The right padel racket can be the difference between a win and a loss. You wouldn’t drive a cheap car or use a cheap toothbrush. Having the best tools for the job is a requirement for being a winner.
I’ve compiled the 5 best padel rackets for intermediate players so you can ensure you have the right equipment to supplement your padel skills. All 5 rackets are premium pieces of kit with the latest technology to elevate your game to new heights. Let’s get into it.
Best Padel Rackets For Intermediate Players At a Glance
Adidas Metalbone CTRL
Bullpadel Vertex 03 Control
Nox ML10 Pro
Bullpadel Hack 03
Babolat Viper Counter
Why Trust My Opinion?
I’ve been fortunate to play Padel for the last few years. During this time, I’ve discovered that using the right padel racket is important for performing well in the game.
I tested the five Padel rackets listed below against friends and in my local league games. I can vouch for all of them because I own or have used them.
The Best Padel Rackets For Intermediate Players
Adidas Metalbone CTRL

- Material: Polyurethane
- Shape: Round
- Weight: 375g
- Rating: 10/10
The Adidas Metalbone CTRL racket stands out in Adidas’ premium Metalbone series, offering perfect control and power that will enhance your ever-improving technique.
The Metalbone CTRL is round, unlike its diamond-shaped siblings. This design provides a lower, broader sweet spot, allowing for more comfort and control during play. I noticed this when hitting my precise shots; the racket helped me maintain consistent ball placement.
A standout feature of the Metalbone is the octagonal structure around the frame. This design bolsters the racket’s overall structure, resulting in better control and power, making it easier to respond to various shots with a second thinking time.
What truly sets the Metalbone CTRL apart is its customisable weight system. While initially using it with the default settings, I soon discovered you can fine-tune the balance to suit any playing style.
This feature allows you to remove weights, adjust the balance, or leave it as is, giving you the flexibility to optimise the racket’s performance on how it feels in your hand. Amazing.
The racket boasts even balance, with the weight distributed more towards the handle than in other models in the series. This design helps with feel and control, making those delicate shots even more satisfying.
It’s constructed with high-grade carbon fibre and features an aluminium film coating for extra strength.
The advanced technology and superior performance the Adidas Metalbone CTRL offers justify its position in the market. The combination of the octagonal structure, customisable weight system, and premium carbon fibre build results in a racket that can significantly improve your game.
Bullpadel Hack 03

- Material: Carbon Fibre
- Shape: Diamond
- Weight: 360g
- Rating: 10/10
The Bullpadel Hack 03 left quite an impression. The racket is a true powerhouse designed for aggressive, advanced players looking to dominate the court.
Bullpadel has truly outdone itself with this racket’s look; it looks cool and performs just as well.
What sets the Hack 03 apart is its incredible stiffness. It’s the stiffest racket in Bullpadel’s performance lineup, making it ideal for players who want some extra power in their game. If you’re working on your aggressive style, it’s perfect.
The Hack 03 features a diamond shape with a high sweet spot and weight distribution towards the head. This design is perfect for some explosive power on the court. Expect to win the point when you connect with the ball in the sweet spot.
The Hack 03 air react channel is also impressive. It enhances the racket’s aerodynamics, allowing you to swing quicker to connect for those powerful shots, but it also helps with quick reactions at the net.
For players concerned about vibration (a common issue with stiffer rackets), the Hack 03 has a Bullpadels vibra drive elastic system in the handle. This feature helps reduce vibrations, making longer games more comfortable in the hand.
The racket has a head guard system, which allows you to add weighted extras to the head of the racket. This makes the racket customisable, allowing you to fine-tune its balance to suit your playing style. To suit your needs, you can add 5- or 10-gram weights (sold separately).
The Hesacore grip feels extremely good on the hands. Its unique concave shape not only helps with comfort but also helps reduce tension in the elbow.
The Bullpadel Hack 03 is a great choice for advanced players looking to add more power to your game. If you’re willing to invest in a premium racket, the Bullpadel Hack 03 should definitely be on your radar.
Bullpadel Vertex 03 Control

