Guide · From pickleball to padel
Coming from pickleball? Your first padel racket
24.3 million Americans played pickleball in 2025, according to SFIA. If you are one of them and about to try padel, the biggest change is in your hand: a padel racket is heavier, drilled with holes and tied to your wrist.
Updated 6 October 2026. Rules quoted from both federations; weights computed from 201 rackets in our index.
Paddle and racket, side by side
| Pickleball paddle | Padel racket | |
|---|---|---|
| Length | Up to 17 in (43.18 cm). USA Pickleball Official Rulebook, rule 3.D.2 | Up to 45.5 cm (17.9 in), head plus handle. FIP Rules of Padel |
| Width | Length plus width up to 24 in (60.96 cm). USA Pickleball Official Rulebook, rule 3.D.2 | Head up to 26 cm (10.2 in) wide. FIP Rules of Padel |
| Thickness | No limit. USA Pickleball Official Rulebook, rule 3.D.2 | Up to 38 mm (1.5 in). FIP Rules of Padel |
| Weight | No rule. Selkirk paddle weight guide uses 7.5 oz and 8.0 oz paddles as its examples | 310 to 380 g (10.9 to 13.4 oz) across 201 rackets in our index; median 365 g (12.9 oz) |
| Hitting face | Rigid, non-compressible material. USA Pickleball Official Rulebook, rule 3.D.4 | Perforated by holes of 9 to 13 mm in the centre area; flat, smooth or rough. FIP Rules of Padel |
| Wrist strap | Not required | Required: a non-elastic cord of at most 35 cm, worn around the wrist. FIP Rules of Padel |
| Court | 20 by 44 ft, open. USA Pickleball Official Rulebook | 10 by 20 m (about 33 by 66 ft), completely enclosed by walls and fence. FIP Rules of Padel |
What changes when you pick up a padel racket
The weight is the first thing you notice. The median racket in our index weighs 365 g, 12.9 oz, roughly 5.1 oz more than the 7.5 to 8.0 oz paddles in Selkirk's examples. So start your comparison at the lighter end of the range, with a forgiving build, and add weight later if you want more from your smash.
The cord is not optional: the padel rules require it around your wrist. And the court is completely enclosed by walls and fence (FIP Rules of Padel), so the ball stays in play after it bounces off the glass, something an open pickleball court never asks of you.
Rackets to start with, if you buy on Amazon US
How this list is chosen. Only rackets with an Amazon.com listing we checked against the exact model and year, ranked by our forgiveness score (calculated from published shape, balance and weight), lighter published weight first on a tie. No brand pays to be here and a commission rate is never part of the order.
| Racket | Forgiveness | Weight | Shape | Amazon US |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adidas Drive Black 2026 | 90 | 360 to 375 g (12.7 to 13.2 oz) | Round | View on Amazon US |
| Adidas RX Series 2026 | 90 | 360 to 375 g (12.7 to 13.2 oz) | Round | View on Amazon US |
| Head Gravity Team 2024 | 90 | 360 g (12.7 oz) | Round | View on Amazon US |
| Siux Beat Control 2 2025 | 90 | not published | Round | View on Amazon US |
| Nox X-Hero Blue | 82 | 350 to 360 g (12.3 to 12.7 oz) | Round | View on Amazon US |
| Nox X-Hero Red 2026 | 82 | 350 to 360 g (12.3 to 12.7 oz) | Round | View on Amazon US |
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Model names lead to our page for that racket, with every spec and its source. More options in all padel rackets on Amazon US.
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Questions
Can I use my pickleball paddle to play padel?
No. The padel rules require a perforated hitting face and a wrist cord fixed to the handle, and limit the racket to 45.5 cm long, 26 cm wide and 38 mm thick. A pickleball paddle has a solid face and no cord. Source: FIP Rules of Padel.
How much heavier is a padel racket than a pickleball paddle?
The median padel racket in our index is 365 g, about 12.9 oz. Selkirk's paddle weight guide uses 7.5 oz and 8.0 oz paddles as examples, so a typical padel racket is roughly 5.1 oz heavier in the hand.
Which padel racket should a pickleball player start with?
By the rule on this page, today it is the Adidas Drive Black 2026: it has a checked Amazon US listing and the highest forgiveness score among those (90 of 100). Forgiveness in our formula comes from published shape, balance and weight, not from a play test.
How many people play pickleball in the US?
24.3 million Americans played pickleball in 2025, according to SFIA's participation research.