Two rackets of 360 g can feel completely different. The difference is balance: how far from your hand the weight sits. It is one number, measured in millimetres, and it tells you more about how a racket plays than most of the marketing on it.
How balance is measured
Balance is the distance from the bottom of the handle to the point where the racket balances on your finger. Most padel rackets fall between about 255 and 275 mm. On our racket pages we use a simple split: under 265 mm is low, 265 to 270 mm is even, above 270 mm is high. Brands measure slightly differently, so treat a few millimetres either way as the same racket.
| Balance | Roughly | How it plays | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low | Under 265 mm | Quick to move, easy on defence, less punch on smashes | Beginners, defensive players, anyone with a sore arm |
| Even | 265 to 270 mm | A bit of everything, no big weakness | Most club players |
| High | Over 270 mm | More speed on overheads, slower in quick exchanges | Attacking players with good timing |
Why a heavy head tires you out
The further the weight sits from your hand, the harder the racket is to swing and to stop. Over one smash you won't notice. Over two hours of volleys and defending off the glass, a high-balance racket asks a lot more from your wrist, forearm and shoulder. It is one of the first things to look at if your elbow starts hurting after a racket change.
Our advice: pick balance for the situations you find hard, not for your favourite shot. If you struggle when the ball comes back fast at the net, a high balance makes that worse, however good your smash feels in the shop.
Weight and balance together
Most adult rackets weigh 340 to 375 g. Light rackets exist too: the HEAD One Ultralight on our list is listed at 300 g. A light racket with a high balance can feel similar to a heavier racket with a low balance, so always read the two numbers together. If you have no idea where to start, an even balance and a weight around 350 to 365 g suits most adults.
You can shift balance a little yourself
Every overgrip adds weight at the handle and moves the balance slightly towards your hand. Players who want the opposite add a strip of lead tape to the top of the frame. Neither turns a diamond into a round racket, but a few grams can take the edge off a racket that feels a bit too head-heavy.