Why padel rackets come with a weight range, not a weight

360 to 375 g. That is the most common weight you will find on a padel racket spec sheet. Not 367 g, not 370 g: a range of 15 grams.

It looks vague. It is actually the honest answer.

Every racket comes out slightly different

A padel racket is not stamped out of one piece. It is a foam core with layers of carbon or fibreglass around it, a frame, resin, paint, decals and a grip. Part of that work is done by hand.

Foam is never exactly the same density from one block to the next. A layer of carbon picks up a little more or a little less resin. Add paint and a grip, and two rackets from the same box can differ by 10 grams or more.

A brand can do two things with that. Weigh every racket and print the result on it, or publish the spread. Most publish the spread.

How wide the ranges are

Here is what padell.io has per brand. The specs come from the brand's own site, or from a large padel shop where the brand's site is closed to us.

The pattern is clear. Most brands give a range of 10 to 20 grams. A single number tells you less than it seems: the brand does not say how far one racket may be off. It does not tell you what the racket in your hand weighs.

What 15 grams means on court

15 grams is about 4 percent of the racket. Sounds small. You notice it anyway:

• Power. A heavier racket carries more momentum into the ball. Smashes and bandejas get a bit more weight behind them.
• Speed at the net. A lighter racket is quicker to bring up in a fast exchange.
• Your arm. Over a two hour match, extra weight adds up in the shoulder and elbow. If your arm complains, the bottom of the range is the one you want.
• Balance. Extra weight is not spread evenly. If it sits in the head, the racket feels heavier than the scale says.

How to get the weight you want

The range tells you what to expect. These four steps get you the racket you actually want:

1. Ask the shop to weigh it. Some shops will weigh a racket for you if you ask. Do that before you order, not after.
2. Try more than one in a store. Pick up two or three of the same model. You will often feel the difference.
3. Count the extras. An overgrip adds a few grams, a protector tape on the frame adds a few more. Plan for them.
4. Pick the range, not the middle. If weight matters to you, choose a racket whose whole range fits. A 345 to 360 g racket will never be heavy. A 360 to 375 g one can be.

How padell.io uses the range

We always show the range the brand publishes. For filters and the racket finder we use the middle of that range: a 360 to 375 g racket counts as 367.5 g, which is medium on our scale. Light is under 355 g, heavy is 370 g and up.