We get this question constantly from players switching over from tennis: "what size racket do I need?" It's a fair question — in tennis, grip size and racket length are real decisions. In padel, they mostly aren't. Here's why, and what to actually pay attention to instead.

Padel rackets are dimension-capped, not sized

Under official FIP (International Padel Federation) rules, every padel racket — recreational or pro — is capped at a maximum length of 45.5 cm, a maximum width of 26 cm, and a maximum thickness of 38 mm, with a 2.5% tolerance permitted on thickness during official checks. The handle itself is capped at 20 cm long and 5 cm wide. The hitting surface's holes must each measure between 9 and 13 mm. Regulation weight sits between 340 g and 390 g. (Source: FIP Rules of Padel, 2026 edition.)

In practice, almost every racket on the market — including everything we stock — is built right up against the maximum length and width, because there's no competitive reason to make a smaller one. So unlike a tennis frame, where length and head size are genuine buying decisions, a padel racket's outer dimensions are essentially fixed before you even start comparing models.

So what actually varies between rackets?

Three things, and none of them are "size" in the tennis sense:

Weight. Within that 340–390 g regulation band, retail rackets are typically sold in a narrower practical range — roughly 350–375 g for most adult frames in our own catalogue, lighter for junior and some women's frames. This is the closest thing padel has to a tennis grip-size decision, and it's covered properly in our weight and balance guide.

Shape. Round, teardrop, or diamond — same outer envelope, different distribution of mass and sweet spot inside it. This is genuinely the decision that replaces "racket size" for most new players. See our shapes guide.

Balance point and core. Where the weight sits (head-heavy, even, head-light) and what's inside the face (EVA or foam) change how the fixed-size frame actually plays in your hand.

What about grip size?

Tennis players specifically ask about this one, and the honest answer is: padel handles don't come in the range of grip sizes tennis racquets do. The handle is capped at 5 cm wide by regulation, and virtually every racket we stock ships in one standard grip circumference, adjustable only by how much overgrip you wrap on top. If your grip feels too thin, the fix is adding an overgrip or two, not buying a different "size" — our grip kit guide covers base grip vs overgrip vs custom weight if you want to fine-tune feel and swingweight instead.

The one exception: junior and some women's frames

Junior padel rackets are genuinely shorter and lighter, built for smaller players rather than for regulation compliance — that's a real sizing decision if you're buying for a child. Some women's signature lines (like the Bullpadel Elite W or Siux Valkiria) are built lighter within the adult regulation band, which is a weight and balance choice, not a different physical size class — covered in our women's rackets guide.

Bottom line for tennis converts

Stop looking for a racket "size" — every adult padel racket you'll find is built to the same maximum outer dimensions. The decisions that actually matter are shape, weight, balance and core, in that order. Our tennis-to-padel guide covers the other habits worth unlearning, and our beginner rackets guide has real, in-stock options sized (in the ways that actually count) for a first padel racket.

Still unsure what actually fits your hand and your game? WhatsApp us — we'll ask a couple of questions and point you at the right one, not the most expensive one. Play it Bueno.