# Padel racket for tennis elbow: what helps and what does not > A racket does not cure a sore elbow, but the wrong one makes it worse. What to look for, and what to skip. - URL: https://padell.io/guides/padel-racket-tennis-elbow/ - Last updated: 2026-10-05 - Published: 2026-09-23 - Author: [Ruud Caris](https://padell.io/about/) - Language: en - Site: padell.io (https://padell.io/) Shop links go through padell.io/go/ (affiliate links: padell.io may earn a commission, which never affects scores). Prices include shipping to the Netherlands unless stated otherwise, and change daily. --- [Arm and body](https://padell.io/guides/) A racket does not cure a sore elbow, but the wrong one makes it worse. What to look for, and what to skip. [**Ruud Caris**](https://padell.io/about/) · Updated 5 October 2026 · 2 min read **In this guide** 1. What makes a racket kinder to your arm 2. What to skip 3. The arm-friendly list 4. Before you buy First the honest part: I am not a doctor. If your elbow hurts for more than a few weeks, see a physio. Technique, grip size and how often you play matter more than any racket. What a racket can do is take some of the shock out of every hit. And the wrong racket can add to it. So if your arm complains, it is worth looking at what you play with. ## What makes a racket kinder to your arm **A soft core.** The foam inside the racket decides how much of the impact reaches your hand. Soft EVA or foam absorbs more; hard EVA gives more speed but passes more vibration on. Brands often call the soft versions "comfort" or "soft". **A big sweet spot.** Every hit outside the sweet spot makes the racket twist in your hand, and your forearm has to hold it. Round rackets and a low balance forgive more of those hits. **Not too heavy at the top.** A head-heavy racket works like a lever on your elbow. A low or medium balance is easier on the arm, even if the total weight is the same. **Not too light either.** This one surprises people. A very light racket moves more on impact, so your arm absorbs what the racket does not. Around 355 to 365 grams with a low balance is a sensible middle for most adults. ## What to skip Hard diamond rackets with a high balance. They are built for smashing, and they are exactly what a sore elbow does not need. The same goes for very stiff carbon faces if you are not used to them. ## The arm-friendly list padell.io ranks rackets on comfort in its profile: core, face, balance and what reviewers say about vibration. These score highest right now. Diamonds, head-heavy rackets and stiff carbon faces are left out: the same rule as in the racket finder. Arm-friendly padel rackets [Head Evo Speed 2025 · 7.9 **€ 60**](https://padell.io/rackets/head/evo-speed-2025/) [adidas Rx Series · 8.5 **€ 85**](https://padell.io/rackets/adidas/rx-series/) [adidas Metalbone Team Light 2026 · 8.7 **€ 140**](https://padell.io/rackets/adidas/metalbone-team-light-2026/) [adidas Drive Light 2026 · 8.1 **€ 66**](https://padell.io/rackets/adidas/drive-light-2026/) [See the full list →](https://padell.io/best/arm-friendly-rackets/) ## Before you buy Take your time switching. A new racket feels different for a few sessions, and going from a stiff racket to a soft one also changes your timing. If you can, borrow one at your club first. And check your grip. A grip that is too thin makes you squeeze harder, which is a classic cause of arm trouble. An overgrip costs a few euros and is the cheapest thing on this page. **Which racket suits your game?** The racket finder asks about your level, side and arm, and shows the rackets that fit, with the reasons why. [Start the racket finder](https://padell.io/finder/#quiz) Written by **Ruud Caris** Builds websites since 2008 and plays padel [About padell.io →](https://padell.io/about/) ## Keep reading [Buying **Which padel racket fits me?** Four questions. That's all you need to pick the right one from 625 rackets. Here you can read what those questions are and in what order to ask them. · 6 min read](https://padell.io/guides/which-padel-racket/) [Basics **Round, teardrop or diamond: which racket shape suits you?** The shape decides where the sweet spot sits and how the weight is spread. Three shapes, three kinds of player. · 2 min read](https://padell.io/guides/padel-racket-shapes/) [Buying **New model or last year's? Same racket, lower price** Of the 131 generation pairs in the index, 9 are identical on paper. New color, same specs. Buy the old model and pay less. · 4 min read](https://padell.io/guides/last-years-padel-racket/)