Marcas Pádel

What's the real difference between Bullpadel's top range and the mid range?

Stick with the middle step unless you already hit centred and with arm speed. The top range uses more 12K or 18K carbon, more selective cores and a stiff profile that only pays off at a high tempo. The mid range is easier to handle and takes daily use just as well: between 1 and 2 years playing 2 or 3 days a week.

Round, teardrop or diamond, which one suits me?

Take the teardrop: balanced weight distribution, power without getting awkward, and it's the one that goes out of the shop most. The round has a low balance and a wide, centred sweet spot, perfect if you want control. The diamond shifts mass towards the head, hits harder and shrinks the sweet spot. All three are the same 45.5 cm long; what changes is where the weight sits.

Are Bullpadel rackets stiff?

There are stiff ones and soft ones depending on the range. The competition models use EVA hard and plenty of carbon to hit hard; in the beginner and mid ranges you'll find EVA soft or medium, with a friendly feel. Look at the core hardness and at whether the face is 3K or 18K. Ask us in La Nucía and we'll tell you what each series uses.

What weight should I be looking for?

Look for 365 to 380 grams if you're a man at intermediate level, and 350 to 365 if you're a woman or a junior. Below 360 grams the racket moves faster at the net; above that you gain punch, but you load the shoulder and lose reaction on the volley. Hold two weights in your hand before trusting the label.

I get elbow trouble, what should I look for?

Go for a soft core, fibreglass or 3K carbon faces, a low balance and a weight under 365 grams. Check the grip thickness too: a thin handle makes you squeeze on every shot, and a 0.75 mm overgrip makes up for it. If the pain carries on, fix your backhand technique before changing rackets.

Do you have Bullpadel rackets for women?

Yes, we have models with weights and finishes aimed at women players, almost always between 350 and 365 grams and with a low balance. That said, no racket is male or female: what counts is your level, your arm strength and your style of play. We have customers who take a standard 370 gram model and play happily.

My son is eleven, what should I buy him?

Buy him a junior racket of 340 to 355 grams, round shape and a soft core. Those models have a shorter frame and a handle sized for small hands. What comes back to us most are 375 gram adult rackets bought for kids: they're too heavy, the child plays with a bent arm and picks up habits that are hard to undo later.

My racket has broken, is it covered by the warranty?

Bring it in and we'll check it: the warranty covers manufacturing defects, not knocks against the floor, the fence or the wall. In Spain you have 3 years of legal warranty on purchases made from 1 January 2022. At Tienda Padelpoint we file the claim with the brand, and they decide whether there's a defect. Always keep your receipt.

What shoes do I need for carpet, and how do they fit?

Ask for a herringbone sole for carpet and artificial grass: it grips through the slide without stopping you dead. The sizing is true to your street size, though it's worth leaving a finger of room at the toe because of the braking. Playing 2 or 3 days a week they last 6 to 9 months. Bring your own sock and try them on in La Nucía.

What do I gain by moving up a range?

You gain more carbon, better selected cores and a more consistent finish from one unit to the next, and you notice that in how the ball comes off. The entry range uses fibreglass: more flexible, more forgiving and cheaper to replace if you smash it into the floor. Playing 2 or 3 days a week, both last you between 1 and 2 years.

What's the difference between foam and EVA cores?

Go for FOAM or EVA soft if you're starting out or carrying niggles, and EVA hard if you already smash. FOAM is softer and more elastic: it gets more out of the ball with less effort and treats your arm better, though it wears out sooner. EVA holds up better to 2 or 3 sessions a week and responds the harder you hit, in exchange for demanding technique.

Carbon or fibreglass?

Go for a carbon frame with fibreglass faces if you play at intermediate level: stiffness where it's needed and tolerance on impact. 12K or 18K carbon sends the ball back faster and more precisely, but only if you hit centred; if you don't, what you'll feel is vibration. In La Nucía you can try both options before deciding.

I don't understand this balance thing, can you explain it?

A low balance means the weight sits near the handle: an easy racket to move, quick at the net and comfortable for blocking. A high balance puts the mass in the head and adds power on the smash, but it arrives late on volleys. It's measured in centimetres from the handle, and with the same 365 grams the handling changes completely. If you defend, low; if you smash, high.

How long does a racket last playing three times a week?

