How to Choose Your First Padel Racket — A Beginner's Guide (NZ)

Every padel racket guide on the internet seems determined to make this harder than it needs to be. Jargon-heavy breakdowns, 47 different specs, and recommendations that assume you already know what EVA foam density you prefer.

Here's the thing: choosing your first padel racket is actually pretty straightforward. There are three things that matter — shape, material, and weight — and once you understand those, you can make a confident decision in about five minutes.

That's exactly why we built Paloma — to make getting into padel simple, affordable, and genuinely enjoyable. No gatekeeping. No $400 price tags for your first hit.

This guide covers everything you need to know about buying a beginner padel racket in NZ, including what to expect to pay, what the different shapes actually mean in plain English, and how the options stack up against each other. Let's get into it.

Racket Shape: Round vs Teardrop vs Diamond

If you've started looking at padel rackets, you've probably noticed they come in three distinct shapes. This isn't just cosmetic — shape is the single biggest factor in how a racket plays.

Round

Round rackets have a circular head with the sweet spot right in the centre. This makes them the most forgiving — even off-centre hits still feel decent. They're the classic recommendation for beginners, and for good reason. The trade-off? You get less power compared to the other shapes.

Best for: Pure beginners who want maximum control and forgiveness.

Teardrop

Teardrop rackets sit between round and diamond. The head is slightly elongated, which pushes the sweet spot a touch higher and gives you more power without sacrificing too much control. Many intermediate players land here, but it's also a brilliant shape for beginners who want a racket they won't outgrow in three months.

Best for: Beginners who want a balance of control and power, or anyone who doesn't want to upgrade quickly.

Diamond

Diamond-shaped rackets concentrate weight at the top of the head. This means more power on overhead shots and smashes, but they're less forgiving on mis-hits and harder to manoeuvre quickly at the net. These are typically for experienced players who've developed consistent technique.

Best for: Advanced players with solid technique. Not recommended for beginners.

The verdict for beginners

Go with a round or teardrop shape. If you want the safest option, round. If you want something with a bit more versatility that'll grow with you, teardrop. Both are excellent choices — you genuinely can't go wrong with either as your first racket.

Material: Carbon Fibre vs Fibreglass

This is where things get interesting — and where the biggest pricing gap exists in the NZ market. The face material of your racket (the hitting surface) has a major impact on feel, durability, and cost.

Fibreglass

Fibreglass is the traditional entry-level material. It's flexible, which gives a bit of a trampoline effect on contact. It's cheaper to manufacture, so fibreglass rackets tend to be the most affordable option. The downsides? It's heavier than carbon fibre, less responsive, and wears out faster over time. The feel is softer but less precise — you get less feedback on where the ball is hitting the face.

Carbon fibre

Carbon fibre (sometimes listed as 3K or 12K carbon) is the premium material. It's lighter, stiffer, and more durable. The feel is noticeably crisper — you get better touch and more control over where your shots go. In the NZ market, most carbon fibre padel rackets start at around $269 and go well north of $350. That's put CF out of reach for a lot of beginners, which is a shame because it's genuinely the better material at every level of play.

The conventional wisdom has been: start with fibreglass, upgrade to carbon fibre later. But that logic only holds if carbon fibre is expensive. If you can get a full carbon fibre racket at an entry-level price, why wouldn't you start there?

Weight: How Heavy Should a Beginner Racket Be?

Padel racket weight typically falls between 350g and 390g. It might not sound like a big range, but you'll feel the difference over an hour-long session — especially if you're new to racket sports.

Here's the quick breakdown:

• 350–360g (light): Easier to manoeuvre, less strain on your arm and shoulder. Great for beginners, players with smaller frames, or anyone coming back from an injury. You sacrifice a small amount of power, but for social play it's barely noticeable.
• 360–370g (standard): The sweet spot for most players. Enough weight to generate decent power without being tiring. This is where the majority of beginner and intermediate rackets sit.
• 370g+ (heavy): More power, more stability on hard shots, but more fatiguing. Generally better suited to experienced players with conditioned arms and solid technique.

Our recommendation: For your first racket, aim for the 360–370g range. It's the most versatile weight class and what most brands design their beginner models around. If you're on the lighter or smaller side, lean toward the lower end. If you're coming from tennis and have strong arms, you'll be comfortable anywhere in this range.

One more thing: weight distribution matters as much as total weight. A head-heavy racket (like a diamond shape) will feel heavier in play than a balanced or handle-heavy racket at the same weight. So always consider weight and shape together.

What Should You Expect to Pay in NZ?

