Rackets
Your first padel racket: what to buy as a beginner in India
Updated 12 October 2026. Prices checked on 12 October 2026.
Spend less than you think. A first racket needs to do three things: forgive off-centre hits, be light enough to move quickly at the net, and not hurt your arm. Rackets that do that cost ₹5,000 to ₹13,000 in India. The ₹30,000 racket your favourite pro uses does the opposite on all three counts.
Before you buy anything, play three or four sessions with a club racket. You'll find out if you like the game, and whether a club racket feels too heavy, too slow or about right, which tells you more than any spec sheet. Then pick from the three below, one per budget, or use the checklist further down to judge any racket on our price lists.
Side by side
| Racket | Lowest price | Weight | Shape | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kuikma PR Comfort Soft | ₹4,999 | 350 g | Round | The lowest sensible budget |
| Babolat Dyna Spirit | ₹11,699 | 330 g | Teardrop | Beginners who want a light racket |
| Babolat Stima Spirit | ₹12,349 | 335 g | Round | A brand racket with the most shops to choose from |
1.Kuikma PR Comfort Soft
Best for: the lowest sensible budget.
Everything a first racket should be, at Decathlon's price: round head, low balance, soft EVA core and a fibreglass face, at a normal adult weight of 350 g. You may be able to try one in a Decathlon store before you buy (call ahead, not every store stocks padel), which no online shop can offer. If you are not sure padel will stick, this is the racket to start with.
- Weight
- 350 g
- Shape
- Round
- Balance
- Low (260 mm)
- Core
- Soft EVA
- Face
- Fiberglass
Good
- Ticks every box on the beginner checklist
- Cheapest proper adult racket we would recommend
Not so good
- Only sold by Decathlon
- You will want something livelier after a year of regular play
2.Babolat Dyna Spirit
Best for: beginners who want a light racket.
At 330 g this teardrop is one of the lightest adult rackets on our lists, with an even balance and a fibreglass face. Light rackets are quick in fast exchanges at the net and easy on the arm, which suits smaller players, juniors moving up and anyone coming back from an injury. The teardrop shape gives a little more speed than a round head, so it won't feel slow after your first months.
- Weight
- 330 g
- Shape
- Teardrop
- Balance
- Even (265 mm)
- Core
- EVA
- Face
- Fiberglass
Good
- Very light at 330 g
- Teardrop shape you won't outgrow quickly
- Stocked by several shops
Not so good
- Light rackets give less stability against hard hitters
3.Babolat Stima Spirit
Best for: a brand racket with the most shops to choose from.
Round, 335 g and an EVA core: a forgiving racket from a big padel brand. Its biggest practical advantage is availability. More Indian shops stock it than almost any other beginner racket on our lists, so you can wait for the best price and pick the shop with the return policy you prefer.
- Weight
- 335 g
- Shape
- Round
- Balance
- Even (270 mm)
- Core
- EVA
- Face
- Fiberglass
Good
- Round head with a large sweet spot
- Sold by many shops, so prices can be compared
Not so good
- Twice the price of the Kuikma for a similar recipe
The beginner checklist
Shape: round, or teardrop if you have played tennis or squash. Avoid diamond. Weight: about 340 to 360 g for most adults, lighter if you are small or have had arm trouble. Balance: low or even, which on a spec sheet means under about 270 mm. Core: soft EVA or foam. Face: fibreglass. A racket that matches all five will be easy to learn with, whatever the brand.
Our racket pages list these specs for every racket we have checked, and the racket finder filters on them for you.
Three mistakes beginners make
Buying the pro's racket. Signature models used on the Premier Padel tour are often diamond or high-balance carbon rackets. They need a fast, clean swing to work, and in your first year they mostly make your mistakes faster.
Paying for carbon. A carbon face is stiffer and rewards good timing. Fibreglass is softer, more forgiving and cheaper, which is exactly what a beginner needs.
Choosing on looks or price alone. A cheap racket from a toy shop or an unknown seller is often too heavy, or not a proper padel racket at all. Stick to rackets sold by padel shops or Decathlon.
When to upgrade
If you play every week, think about a second racket after six months to a year. The signs: your racket feels slow at the net, your smashes stay in the court when you hit them well, or you have started hitting bandejas and viboras on purpose. That is when a teardrop with some carbon, at ₹13,000 to ₹20,000, starts to make sense. Until then, a fresh overgrip does more for your game than a new racket.
Buying for a child
Children usually need a junior racket, which is shorter and lighter than an adult one. Several Indian shops sell junior models from Babolat and Bullpadel. Ask your child's coach which size fits; a racket that is too long or heavy makes the game harder, not easier.