# One number from 0 to 10. > One number per racket: how it plays on paper, plus what independent reviewers say. Price is shown next to it, never mixed in. - URL: https://padell.io/how-we-score/ - 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. --- The padell.io score 60% comes from how it plays on paper, 40% from reviews. The same maths for every brand. Price does not count. **60%** Play *+* **40%** Acclaim *=* **0 to 10** Score [Live example Head · 2026 Extreme Pro 2026 Play **8.9** Acclaim **8.3** 8.7 2 independent review sources · Pricey today](https://padell.io/rackets/head/extreme-pro-2026/) ## What goes into the number 60% ### Play How good the racket is on paper for the style it suits best. The published specs become five playing traits, weighed for three playing styles: attack, all-round and defence. The style that fits best counts. Within that style the weakest racket in the index sits at the bottom of the scale and the strongest at the top, and every racket in between in proportion to how much better it is. So a power racket is measured as a power racket, and a clearly stronger racket really scores higher. Specs · Shape · Balance · Face · Core · Weight Traits · Control · Power · Comfort · Handling · Forgiveness Power counts in full: a head-heavy diamond with a stiff face gets more power than a teardrop, even when both reach 10 on the meter. The face material counts once, inside the traits: a stiff carbon face adds power and costs comfort. It earns no extra bonus on top. 40% ### Acclaim What independent reviewers found. And how many sites covered it. Specs do not tell you how a racket feels. Reviewers do. Average review rating **60%** Number of review sources **40%** Reviews of another version with identical specs count too. Each review site counts once per racket, and sites that rate from the spec sheet instead of playing the racket count for less. No reviews yet? Then Acclaim starts low: between two rackets with the same specs, the one reviewers praise always ranks higher. Specs still weigh more, so a racket with strong specs and no reviews can rank above a reviewed racket with weaker specs. A racket with one or two review sites is pulled towards the average, so a single rave does not decide it. A new generation that reviewers have not covered yet takes the reviews of its predecessor at half weight, until it has its own. The number of reviews on the racket page only counts its own. ## Price sits next to the score, never inside it A great racket stays great when it is not on sale. Mixing price in would punish popular rackets at full price and reward whatever is discounted this week. So today's price is compared with the rackets that play most alike. That gives the label. **Good value** Cheaper than rackets that play alike **Fair price** Around the going rate **Pricey today** You pay more than for similar rackets ## How 600 rackets score today 34 6.5 206 7.0 189 7.5 105 8.0 63 8.5 3 9.0 9.0 **8.5 and up** Among the best for its style 7.5 **7 to 8.5** Solid, worth a look 6.0 **Below 7** Better options exist ## What the score is not **Not for sale** Brands and shops cannot pay for a better score or a higher place. Affiliate links never change a number. **Not shop stars** Customer ratings from shops do not count. Only independent reviewers who publish their own verdict. **Not a lab test** Two rackets with the same specs can still feel different. Use the score to shortlist, then check the fit. ## How the best lists are ranked Sorted by the padell.io score plus real-world signals: pros who play it, reviews and how many shops sell it. Only current models that are in stock. ### Rules for every list - Only current models: the newest generation of each series (or the previous one while the new one is not in the shops yet), in stock at 3 or more shops. - Versions with identical specs or only another colour share one entry, with the others underneath. At most 2 rackets from one series (Light, Ctrl, Team and Pro versions of the same model count together); further ones make way for the next racket. There is no limit per brand: otherwise only the score and the signals decide the order. - On top of that a racket can earn up to 1.7 extra points from real-world signals: 1 if a top 10 pro plays this model, its current version or its women's version (0.4 for a pro ranked 11 to 20), 0.15 per independent review with a rating or YouTube channel with a video review (at most 0.3), 0.1 more or less when reviewers are clearly more or less positive than usual, and up to 0.3 for availability (0.1 from 6 shops, 0.2 from 8, 0.3 from 10). - "Cheaper than usual" means the lowest price today is at least 8% below the middle price of the shops that sell it, the same rule as on the deals page. ### Each list **The best padel rackets right now** On the padell.io score, only current models the brand makes for advanced players and that cost at least € 150 in the shops; beginner and intermediate models have their own lists. The top model of a range (at least € 200 in the shops) gets 0.5 extra. On top of that a racket can earn up to 1.7 extra points from real-world signals: 1 if a top 10 pro plays this model, its current version or its women's version (0.4 for a pro ranked 11 to 20), 0.15 per independent review with a rating or YouTube channel with a video review (at most 0.3), 0.1 more or less when reviewers are clearly more or less positive than usual, and up to 0.3 for availability (0.1 from 6 shops, 0.2 from 8, 0.3 from 10). With an equal result, the higher score goes first, then the lower