Padel racket and elbow or wrist pain: what players changed
17 selected public Reddit threads, represented by the excerpts available to us, in which padel players describe elbow, wrist or shoulder pain and the rackets involved. Some voices are the person who asked, some are replies. This page collects what they tried or asked about and what the thread reports, and links every thread so you can read it yourself.
This is players' experience, not medical advice. Pain that lasts needs a doctor or a physiotherapist. Our comfort rating describes published specs; it does not prevent injury.
Tried: lighter set-up weight (thread); stiffer feel (thread); different racket (thread); replaced factory grip with three overgrips (thread); Hesacore grip (thread); round and hybrid shapes (thread); switched from Phoenix Pro to Phoenix Elite (thread); switched to Stealth Aurora (thread); different racket after surgery (thread).
Asked about, outcome not read: a softer alternative (thread); an alternative (thread, thread); a lighter racket (thread, thread); a more consistent alternative (thread); light but not too soft (thread); a replacement within a personal weight limit (thread); advice (thread); considering a second racket (thread).
These are selected threads, not a survey, so we do not count how common each step is.
Not every change worked for everyone. One player had elbow pain with a round, soft racket. One wanted a stiffer racket for a wrist injury. One commenter reports elbow and shoulder problems alongside weight training; another reports no tennis elbow with a 380 g setup. These are different people and setups, not a controlled comparison.
“I took off the stock grip and added 3 overgrips,”
The original poster reports elbow pain with a NOX AT10 18K, then switches to an Oxdog Ultimate Pro Light 2026 and replaces its factory grip with three overgrips. A separate reply reports improvement using a Bullpadel Neuron Cloud; it is not the same before-and-after account.
What the thread reports: The original poster reports pain halfway through one match with the NOX, compared with a little discomfort at the end of three matches in a day with the Oxdog. This is a personal report, not a controlled comparison or proof of recovery.
NOX AT10 18K(original poster: before). In our index: Nox AT10 Luxury Genius 18K Alum 2026 (the player did not give the year; this is the year in our index), published weight 360 to 375 g, core Medium, MLD Black Eva, shape Teardrop.
Oxdog Ultimate Pro Light 2026(original poster: after). In our index: Oxdog Ultimate Pro Light 2026, published weight 350 g, balance High, shape Diamond.
Bullpadel Neuron Cloud(separate reply: reports improvement). Not in our index yet.
“I absolutely love how the racket plays, but everytime I play with it, I always hurt my elbow.”
The player uses a Head Coello Motion 2025. Replies suggest a Wilson Bela V3 LS or a Bullpadel Hack 02 2026. One reply says an earlier Wilson Bela Pro 2.5 was hard on their elbow.
What the thread reports: Unknown. No follow-up from the player was read.
Head Coello Motion 2025(before). In our index: Head Coello Motion 2026 (our index holds another year of this line), published balance High, core Power Foam, shape Diamond.
Wilson Bela V3 LS(suggested). In our index: Wilson Bela LS V3, published weight 355 g, balance Medium, core Medium, Power Foam, shape Teardrop.
Bullpadel Hack 02 2026(suggested). Not in our index yet.
Wilson Bela Pro 2.5(reply: hurt). In our index: Wilson Bela Pro V2.5, published weight 370 g, balance High, core Hard, EVA, shape Diamond.
“Hesacore helped a little, but I’m still getting elbow pain after playing.”
The player gets tennis elbow with a Bullpadel Hack 04 Hybrid. A reply adds that they had elbow problems with a round, soft control adidas racket as a beginner, so soft alone was not the answer for them.
What the thread reports: Partial. The grip helped a little; the pain continued.
Bullpadel Hack 04 Hybrid(before). In our index: Bullpadel Hack 04 Hybrid 2026 (the player did not give the year; this is the year in our index), published weight 365 to 375 g, balance Low, 25 cm, core Medium-soft, MultiEva, shape Diamond.
“I continued playing roughly the same amount after changing to the Vertex, and that’s when the elbow pain started”
They played four to five times a week with an adidas RX Series Light without elbow issues, then moved to a Bullpadel Vertex 05 Hybrid 2026 and developed tennis elbow. They suspect the heavier, stiffer racket.
What the thread reports: Unknown. No follow-up from the player was read.
Adidas RX Series Light(before, no pain). Not in our index yet.
