Padel Paddles
Quick Answer
A padel paddle is what many Americans call a padel racket: the solid, stringless, perforated frame used to play padel. It is not a pickleball paddle. A padel paddle weighs about 350 to 375 g, has a foam or EVA core and holes through the face. At Padelnox they cost from $69 to $339.
- Same thing as: a padel racket or padel racquet.
- Not the same as: a pickleball paddle, which is flat, solid, lighter and has no holes.
- Best first buy: a round or teardrop frame between $69 and $150.
Key Takeaways
- Paddle, racket, racquet: all three words describe the same padel frame.
- Pickleball gear will not work: the paddle, ball and weight are all different.
- The holes matter: they reduce air resistance and make the frame quicker through the air.
- Start with control: round or teardrop, soft core, 350 to 365 g.
- Lighter versions exist: several brands make lighter frames that suit players who want a faster padel paddle.
Quick Links
- What "padel paddle" usually means
- A student, a pickleball paddle and a padel court
- Padel paddle picks compared
- How to choose a padel paddle
- Where to buy
- FAQ
Searching for "Padel Paddle"? Here Is What That Usually Means
In Spain nobody says padel paddle. We say "pala", which translates loosely as paddle or blade, and in English the sport officially calls it a racket. In the US, where pickleball and platform tennis already use the word paddle, a lot of new players naturally call the padel frame a paddle too. You are not wrong. You are just using the local word.
So when you search for a padel paddle, the thing you want is the frame in the grid above: a solid body with no strings, a foam or EVA core, a carbon or fibreglass face and a pattern of holes drilled through it. My explainer on what padel is covers the sport itself, and the padel vs pickleball guide explains why the gear is not interchangeable.
A Student, a Pickleball Paddle and a Padel Court
Last spring a student arrived at her first padel lesson with her pickleball paddle, because she had read that padel uses paddles. I let her try. The first serve died off the flat face and barely cleared the net. On the back glass she could not get enough depth to lob. After ten minutes I handed her a round demo frame. Her very next lob landed deep, and she laughed and asked why nobody had told her.
A pickleball paddle weighs around 8 oz, roughly 227 g, and is built for a light plastic ball. A padel paddle is 120 to 150 g heavier and built for a pressurised ball that has to travel off glass walls. The gear matters.
Padel Paddle Picks Compared
Four padel frames I recommend for different players, with one pickleball paddle at the bottom so you can see the difference in the numbers. Specs are as each manufacturer publishes them.
| Model | Shape | Weight | Balance | Core | Face | Player level | Price at Padelnox |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PUMA Nova Padel Pro Hybrid 2024 - Black/Glacial | Teardrop | 360 - 375 g | - | EVA | Carbon | Advanced, Intermediate | $119 |
| PUMA Nova Padel Pro - Pink | Teardrop | 360 - 375 g | - | EVA | Carbon | Advanced, Intermediate | $119 |
| Babolat Air Viper 2.6 2026 | Hybrid | 355 g | Medium | X-EVA multilayered densities, hard | 16K carbon fiber | Amateur | $279 |
| Bullpadel Vertex 05 Hybrid 2026 | Hybrid | 365 - 375 g | Medium | MultiEVA, medium | 12K carbon fiber XT | Improver to competition | $339 |
| JOOLA Simone Jardim Hyperion | Elongated | 7.9 - 8.3 oz (8.1 oz average) | - | Honeycomb propulsion with hyper-foam edge wall | Textured carbon fiber | - | $219 |
The PUMA Nova Padel Pro Hybrid 2024 in black and glacial ($119) is a teardrop for a first or second frame. The PUMA Nova Padel Pro in pink ($119) has the same published specs in a different colour. If you arrived searching for a women's padel racket on sale, it is a sensible, fairly priced start. The Babolat Air Viper 2.6 2026 ($279) is a light 355 g hybrid, and the Bullpadel Vertex 05 Hybrid 2026 ($339) is the all-round version of the Vertex with a medium balance. On a tighter budget, NOX's entry-level X-One line, such as the NOX X-One EVO ($69), is built for learning. If it was a pickleball paddle you wanted after all, try the Selkirk LUXX Control Air Epic in red ($219) or browse the pickleball paddles collection.
How to Choose a Padel Paddle
- Pick a shape. Round for control, teardrop for all-round, diamond for power. My padel racket shapes guide explains each.
- Pick a weight. 350 to 365 g for most beginners, heavier once your technique settles.
- Pick a core. Soft for comfort and easy depth, hard for control at high swing speeds.
- Pick a budget. Start in padel rackets under $150, or the lighter frames in padel rackets for women. My best padel racket for beginners guide narrows it further.
- Set it up. Add an overgrip and a frame protector before your first game.
Where to Buy
Every padel paddle in this collection is genuine brand stock, never replicas, from a US-based store with 221 frames and bags in stock. The full range is in padel rackets. Every order is inspected before dispatch and shipped tracked, with free tracked shipping over $99 and $9.95 flat under that. Unused items can be returned within 30 days, and every racket over $150 ships with a free overgrip 3-pack and frame protector. See the shipping and returns page, the automatic offers, and my overview of padel rackets in the USA. I am Tomás Reyes, and questions about any frame can go to helppadelnox@outlook.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a padel paddle and a padel racket?
There is no difference. Padel paddle, padel racket and padel racquet are all names for the same solid, stringless, perforated frame used in padel. In Spanish it is called a "pala". The official English term is racket, but "paddle" is common in the US because pickleball and platform tennis use it. Whatever you call it, it weighs about 350 to 375 g.
Can I use a pickleball paddle for padel?
No. A pickleball paddle is flat, solid, lighter at around 8 oz and designed for a plastic ball with holes. A padel paddle is heavier, perforated, and built with a foam or EVA core for a pressurised ball that bounces off glass walls. A pickleball paddle feels dead on a padel court and is not allowed in padel matches.
What is the best padel paddle for beginners?
A round or teardrop frame between 350 and 365 g with a soft core. That combination gives a large sweet spot and low balance, so volleys and lobs are easier to control. In this collection, the PUMA Nova Pro frames at $119 and NOX's X-One learning frames at $69 are good starting points. Leave the stiff diamond pro frames for later.