheaper racket. On 15 October 2026, 202 adult rackets had all three required specification fields.

Balance point means the distance from the handle end to the point where the racket balances. The catalogue thirds are lower, up to 260 mm; middle, 261–265 mm; and upper, over 265 mm. These are catalogue splits, not universal industry categories; the weight and balance guide explains the distinction.

Answering yes shifts the score towards softer cores, rackets up to 355 g and fibreglass or mixed carbon-and-fibreglass faces. Softness follows shop ratings from Tennis-Point and Padel-Point, not an independent measurement.

This is a specification preference, not medical advice or a promise to prevent pain. The NHS describes tennis elbow as inflammation of the tendons in the elbow, the strong cords connecting muscle to bone. The racket specifications and tennis elbow page points to NHS guidance.