Bullpadel Vertex 05 Hybrid 2026(after, pain). In our index: Bullpadel Vertex 05 Hybrid 2026, published weight 365 to 375 g, balance Low, 25 cm, core Medium, MultiEva, shape Hybrid.
“I currently use the Vertex 05 Hybrid 2026 but i feel like its too heavy for me and gives elbow pain.”
A reply from another player lists a Wilson Bela LT, an adidas Metalbone Carbon CTRL and a Bullpadel Vertex, and says their elbow is 90% under control.
What the thread reports: Unknown for the player who asked.
Bullpadel Vertex 05 Hybrid 2026(before). In our index: Bullpadel Vertex 05 Hybrid 2026, published weight 365 to 375 g, balance Low, 25 cm, core Medium, MultiEva, shape Hybrid.
adidas Metalbone Carbon CTRL(reply: uses). In our index: Adidas Metalbone Carbon Ctrl 2026 (the player did not give the year; this is the year in our index), published weight 360 to 375 g, balance Medium, core Soft, EVA Soft Performance, shape Round.
“the new Vertex Hybrid 05 which I tried gives me elbow pain almost immediately because of its harder and drier surface.”
The player reports that their Siux ST4 Pro does not flare up their tennis elbow, but dislikes its variable response in different conditions. They report elbow pain when trying a Vertex Hybrid 05 and ask about the new Siux range.
What the thread reports: The excerpt reports different experiences with the ST4 Pro and the Vertex. It does not establish the final replacement or a later pain outcome; the purchase fragment does not clearly identify the bought model.
Bullpadel Vertex 05 Hybrid(tried, pain). In our index: Bullpadel Vertex 05 Hybrid 2026 (the player did not give the year; this is the year in our index), published weight 365 to 375 g, balance Low, 25 cm, core Medium, MultiEva, shape Hybrid.
“I developed ongoing tendon irritation around my elbow and switched to round and hybrid rackets.”
After trying round and hybrid rackets, the player tried a Siux Phoenix Pro and reports an immediate elbow flare-up. They then switched to the Phoenix Elite, which they describe as better but still irritating the elbow.
What the thread reports: Partial improvement is reported after switching to the Phoenix Elite, with irritation continuing. No later outcome was read.
Siux Phoenix Pro(tried, reports pain). Not in our index yet.
Siux Phoenix Elite(after, reports continuing irritation). Not in our index yet.
“I have elbow pain when using crossit light marta ortega 2026 and some mild trap pain with the bullpadel vertex mexico 2026”
A reply suggests the current rackets are too much for playing two to four times a week.
What the thread reports: Unknown. No follow-up from the player was read.
adidas Cross It Light 2026(pain). In our index: Adidas Cross IT Light 2026, published weight 345 to 360 g, balance Medium, core Medium, EVA Soft Energy, shape Round.
Bullpadel Vertex Mexico 2026(pain). Not in our index yet.
“i switched to Nox at10 12k 2025 and since then i feel my game has become worse along with elbow issues.”
Another player lists rackets they dropped for arm or wrist pain, including a Dunlop Galactica for elbow pain and a Metalbone with added weights for wrist pain. A reply suspects hardness plus a small sweet spot, which is an opinion, not a measurement.
What the thread reports: Unknown.
Nox AT10 12K 2025(pain). In our index: Nox AT10 Luxury Genius 12K Alum Xtreme 2026 (our index holds another year of this line), published weight 360 to 375 g, core Medium-hard, HR3 Black EVA, shape Teardrop.
“I lift heavy weights and have tennis+ golfers elbow + shoulder issues from padel only.”
One commenter reports weight training alongside elbow and shoulder problems. Another person in the thread reports a 380 g setup with overgrips and a wrist strap and no history of tennis elbow.
What the thread reports: These are two different self-reports. They do not establish what caused or prevented symptoms in either person.
“needing to abandon firmer rackets (had previously been using the Oxdog Hyper 2.0 Pro+ and Pro) due to tennis elbow.”
A reply describes moving from Oxdog Hyper 2.0 Pro+ and Pro rackets to a Stealth Aurora because of tennis elbow. The commenter likes its playability and describes the weights of two units. Another reply separately reports elbow trouble with a NOX AT10.
What the thread reports: A racket change and positive playing impressions are reported. The excerpt does not explicitly report that elbow pain resolved.
