NOX X-One Review: The Beginner Racket I Keep in My Bag
Quick Answer
The NOX X-One is a good first padel racket and one of the easiest frames to learn with. NOX describes the range as round and forgiving with a large sweet spot, and that matches what I see in trial lessons. The EVO, X2 and X3 all cost $69, so choose the design you like.
- Best for: first-time players, casual doubles, spare rackets for friends and family
- Shape: round, forgiving head (NOX does not publish a detailed spec sheet for the X-One on our listings)
- Price at Padelnox: $69 for the X-One EVO, X2 or X3
Key Takeaways
- It does the one job a beginner racket must do. New players find the sweet spot quickly, and that confidence keeps them coming back.
- The three versions play alike in my hands. I could not separate the EVO, X2 and X3 on court, so pick on looks.
- It is not a racket for your second year. Once you volley with intent and hit a real bandeja, a carbon frame will help you.
- Budget for the extras. Balls, overgrips and a protector make a bigger difference to a beginner than any racket upgrade.
- The Silhouette is the spec-sheet sibling. At the same $69, the NOX Silhouette is an oversized round frame with a published 350 - 365 g weight.
Quick Links
- What I have seen with the NOX X-One in trial lessons
- NOX X-One EVO, X2 and X3 explained
- How to set up your first racket
- NOX X-One vs other beginner rackets
- When to upgrade and what to
- Where to buy
- FAQ
What I Have Seen With the NOX X-One in Trial Lessons
I keep two X-One frames in my coaching bag, an X-One EVO ($69) and an X-One X3 ($69). Every first-timer who arrives without a racket uses one of them. Over the last year that has been well over a hundred people, from teenagers to retirees, and a few former tennis players who thought they did not need help.
The first ten minutes. What I watch for in a trial lesson is how quickly a new player stops framing the ball. With the X-One, most people make clean contact within the first few feeds. The round head is generous, and the ball comes off at a predictable height even when the contact is a little off.
The first rally. Beginners tend to swing too hard and too late. A stiff, head-heavy frame punishes both. The X-One takes the edge off: mistimed balls still come back over the net rather than into the glass. That is the difference between a player who books a second session and one who does not.
The walls. Learning to let the ball come off the back glass is the hardest part of padel for new players. A light, easy-to-swing racket helps, because you can react late and still get it back. My trial students scoop balls off the glass with the X-One far more successfully than when I lend them my own teardrop.
Where it runs out. After three or four months of regular play, the better students start asking why their volleys lack punch and their bandeja lands short. That is the moment the X-One has done its job. It is not built to reward a firm, early swing the way a carbon frame is.
Former tennis players. This group deserves its own note. They arrive with good hand-eye coordination and a big swing, and they usually want a heavy, powerful racket straight away. I hand them an X-One anyway. Padel rewards short, compact strokes and patience, and a light, forgiving frame forces them to stop swinging like it is a baseline rally. Most of them admit after a session that the smaller swing felt more natural than they expected, and the ones who stick with the X-One for a couple of months tend to build much cleaner volleys.
Kids and teenagers. For younger players with adult-sized hands, the X-One has been a reliable pick too. It is easy to swing for a full hour, and at $69 it does not hurt when it inevitably meets the glass.
Arm comfort. Across all those lessons, I cannot remember a beginner complaining about their elbow with the X-One. For people coming to padel after years away from racket sports, that matters.
NOX X-One EVO, X2 and X3 Explained
The X-One EVO, the X-One X2 ($69) and the X-One X3 are NOX's entry-level rackets. All three sit at $69 at Padelnox, and NOX presents the range as a round, forgiving shape with a large sweet spot for easy control from the first session.
Our listings do not include separate spec sheets for the three versions, so I will not quote weights or balance points I cannot verify. What I can tell you is that in my hands they played very similarly: easy to swing, soft on contact and forgiving on off-center hits. My advice is to choose the colorway you like and spend the time you save on court.
If you want a beginner frame with a published spec sheet, the NOX Silhouette ($69) lists an oversized round shape, 350 - 365 g, a 3K fibreglass face, an HR3 core and a soft feel, rated for beginners. Same price, same purpose, a little more information to go on.
People often search "nox x one vs ml10". They are different tiers. The X-One is a $69 starter racket, and the NOX ML10 Pro Cup is a $239 carbon control frame rated from beginner to competition. If you are sure you will play every week, the ML10 is a racket you will keep for years. If you are trying padel out, start with the X-One.
