Why is it recommended to start with an introductory racket?
Padel rackets are a tool to choose with extreme care, and on which the quality of your sporting experience depends. When approaching a new sport, the main objective must be to have fun without worries. For this reason, if you are a novice padel player, we recommend a 'shovel' that is easy to handle, with good ball output and which makes you feel in control of the situation. These shovels are also ideal for minimizing the risk of injury, especially for those who already have elbow or shoulder problems.
How do you recognize an 'easier' racket?
The parameters listed above are obtained by observing a series of specific characteristics, such as the balance of the 'blade' towards the handle, the softness, and the shape of the frame. Balancing
The neck balance or 'down' balance makes the racket feel lighter. The center of gravity is closer to the body, making it easier to maintain balance and coordination when hitting the ball.
Consistency
The consistency of the racket can be due to several elements: the elasticity of the point of impact, and the softness of the internal material. A softer 'blade' will allow you to generate more ball speed with less effort. Contrary to what it may seem, this is not an invitation to pull even harder! Indeed, it is what will allow you not to force the movements, make less effort, have more fun and concentrate on replicating the most correct technical gesture.
Form
Another very important aspect of your first racket is the shape of the frame: 'rounder' frames have an optimal point of contact with the larger ball, thus helping you to enjoy the experience and make fewer mistakes.
Accident prevention
Last but not least, the blades of this category almost totally reduce the likelihood of injury, a risk that is run above all with blades balanced towards the tip and which require more effort with the arm and shoulder to hit the ball well (this risk is further accentuated if you take classes, where the same movements are repeated many times, putting a lot of stress on the joints and muscles of the elbow and shoulder).