- Material: Polyurethane
- Shape: Round
- Weight: 365g
- Rating: 8/10
This racket is part of the renowned Vertex 03 range, which is favoured by some of the top padel players worldwide.
The Vertex 03 Control is designed with precision in mind. Unlike its classic diamond-shaped sibling, this model is round with a low balance. The larger sweet spot in the design helps with more accuracy in shots.
The racket’s weight distribution technology is insanely good. It feels solid in your hand and reduces vibrations flowing down your arm, a real benefit during longer games.
The Vertex 03 Control has some of the best bits from the classic version, including the high-quality XT carbon 12k surface and a weight of 365 grams. Despite being a control-oriented racket, I found it offered a good balance of power when needed.
What truly sets this racket apart is how versatile it is. You can play a solid all-round game with this racket. Whether I was at the net or the back of the court, the Vertex 03 Control caters for those impressive volleys or deft drop shots.
The quality of materials and construction is evident in the Vertex 03 from the moment you pick it up, which translates directly into on-court performance. I can understand why it’s trusted by top players and believe it is one of the best padel rackets for intermediate playing levels looking to take their game even further.
Nox ML10 Pro

- Material: Carbon Fibre
- Shape: Round
- Weight: 360g
- Rating: 8/10
The Nox ML10 Pro has been a best-seller for NOX for years, and it’s easy to see why.
The white, red, black, and gold colour scheme gives it a premium look that’s sure to turn heads on the court. But it’s not just about looks—this racket delivers on performance, too.
The ML10 Pro is a round racket with a low balance point, making it sit in the hand easily. I found this balance awesome, as it allowed me to manoeuvre the racket quickly.
Weighing in at around 360 grams, the weight distribution feels just right, offering a good blend of power and control. The 3K carbon surface with a full carbon frame provides excellent strength and responsiveness.
The HR3 EVA foam core is special. It’s high-density memory foam, and it feels like the ball stays on the racket face just a fraction longer, giving you complete control.
The racket also incorporates NOX’s proprietary Pulse system in the grip, which effectively reduces vibrations. This feature and the comfortable 4 3/4-inch grip length help with those longer, more gruelling games.
I was also intrigued by the EOS flat system, which includes small holes in the frame for improved aerodynamics. While it’s hard to determine its exact impact, I felt like I could generate good racket head speed during some power shots.
The Nox ML10 performs well in both defensive and offensive situations. I found it easy to control low balls and hit accurate lobs when defending. When going for the attack, the racket really comes alive. When the ball hits the sweet spot, the ball absolutely flies off the face.
The racket may be heavy for beginners or players with less arm strength, but it’s perfect for intermediate to advanced players. You can really grow into this racket.
Babolat Viper Counter