It'll last you between 1 and 2 years playing 2 or 3 days a week. After that the core packs down even if the face still looks perfect: you notice it because the ball comes off dead and you have to hit harder for the same result. Leaving it in the car in the sun speeds up that wear more than the hours it spends on court.

Are the women's models worth it?

They're worth it if 350 to 365 grams and the low balance that defines that line suit you, beyond the paintwork. My counter advice is the same as always: test weight and balance before design. There are players with a strong arm who are perfectly fine with a standard 370 grams and gain punch without ending up worn out.

I'm in my fifties and play two days a week, what do you recommend?

Go for a round racket of 355 to 365 grams with a soft core and a low balance: your shoulder and elbow will thank you more than any gain in power. A soft-feel teardrop also fits that profile. Add a 0.75 mm overgrip so your hand doesn't have to squeeze, and change it every 8 to 15 hours of play.

Do I need to put a protector on it?

Put a protector on from day one. It stops the first scrape on the floor from opening up the frame, which is where most breakages start, and that way the racket reaches its 1 or 2 years of useful life. It weighs very little and barely shifts the balance. At Tienda Padelpoint we fit it when you buy and you walk out with it ready to play.

How often should I change the overgrip?

Change it every 8 to 15 hours of play, or sooner if your hand slips or the feel has gone hard. An overgrip is between 0.5 and 0.75 mm thick: one layer is enough for almost everyone, and if you have big hands, two give you a thicker handle and less tension in the forearm. They come dry and tacky.

Should I buy a diamond to hit harder?

Stay with a teardrop until you really hit the ball centred. The diamond puts the weight up top: the smash flies off, but the sweet spot is small and forgives little, and every low ball rattles your arm. Once you have power to spare, move to a diamond of 365 to 380 grams and you'll make the most of it.

People tell me they're stiff, is that a good thing?

Stiffness only suits you if you have arm speed. The stiffer the frame and the core, the faster the ball comes off when you hit well and the more vibration you get when you don't. For intermediate level a medium core with a fibreglass or 3K carbon face works better, because it forgives off-centre hits a lot more.

What do I gain and what do I lose with a light racket?

Below 360 grams you gain handling, reaction at the net and less load on the shoulder, and you lose some power and stability when blocking hard balls. For women players, for juniors at 340 to 355 grams and for anyone carrying niggles, it's the sensible option. You make up for the missing mass with your legs and a well-placed cross-court ball.

Is there any harm in leaving the racket in the car?

Take it out of the car: not the boot, not the sun. In the cold the core hardens and the frame turns brittle, and that's where nearly all the winter breakages come from, on the first smash of the day. Keep it at home inside the bag and, if you've come in from outside, knock up for 2 or 3 minutes before hitting hard.

Why do rackets break?

Almost every breakage that comes into Tienda Padelpoint comes from an impact: the floor, the fence, the railing or your partner's racket. The frame opens up or the bridge cracks, and the racket loses tension even if it looks intact from the outside. With a protector on and a cool head, a racket easily lasts its 2 years.

What exactly does the warranty cover?

It covers manufacturing defects for 3 years on purchases made from 1 January 2022, with a receipt and subject to the brand's inspection. Knocks aren't included, nor normal wear on the face, nor a core packed down by use. At Tienda Padelpoint we file the claim and keep you posted throughout the process.

I place the ball well now and want to move up a level, what's the next step?

Move to a teardrop with a medium core: it's the natural step up when you start smashing. You gain power without losing control and you keep some margin on defensive shots. Jumping straight to a hard competition racket, with 12K carbon and a high balance, usually ends with the player hitting worse, a sore elbow and the racket back on the counter.

And for my daughter, who's just starting at the academy?

Go for a round racket of 340 to 355 grams with a soft core, and check the handle isn't too thick for her: a small hand on a fat grip means a badly placed wrist. While she's still growing the top range isn't worth it, because her strength and her stroke change every season. In La Nucía we let her try it in hand before deciding.

What should I look at when choosing a racket bag?

Look at the zips, the insulation of the thermal compartment and whether it has a separate space for shoes. A 6 racket bag is more than enough for almost everyone; the 8 racket ones end up full of stuff you never use. The zips are the first thing to fail, so that's where paying a bit more pays off.

What changes between their different ranges?

At the top you find more carbon, 12K or 18K, selected cores and profiles for people who already hit hard. Further down come fibreglass and soft cores, with a comfortable feel and an affordable replacement price. Choose by hardness and shape, which is what you'll feel in your hand, and leave the name of the series for last.

