The Guardian published a padel racket buying guide in March 2026, which is great. The sport needs the coverage, and more people picking up a racket is never a bad thing. But we read it, and here's our take.
Who wrote it
The reviewer is a tech journalist, by his own admission new to padel. He tested 19 rackets alongside friends who were also new to the sport.
The result is what you'd expect: advice from someone who's played a handful of times, written for people who've played a handful of times. That would be fine if it wasn't being sold as a comprehensive buying guide.
A rental racket for beginners?
The standout detail, and we say this with genuine affection, is the "best racket for beginners" pick: the Decathlon Kuikma PR Rental.
A rental racket. The kind your local club hands you when you turn up having never held a padel racket before.
To be fair, rental rackets have their place. If you're completely new, rent one. That's exactly what they're for: keeping costs low while you work out if you actually like the sport. But they're not really meant for buying.
Your first racket should do more
Once you've played a few times, you're enjoying it and you decide to get your own racket, things change.
The beginner rackets we recommend cost a little more, and that's the point. Better materials, better feel, and something that grows with you as your game improves.
A rental racket is for trying padel. Your first racket should be for actually playing it.
Where are Siux and NOX?
It all goes out the window a bit by the intermediate and advanced picks. And where are Siux or NOX? Two of the best-selling brands in the game.
We're not trying to have a dig. It's just what happens when a paper that doesn't cover padel sends someone who doesn't really play padel to write about padel.
Advice from people who actually play
Here's the alternative. Our guides are written by players who have played at a decent level. We've hit with, tested and formed opinions on essentially every racket available.
They aren't written after an hour's court hire. They're written by people who have been on court for years and have the slightly obsessive racket collection to prove it.
Pick your category and we'll tell you what's actually worth buying. Or take our racket quiz for a shortlist matched to your game.
Stuck between two?
Message us with your level and how you play. We'll point you at the right racket rather than guessing from a colourway.