Oxdog Hyper 2.0 Pro+(reply: before). In our index: Oxdog Hyper Pro+ 2.0 2026 (the player did not give the year; this is the year in our index), published weight 370 g, balance High, core Hard, shape Teardrop.
Stealth Aurora(reply: after). Not in our index yet.
“Been having elbow pain, and sometimes fatigued forearm after intense play.”
Five months into padel with a Head Extreme Pro.
What the thread reports: Unknown.
Head Extreme Pro(before). In our index: Head Extreme Pro 2026 (the player did not give the year; this is the year in our index), published weight 370 g, balance High, core Medium, Power Foam, shape Diamond.
“I was trying to find an all-round light racket because I have issues with my wrist (scaphoid fracture).”
Their NOX AT10 Genius 18K 2024 weighed 366 g with overgrips. The target was 345 to 350 g with overgrips. A rented Metalbone weighed 368 g, and a month of asking shops found no Metalbone unit under 353 g. They bought a Siux Valkiria Pro 2026, which came to 338 g with a Hesacore and a Tourna grip.
What the thread reports: The player reports no feeling of limitation in their movement during a tournament.
Nox AT10 Genius 18K 2024(before). In our index: Nox AT10 Luxury Genius 18K Alum 2026 (our index holds another year of this line), published weight 360 to 375 g, core Medium, MLD Black Eva, shape Teardrop.
Adidas Metalbone CTRL 2026(tried). In our index: Adidas Metalbone Ctrl 2026, published weight 345 to 360 g, balance Medium, core Soft, EVA Soft Performance, shape Round.
Oxdog Ultimate Pro Light(considered). In our index: Oxdog Ultimate Pro Light 2026 (the player did not give the year; this is the year in our index), published weight 350 g, balance High, shape Diamond.
Siux Valkiria Pro 2026(after). Not in our index yet.
“What I also don’t understand is why I’m struggling so much with wrist and tennis elbow pain in the first place.”
The original poster attributes wrist and elbow pain to a NOX AT10 18K, then reports almost no wrist pain with a Head Gravity Motion but dislikes its soft, springy response. They seek a firmer alternative. Separately, a reply reports improvement after moving to a Head Speed Motion 2023.
What the thread reports: The original poster reports improvement in wrist pain with the Gravity Motion. No outcome for a subsequent replacement was read.
Head Speed Motion 2023(reply: helped). Not in our index yet.
“Last year I switched to the Starvie Metheora Warrior 2021, but this weights 388 grams and this hurts my wrist.”
They describe themselves as tall with a wrist issue.
What the thread reports: Unknown. No follow-up from the player was read.
Starvie Metheora Warrior 2021(pain). Not in our index yet.
How we built this page
Threads from r/Padelracket between September 2025 and September 2026, found in a year of buyer research. We reviewed the available post and reply excerpts, not complete threads or every comment. Thread links may contain follow-ups we have not seen; these are not verified permanent links to individual comments. Quotes are the players' own words, shortened only by cutting. The outcome line says only what the thread reports. Players are not named. Racket facts come from our index, with the maker source on each racket page. Last updated 2026-09-30.
Research on padel players finds the elbow is the most commonly injured site, and one study of 950 amateurs names racket characteristics among the factors to take into account, together with weekly practice, experience and sex. Several players on this page report pain that began after changing racket. These observations do not establish that a particular racket caused or resolved an individual player’s pain. For pain that lasts, see a doctor or physiotherapist.
What racket weight do padel players with elbow or wrist pain choose?
There is no single number in these reports, and none of them is a recommendation. One player reporting a wrist fracture gives a final setup weight of 338 g with a Hesacore and Tourna grip. Another says they will not go above 365 g. A third reports playing at 380 g with no elbow trouble. Several players count the weight of the racket as set up, with grips and overgrips, not only the label.
Does a soft padel racket help tennis elbow?
The reports are mixed. One player reports less wrist pain after changing to a racket they describe as softer, but dislikes its playing feel. One had elbow problems with a round, soft racket, and a player with a wrist injury preferred a stiffer one. Published specifications and calculated ratings cannot establish whether a racket will relieve someone’s pain.
Did a Hesacore grip resolve elbow pain in these reports?
In the Hack 04 Hybrid thread, the player reports a little improvement with a Hesacore grip but continuing elbow pain. That individual experience cannot establish effectiveness or predict another player’s result.