price today. [Open the list →](https://padell.io/best/best-padel-rackets/) **The best padel rackets for beginners** On the padell.io score, only beginner models: the brand sells it for beginners, it costs under € 100 in the shops, or the brand gives no level and the face is fibreglass. No diamond shapes. On top of that a racket can earn up to 1.7 extra points from real-world signals: 1 if a top 10 pro plays this model, its current version or its women's version (0.4 for a pro ranked 11 to 20), 0.15 per independent review with a rating or YouTube channel with a video review (at most 0.3), 0.1 more or less when reviewers are clearly more or less positive than usual, and up to 0.3 for availability (0.1 from 6 shops, 0.2 from 8, 0.3 from 10). With an equal result, the higher score goes first, then the lower price today. [Open the list →](https://padell.io/best/best-padel-rackets-for-beginners/) **The best padel rackets for intermediate players** On the padell.io score, only rackets for intermediate players: the brand sells it for intermediate players or for every level, or it is an advanced model under € 150 in the shops. Beginner and advanced models have their own place. On top of that a racket can earn up to 1.7 extra points from real-world signals: 1 if a top 10 pro plays this model, its current version or its women's version (0.4 for a pro ranked 11 to 20), 0.15 per independent review with a rating or YouTube channel with a video review (at most 0.3), 0.1 more or less when reviewers are clearly more or less positive than usual, and up to 0.3 for availability (0.1 from 6 shops, 0.2 from 8, 0.3 from 10). With an equal result, the higher score goes first, then the lower price today. [Open the list →](https://padell.io/best/best-padel-rackets-for-intermediate-players/) **The padel rackets with the most control** On control, worked out from the brands' own specs. With equal control, the more forgiving racket goes first, then the racket with more weight from real-world signals (a top 20 pro plays it, independent reviews, in stock at many shops), then the lower price today. [Open the list →](https://padell.io/best/control-rackets/) **The padel rackets with the most power** On power, worked out from the brands' own specs. Many rackets reach the top of the scale, so with equal power the one with more control goes first: power you can still aim. Then the racket with more weight from real-world signals (a top 20 pro plays it, independent reviews, in stock at many shops), then the lower price today. [Open the list →](https://padell.io/best/power-rackets/) **Arm-friendly padel rackets** On comfort, worked out from core, face and balance. Left out: diamonds, head-heavy balance, stiff carbon faces, rackets under 350 grams (a very light racket moves more on impact) and rackets without a published weight. With equal comfort, the more forgiving racket goes first, then the racket with more weight from real-world signals (a top 20 pro plays it, independent reviews, in stock at many shops), then the lower price today. [Open the list →](https://padell.io/best/arm-friendly-rackets/) **The most forgiving padel rackets** On forgiveness: how big and central the sweet spot is, from shape, balance and core. With equal forgiveness, the more comfortable racket goes first, then the racket with more weight from real-world signals (a top 20 pro plays it, independent reviews, in stock at many shops), then the lower price today. [Open the list →](https://padell.io/best/forgiving-rackets/) **The best padel rackets under € 150** On the padell.io score, only rackets that cost € 150 or less today. On top of that a racket can earn up to 1.7 extra points from real-world signals: 1 if a top 10 pro plays this model, its current version or its women's version (0.4 for a pro ranked 11 to 20), 0.15 per independent review with a rating or YouTube channel with a video review (at most 0.3), 0.1 more or less when reviewers are clearly more or less positive than usual, and up to 0.3 for availability (0.1 from 6 shops, 0.2 from 8, 0.3 from 10). With an equal result, the higher score goes first, then the lower price. [Open the list →](https://padell.io/best/rackets-under-150/) **The best light padel rackets** On the padell.io score, only rackets under 355 grams (the middle of the range the brand gives). On top of that a racket can earn up to 1.7 extra points from real-world signals: 1 if a top 10 pro plays this model, its current version or its women's version (0.4 for a pro ranked 11 to 20), 0.15 per independent review with a rating or YouTube channel with a video review (at most 0.3), 0.1 more or less when reviewers are clearly more or less positive than usual, and up to 0.3 for availability (0.1 from 6 shops, 0.2 from 8, 0.3 from 10). With an equal result, the higher score goes first, then the lower price today. [Open the list →](https://padell.io/best/light-rackets/) **The best first padel rackets under € 100** On forgiveness, only rackets that cost € 100 or less today, with a big sweet spot and no diamond shape. With equal forgiveness, the more comfortable racket goes first, then the racket with more weight from real-world signals (a top 20 pro plays it, independent reviews, in stock at many shops), then the lower price. [Open the list →](https://padell.io/best/first-racket-under-100/) ## A high score does not mean it suits you The racket finder weighs the same traits against your game, level and body. [Find my racket](https://padell.io/finder/#quiz) [See the top list](https://padell.io/best/best-padel-rackets/)