How to Set Up Your First Padel Racket
- Add one overgrip. The factory grip gets slippery fast. A fresh overgrip gives you a better hold and absorbs sweat. Change it every eight to ten sessions.
- Fit a frame protector. Beginners hit the floor and the glass with the top of the racket more than anyone. A protector is cheap insurance.
- Use the wrist strap. It is there for safety. Rackets fly in beginner doubles, and the glass does not forgive.
- Buy fresh balls. Old, flat balls make padel harder to learn. A new can makes a real difference, and my padel balls guide explains when to replace them.
- Keep it out of a hot car. Heat is hard on any racket core.
- Do not add weight. Lead tape on a beginner racket makes it harder to swing, which is the opposite of what you need.
Accessories are 15% off automatically when you buy three or more, so an overgrip pack, a can of 3 padel balls ($17.99) and a protector together cost less than buying them separately. For weight questions in general, see my padel racket weight guide.
NOX X-One vs Other Beginner Rackets
Values come only from the manufacturer spec sheets on our product pages. No figure published means a dash in the cell.
| Model | Shape | Weight | Balance | Face | Player level | Price at Padelnox |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NOX X-One EVO | - | - | - | - | - | $69 |
| NOX Silhouette | Oversized round | 350 - 365 g | - | 3K fibreglass | Beginner | $69 |
| TUYO Tyro Orange | Round | 350 - 355 g | - | 100% carbon | - | $79 |
| PUMA Nova Pro CTR 2025 | Round | 360 g | Low | 3K carbon | Intermediate/advanced | $119 |
| NOX ML10 Pro Cup 3K 2024 | Round | 360 - 375 g | Low | 3K carbon fiber | Beginner to competition | $239 |
The TUYO Tyro Orange ($79) is a round carbon-faced option with a soft EVA core, and my TUYO padel guide covers the brand. The PUMA Nova Pro CTR 2025 ($119) is round with a low balance and a 3K carbon face, a sensible second racket covered in my PUMA padel guide.
When to Upgrade From the NOX X-One
There is also a case for keeping the X-One after you upgrade. Most of my regular students still carry theirs as a spare for the day a friend wants to join, or for rainy sessions on a gritty outdoor court when they do not want to scuff the good racket.
Upgrade when the racket starts limiting you, not when a friend buys something shiny. My three signs: you can rally from the back glass comfortably, you volley on purpose rather than in self-defense, and you have started hitting a bandeja instead of a flat swipe.
The natural next step inside NOX is the NOX 12K Pro ($119), a carbon-faced frame NOX describes as crisp and responsive with dependable control. After that, the ML10 Pro Cup for control players or the AT10 for all-court players. My NOX padel brand guide lays out the full ladder, and the best padel racket for beginners guide compares options across brands. New to the sport altogether? Start with what padel is and how it is played.
Where to Buy the NOX X-One
Padelnox is a US-based online store that stocks genuine NOX rackets, never replicas, with 221 frames and bags in stock. Every order is inspected before dispatch and shipped tracked. Orders are processed in 1 to 3 business days and arrive 7 to 14 business days from dispatch.
Orders above $99 ship free and tracked, and anything below pays $9.95. A $69 X-One plus a few accessories often crosses the free shipping line. Unused items in original packaging can be returned within 30 days, and the full terms are on the shipping and returns page. The free Court-Ready Kit is for rackets over $150, so it does not apply to the X-One, but the 3-for-15% accessories offer does. See the Padelnox discount code page for how the offers apply.
Browse the NOX ML10 and X-One collection, all padel rackets under $150, the full NOX collection, the TUYO padel range and accessories for grips, balls and protectors. Questions: helppadelnox@outlook.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the NOX X-One good for beginners?
Yes. NOX describes the X-One as a round, forgiving racket with a large sweet spot, and in my trial lessons new players make clean contact with it very quickly. It is easy to swing, kind on the arm and forgiving off the walls. Most players outgrow it after several months of regular play, which is exactly what a first racket should allow.
What is the difference between the NOX X-One EVO, X2 and X3?
All three are NOX entry-level rackets priced at $69 at Padelnox. Our listings do not publish separate spec sheets for them, so I will not quote numbers. In my own hands they played very similarly: easy to swing, soft on contact and forgiving. For a beginner, the choice between them comes down to which design you prefer.
How much does the NOX X-One cost?
The NOX X-One EVO, X2 and X3 are each $69 at Padelnox. Shipping is free and tracked on orders over $99, so adding overgrips, a frame protector and a can of balls often gets you there. Buy three or more accessories and they are 15% off automatically. The free Court-Ready Kit only applies to rackets over $150.