Padel is still relatively new in New Zealand, which means pricing can be all over the place. Here's how the market currently breaks down for new rackets:

• $134–$150 — Entry level: Mostly fibreglass rackets from brands like NOX. These are decent starter options, though availability can be patchy. At this price you're typically getting basic materials and construction.
• $150–$200 — Entry to mid-range: A mix of fibreglass and partial carbon fibre. Brands like Wilson and Adidas sit here with their beginner-focused models. Build quality improves, but you're still mostly in fibreglass territory for the face material.
• $200–$300 — Mid-range: This is where full carbon fibre traditionally starts appearing. Brands like Babolat, Bullpadel, and NOX offer solid CF rackets in this bracket. Good rackets, but a significant investment for someone who's just trying the sport.
• $300+ — Premium: Top-tier carbon fibre construction, advanced core materials, pro-level features. Fantastic rackets — but absolutely unnecessary for beginners and most recreational players.

Here's the reality: for a beginner, anything in the $134–$250 range will serve you well. You don't need to spend $350 on your first racket. The performance difference between a $200 racket and a $400 one is minimal until you're playing at a competitive level.

That said, there's a clear value sweet spot. The Paloma Padel Racket at $149 disrupts the usual pricing tiers by offering full carbon fibre construction at a price point where most brands are selling fibreglass. You're essentially getting mid-range material quality at entry-level pricing — which means you're starting with a better racket without paying the "carbon fibre tax."

The NZ Beginner Racket Comparison

We've done the legwork so you don't have to. Here's how the most popular beginner padel rackets available in New Zealand stack up against each other:

A few things jump out from this comparison. First, most beginner rackets in NZ are fibreglass — and they're not cheap. The Adidas Match at $194 and Bullpadel Indiga at $220 are both fibreglass, which means you're paying mid-range prices for entry-level materials. Second, stock is a real issue. Both the NOX Equation X Zero and Wilson Blade Team are frequently out of stock at NZ retailers, which makes them hard to recommend if you want to actually buy one today.

The Paloma Padel Racket is the only full carbon fibre option under $200 — and at $149, it's actually cheaper than most of the fibreglass alternatives. The teardrop shape gives it a slight edge in versatility over the round-shaped competitors too.

See the Paloma Padel Racket →

What About Accessories?

Your racket is the main purchase, but there are a few other bits and pieces worth knowing about before you hit the court.

Padel balls ($15–$19 for a tube of 3)

Padel uses pressurised balls that look similar to tennis balls but have slightly less pressure. Most courts supply balls, but if you're playing regularly you'll want your own. Head and Wilson make the most popular options in NZ. Budget around $15–$19 per tube — they last a few sessions before losing their bounce.

Overgrips ($20–$25 for a pack of 3)

Overgrips wrap around your existing grip to improve sweat absorption and comfort. They're cheap, easy to replace, and make a noticeable difference — especially in summer or if you've got sweaty hands. Replace them every few sessions. Brands like Wilson Pro Overgrip and Head are widely available.

Frame protectors ($20–$25)

A clear adhesive strip that goes around the top edge of your racket to protect it from scrapes against the court walls and floor. Padel involves a lot of wall play, so your racket will take some knocks. A frame protector is cheap insurance — especially for a racket you want to last. Most padel retailers stock generic options that fit any racket shape.

We're working on bringing accessories to the Paloma store so you can grab everything in one place. For now, these are available from most NZ padel retailers.

If you're just starting out, don't stress about accessories beyond a set of balls. The overgrip and frame protector can wait until you've played a few times and know you're hooked (spoiler: you will be). If you need somewhere to play, check out our guide to padel courts across New Zealand.

Our Pick for Beginners: The Paloma Padel Racket

We're obviously biased — but let us explain why.

When we designed the Paloma Padel Racket, we started with a simple question: why does getting into padel have to be expensive? The sport itself is social, fun, and easy to pick up. But the gear? The best beginner padel rackets in carbon fibre were all $269+, pushing newcomers toward cheaper fibreglass options that they'd outgrow (or get frustrated with) within a few months.

So we built a racket that gives beginners what they actually need:

• Full carbon fibre face — not "carbon fibre blend" or "CF face only." The real thing. Better feel, better control, longer-lasting than fibreglass.
• Teardrop shape — the sweet spot between control and power. Forgiving enough for your first game, versatile enough for your hundredth.
• 365g — right in the standard weight range. Comfortable for extended sessions without feeling flimsy.
• $149 NZD — less than most fibreglass competitors. We cut the retail markup, not the materials.
• Free shipping across NZ — because paying $15 for shipping on top of your racket is annoying.

Who is it for? The Paloma Padel Racket is designed for beginners and social players. If you're playing once or twice a week, entering your first local tournament, or just want a racket that feels great without spending $300+, this is built for you. It's not a pro-level racket — and it's not trying to be. It's the best padel racket for beginners who want proper materials at an honest price.

Who is it not for? If you're an advanced competitive player looking for a highly specialised racket tuned to your specific playstyle, you'll probably want something from the $300+ range that's tailored to your game. But if you're reading a "how to choose your first padel racket" guide, that's not you — and this racket is exactly what you need.

Not sure if padel is your thing? It might help to understand how padel compares to pickleball — another sport that's been growing fast in NZ.