Best padel rackets for intermediates - let's raise your game

Congratulations! You've hit the glorious, slightly frustrating, but incredibly rewarding intermediate stage of your padel life.You’re hitting bandejas, perfecting your volleys and starting to think about strategy. The beginner days are behind you and the basic racket that got you started is beginning to hold you back.

Finding the perfect padel racket at this intermediate stage is crucial. You need something that gives you more than just control - a racket that can unlock new levels of power and precision.

Happily, we're here to help. We've put in the hours on the court, testing this year's best intermediate padel rackets. In a crowded field, we’ve picked several that we especially love. One of them could be just what you need to elevate your game, whether you're a control wizard, a power-hitter, or an all-court warrior.

Our shortlist is a short cut to making a decisive choice, with our personal recommendation and a 'take' or 'leave' soundbite to summarise. Of course, we have dozens of other great intermediate rackets that could suit your individual game: if you have more time, go ahead and explore our full intermediate padel racket range.

This racket from Bullpadel is built for a more comfortable playing experience without sacrificing explosive power, building in the latest innovations from Bullpadel's renowned design lab.

This racket is head heavy with top balance, designed to give you the extra power that your fast-improving game deserves.

Our pdhsports.com player verdict: "Love the big-hitting feel of this racket - it helped me dominate the court with total authority. It seems to amplify the power I put into every shot."

Take it if you're developing an aggressive game and building your stamina

Leave it if you prefer a racket with more even head balance

The Air Viper is another hard-hitting racket. It stands out if you prefer less weight in your hand: at just 355g, it's noticeably lighter than other powerful rackets on the market. It's built with even balance, which also gives a little more control.

The pdhsports.com player verdict: "Great for accuracy and a more subtle game. This racket feels perfect for a player who wants to refine their game as they progress in skill."

Take it if you like a lighter-feeling, highly manoeuvrable racket and a good whack of power.

Leave it if you want out and out power as your top priority.

With a diamond shaped head and even balance, the Aero-Star racket feels extremely comfortable in all areas of the court. No wonder this is one of our most popular padel rackets for progressive players. It's way more sophisticated and controllable than a beginner racket but there's no compromise on comfort.

The pdhsports.com player verdict: "The aerodynamic design gives you power and pace when you need it but also a subtle touch when you want to play that angled volley to get your opponents running."

Take it if you play an all-rounder game balancing power and precision

Leave it if this all sounds a bit too subtle - look for a round headed racket with a larger sweet spot

For intermediate players who are looking for high power and excellent manoeuvrability, this Extreme Motion racket is ideal. HEAD has developed clever new technology that delivers extra power and sensational impact that you really can feel. But to tame the power, it's also designed to provide a softer playing feel, with well damped vibrations.

The pdhsports.com player verdict: "This feels great when you're applying spin and making use of more sophisticated shots. It's really comfortable, even in a long match."

Take it if you're looking to develop your game with more sophisticated, powerful shots

Leave it if spin isn't a priority for you

If looking for a great control racket but without the stiffness of the top level rackets, then make sure to check out the Pallap Velocity Star. With a carbon fibre face and a rough surface this racket offers incredible playability and feel on every ball. Pallap is a Spanish, padel specific brand so they produce great rackets at every price point.

Take it you're a defensive player and looking for a control based racket to take your game to the next level

Leave it you prefer a power based racket