Your guide to choosing the right Padel Racket in NZ
Welcome to ThePadelShop.co.nz. If you are into Padel in New Zealand or just starting out, choosing the right racket is one of the biggest decisions you will make. It can seem complicated at first, but once you understand the basics such as shape, weight, balance and materials, it all becomes much more straightforward.
Let’s walk through what actually matters.
1. Shape and What It Means for Your Game
The shape of your racket determines where the sweet spot is. The sweet spot is the area that gives you the cleanest, most comfortable contact when the ball hits the racket.
This is the easiest shape to use. It has a large sweet spot positioned right in the centre. This makes the racket feel stable and predictable in your hand, which is why it is great for beginners and for players who value control.
This shape is designed for powerful shots. The sweet spot is smaller and sits toward the top of the racket. Because of this, the racket can feel slightly top heavy, giving you extra force behind your swings but less forgiveness when you mistime a shot.
This shape offers a balance of power and control. The sweet spot is located slightly above the centre, which gives you more power than a round racket without the demanding nature of a diamond shape. In your hand, a teardrop racket feels comfortable and well balanced, making it a popular choice for players who want an all round setup.
2. Weight and Balance and How the Racket Feels
Weight and balance work together to determine how the racket moves and reacts in your hand.
Weight
Heavier rackets give you more power and feel more stable on impact. They help with strong smashes and can make your shots feel firmer. They also provide better support when returning a ball that has been hit at a high speed, and you need to block the ball and get it back on your opponents side.
However, the heavier the racket, the more effort it takes to control. If the racket feels slow to move or strains your wrist, it is too heavy for you.
General guideline
Beginner players often prefer 340 to 360 grams
Intermediate & Advanced players usually choose 360 to 375 grams
See our Collections: Light weight Padel Rackets, Medium weight Padel Rackets and Heavy weight Padel Rackets
Choose the heaviest racket you can swing comfortably without losing speed.
Balance
Balance refers to how the weight is distributed.
High balance
More weight toward the top of the racket. This gives you extra power, but the racket can feel heavy at the head, requiring more control from the player.
Low balance
More weight near the handle. This makes the racket feel light and easy to move, helping with control and quick reactions. Great for beginners or defensive players.
Even balance
Weight is distributed evenly. This creates a balanced feel in the hand, offering a blend of power and control.
3. Materials and Surface Finish
The materials used on the racket face have a big impact on how the racket feels when you strike the ball.
Carbon fibre
Carbon fiber is a stiff material designed to offer superior control and a firmer feel, making it the primary choice for players who prioritize precision in their game. The technical performance of carbon is often categorized by its "K" number, which refers to the number of carbon filaments (e.g., 3,000, 12,000, or 18,000) per tow.
3k Carbon: This material provides the stiffest and most responsive feel, making it ideal for players seeking maximum precision and control on high-intensity shots. While it offers less "ball output" on slower hits, it is frequently used in intermediate and attacking rackets to ensure durability and crisp energy return
12k Carbon: Often referred to as the "sweet spot" of hitting surfaces, 12K carbon delivers a refined balance between power, control, and comfort. It is the most versatile option, providing enough stiffness for aggressive play while maintaining a smoother feel than 3K.
18k Carbon: Despite the higher filament count, 18K carbon actually provides a softer touch and increased comfort compared to 12K or 3K weaves. This material is excellent for arm protection and increases "ball output" on slower defensive shots, making it a favorite for all-rounder players and advanced users who want a less punishing feel.
Fiberglass
Fiberglass is a flexible and elastic material that provides a significantly softer feel upon impact. Because it is more forgiving than carbon, it helps the ball "bounce" off the racket face with less physical effort from the player. This makes fiberglass the ideal choice for beginners who are focusing on consistency, or defensive players who require maximum touch and vibration absorption for deep lobs and controlled returns.
4. Soft vs Hard Racket cores
The density of the core affects how much power the racket generates, how much control you have, and how forgiving it feels on off-centre hits.
Low Density Cores – Comfort & Easy Power
Best for Beginners, social players, defensive players, or anyone prioritising comfort.
Low-density cores are soft and highly elastic. When the ball hits the racket, the rubber compresses deeply and then rebounds, creating a strong trampoline effect.
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Power: High ball output with very little effort, especially on slow or defensive shots.
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Control: Reduced precision at high speed due to the elastic response.
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What it feels like: Soft, forgiving, and easy on the arm.
Intermediate Density Cores – Balanced Performance
Best for improving players who want versatility across defence and attack.
Intermediate-density rubber offers a balanced compression and recovery rate. It provides assistance when defending but firms up enough to support offensive play.
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Power: Reliable power without sacrificing control on harder swings.
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Control: Stable, predictable response across all shot types.
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What it feels like: Connected, controlled, and versatile.
High Density Cores – Precision & Technical Power
Best for advanced and competitive players with solid technique.
High-density cores are firm and minimally elastic. They don’t absorb much energy, meaning power comes directly from the player’s swing.
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Power: Maximum power potential when struck cleanly.
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Control: Exceptional precision and a very direct feel, with minimal forgiveness.
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What it feels like: Solid, crisp, and demanding.
Multi-Layer Cores – Adaptive Performance
Best for players wanting all-court versatility.
Multi-layer cores combine soft and hard densities within one racket, adapting to shot speed.
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Power: Firm response on smashes for explosive power.
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Control & Output: Soft response on slower shots for comfort and easy depth.
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What it feels like: Stable, adaptable, and confidence-building.
5. Rough vs Smooth Racket Surfaces
The texture of a padel racket’s face plays a key role in how the ball interacts with the surface, particularly when it comes to spin, control, and ball exit. While the core defines power and feel, the surface finish fine-tunes how your shots behave at impact.
Rough Surface
A rough or gritty racket face increases friction between the ball and the surface. This added grip allows the ball to stay on the face fractionally longer, making it easier to generate spin on slices, kick smashes, topspin volleys, and defensive lobs.
In the hand, rough rackets may feel slightly textured to the touch, but the overall response remains similar to a smooth face.
Smooth Surface
A smooth racket face offers less friction at impact, resulting in a cleaner and faster ball exit. While skilled players can still create spin through technique, smooth surfaces provide less natural grip on the ball.
These rackets tend to feel sleek, direct, and highly responsive, particularly during flat shots and quick exchanges at the net.
Dual Rough Surface (3D Embossed + Sandpaper Finish)
Dual rough finishes combine two textures in one surface: a 3D embossed pattern for physical grip and a sandpaper-style coating for added friction. This pairing maximises contact with the ball, enhancing spin generation without overly slowing the ball down.
The 3D elements help “bite” into the ball on brushing shots, while the sand finish maintains consistent grip across the entire face. The result is high spin potential with controlled power, particularly effective on aggressive smashes and heavy topspin shots.
Making the Best Choice for You
The right racket is the one that feels natural and comfortable in your hand. Think about your playing level, your physical condition, your age and your personal style. If you can try different models, definitely do it. Feeling the differences for yourself is the best way to know what suits you.
Once you find the right racket, everything from your confidence to your shot quality will improve.
At ThePadelShop.co.nz, we aim to make choosing a padel racket simple and straightforward. We stock a range of rackets for all levels, from beginners to competitive players, and focus on helping you find the one that feels right for your game.
Based in New Zealand, we offer local stock and fast shipping, and we’re always happy to give honest, practical advice if you’re unsure which racket suits your style. Our goal is to help you enjoy the game more, with a racket that matches your needs and playing level.
Explore our range of padel rackets in New Zealand and find the one that works best for you.