- Material: Carbon Fibre
- Shape: Diamond
- Weight: 320g
- Rating: 8/10
The Babolat Viper Counter’s striking yellow design makes it instantly recognisable on the court. It backs up its bold appearance with impressive performance.
The first thing that caught my eye about the Counter Viper was its vibrant yellow colour scheme. It’s not just a stylish choice; it makes the racket stand out on the court, adding a touch of flair to your game.
It offers impressive power potential as a head-heavy racket, especially on offensive shots. However, it doesn’t sacrifice control for this, making it a versatile player option.
The Counter Viper boasts a 3D hole pattern. This incorporates different hole sizes across the face of the racket. The larger holes, primarily located on the sides of the racket face, provide excellent bite on the ball. This feature shines when you want to add spin to your shots.
The smaller holes, concentrated in the middle of the racket face, help you control your shots. This varied hole pattern creates a racket that adapts to different shot types, which I found incredibly beneficial for an all-around game.
The Counter Viper features a 3K carbon fibre build, which provides a softer feel than 12K or 18K. This softer touch enhances the overall feel of the racket and provides good feedback on ball contact.
Regarding playability, I found the Counter Viper to be incredible for both offensive and defensive situations. On defence, it offers strong agility and good control, allowing for accurate counter-attacks and lobs.
Offensively, the Counter Viper really starts standing out. The head-heavy balance and 3D hole pattern combine to produce powerful, spin-laden shots that surprise your opponent and win you points.
The Counter Viper is slightly less forgiving than some other rackets in its class. It demands precise technique to get the most out of it, is ideal for intermediate and advanced players, and can aid in taking your game to the next level.
It also features a slightly rough surface texture, enhancing ball grip and spin potential. This feature, combined with the 3D hole pattern, is deadly.
The Babolat Counter Viper is a high-performance racket that suits those who prefer a more aggressive, all-court style of play. While it may take some getting used to, the potential benefits are enormous, and it should definitely be considered one of the best padel rackets for intermediate players.
Buyers Guide
It’s important to know what to look for when shopping for your Padel racket of choice. Here are some key things to consider.
Head Shape
Padel rackets are available in three different head shapes: Round, Diamond, and Teardrop. Round shape rackets feature a head-light balance for easy manoeuvrability and comfort. They typically have larger sweet spots, offering excellent control, though they may lack power.
Teardrop rackets provide a balanced combination of power and control. Their even weight distribution suits various play styles and allows for easy adaptation.
Many professionals favour diamond head shapes. Their head-heavy balance enables powerful shots but has a smaller sweet spot, making them suitable for players with an aggressive style.
Weight
Choosing the right racket weight is down to personal feel, and testing is important for finding your ideal fit. In theory, the stronger player will benefit from heavier rackets.
Thickness
Padel racket thicknesses vary from 35 to 38 mm, with the current regulations allowing a maximum thickness of 38 mm. As your skills develop, switching to a thicker racket will help you generate greater power in your shots and overall play.
Quality
Rackets from reputable brands often offer better performance, build, and overall consistency. While they may come with a higher price tag, they can provide better value in the long run. Look for well-known brands that use superior materials. Many top brands offer mid-range options that provide excellent quality at a reasonable price point.
Carbon Fibre vs Fibreglass
The surface material of a padel racket, which covers the foam core, significantly impacts performance. This surface is the part that makes direct contact with the ball, so it must be strong.
There are two types of materials used, each with unique qualities.
Fibreglass
Fibreglass, known for being soft and heavy, is a popular material for padel rackets due to its low cost. Rackets with a fibreglass surface typically have lower resistance, allowing for a larger sweet spot.
This produces a more powerful sensation upon ball impact and increased forgiveness, making it easier for players to strike the ball properly.
Carbon Fibre
Carbon fibre is stronger and more impact-resistant. It is also lighter than fibreglass, reducing the racket’s overall weight and improving its agility.
Carbon fibre comes in various densities, including 3K, 6K, 12K, and 18K, with higher numbers signifying a stiffer and stronger frame. This density variety enables players to select a racket that fits their playing style and strength requirements.
FAQs
What is the best padel racket shape for intermediate players?
The right padel racket shape for intermediate players depends on their style. There are three main shapes: round, diamond, and teardrop. Round rackets give better control and work well for players who want to be precise.
Diamond-shaped rackets pack more punch, which is great for players who like to hit hard. Teardrop rackets mix power and control, making them a good choice for many intermediate players.
What is the best racket weight for intermediate players?
The ideal racket weight for intermediate players is between 360 and 375 grams. This weight range offers a good mix of control and power. Rackets on the lighter side (around 360 grams) are easier to handle and can boost reaction times, while heavier rackets (up to 375 grams) pack more punch in shots.
Do heavier rackets give more power?
Yes, heavier rackets pack more power because of their extra mass. When you hit the ball with a heavier racket, the added weight creates more force, leading to stronger shots. But it’s key to find the right balance since too much weight can slow you down and make you tired during long matches.
How do I choose a padel racket shape?
Your playing style and skill level impact your choice of padel racket shape. If you want control and precision, a round racket works well. Diamond-shaped rackets are great for players who need more power. A teardrop-shaped racket is your best bet to get a mix of power and control. To find the right fit for your game, try out different shapes.
What are the best padel rackets for intermediate players?
The top padel rackets for mid-level players strike a good balance between control, power, and ease of use. Check out rackets built with top-notch materials such as carbon fibre or fibreglass, which offer lasting quality and great performance.
Companies like Bullpadel, Adidas, and Head make great choices designed for mid-level players, helping you get the most out of your game.
How does the surface material have an impact on padel racket performance?
The surface material of a padel racket affects its performance. Fibreglass surfaces feel softer and have a larger sweet spot, making them easier to use and giving a nicer feel when you hit the ball.
Carbon fibre surfaces are stronger and lighter, which makes them last longer and gives players better control. Intermediate-level players should pick based on what feels good and how well they perform.
Do certain brands make the best paddles for players in the middle-skill range?
A number of companies are known to make top-notch padel rackets for mid-level players. Bullpadel, Adidas, and Head are some of the top names that offer rackets to fit different playing styles and likes. These companies focus on new ideas and quality, making sure that players in the middle-skill range can get their hands on the best gear to step up their game.