Why are you recommending a round racket?

The round puts the sweet spot in the middle of the face and lowers the balance, so it responds well even when you only just get to the ball. It's the shape we advise for anyone who defends, plays a lot of backhands or is coming back from injury. You lose smash and gain reliability, especially if you're around 350 to 365 grams.

My racket feels different in winter, is it just me?

It isn't just you: the EVA core changes with temperature. In summer it softens and gives more ball; in winter it hardens, loses feel and turns more brittle. That's why a racket you fell in love with in August feels like a plank in January. Choose thinking about how you play all 12 months, and warm up before you smash.

What weight works best for an intermediate woman player?

Between 350 and 365 grams with a low balance is the range that works best: you finish the match with your shoulder in one piece. If you do strength training and hit with intent, go up to 370 without fear. At Tienda Padelpoint we give it to you to try in hand, because the number on the label lies and the feel on court doesn't.

How do their shoes fit?

Take the bigger size when you're between two, because they tend to be tight at the toe. For carpet or artificial grass ask for a herringbone sole; for concrete or resin, a mixed pattern that stands up to abrasion. Come to Tienda Padelpoint with your playing socks and try them walking and braking. Playing 2 or 3 days a week they last 6 to 9 months.

Protector, protective tape or both?

Protector always; tape only as a patch. The protector spreads out the scrapes on the edge and extends the life of the frame, which with 2 or 3 matches a week is around 1 or 2 years. Tape is the quick fix once the wear has already started. Neither one saves a racket slammed flat against the floor. Change the protector as soon as you see it chewed up.

It's opened up at the bridge without hitting anything, what do I do?

Bring it to Tienda Padelpoint and we'll file the claim. A bridge opening up or delamination with no impact fits a manufacturing defect, and that falls under the 3 year legal warranty with the purchase receipt; knocks and face wear don't. Stop playing with it as soon as you see the crack, and send us a photo.

I hit hard and I've been playing for years, what should I use?

A high teardrop or a diamond, hard core and 12K or 18K carbon, with the weight at the top of your comfortable range, 370 to 380 grams. That racket demands you hit centred: an off day costs you vibration and short balls. Be clear whether you play to win points or not to lose them. In La Nucía you can get your hand on them before deciding.

How do I look after the racket so it lasts?

Clean it with a slightly damp cloth, no solvents, and check the frame every 2 or 3 weeks for fine cracks. Keep it in the bag, out of the car and at a stable temperature, and change the overgrip every 8 to 15 hours of play. With two or three matches a week, it performs well for between 1 and 2 years.

What's the difference between their diamond and teardrop shapes?

Start with a teardrop and move up to a diamond when you really smash. The diamond carries the balance up top, multiplies power and demands a strong wrist, with a small, high sweet spot. The teardrop spreads it better: it keeps punch and forgives off-centre hits a bit more. You'll find both shapes at 355 to 375 grams.

What changes between the top range and the beginner range?

The core and the faces change. The top range uses 12K or 18K carbon, heavier weaves and selected EVA cores: a dry response and plenty of ball off the face. The beginner range uses fibreglass, more flexible and more forgiving. The difference is noticed by anyone who hits hard and centred; at intermediate level, the mid range performs just as well.

Which weight should I take?

Take 365 grams if you're a man and 355 if you're a woman. Below 360 the racket handles quickly and tires the arm less; above 370 it hits harder on its own, but it punishes the shoulder and elbow if you're not physically fit. At Tienda Padelpoint we weigh them in front of you before you decide.

Are Vibor-A cores very hard?

Vibor-A uses medium-high density EVA, which makes sense in rackets built to hit. That core takes hard impacts and stretches the racket's life to 2 years playing 2 or 3 days a week, though in winter it comes out dry for the first few games. For a soft feel, go for soft hardnesses or FOAM.

My wife plays twice a week, would a Vibor-A work for her?

A teardrop or a round of 350 to 365 grams with a core that isn't too stiff will work for her. We leave the diamond for people who smash with conviction, because a high sweet spot forgives little. The colour counts for nothing: what decides it is the balance and how heavy the racket feels on her arm at the end of the match.

My son is 11, should I put an adult racket in his hands?

Give him a junior racket or an adult one of 340 to 355 grams, round and with a soft core. That way his elbow doesn't suffer and he learns to hit with technique instead of brute force. When he grows and his arm can take it, we make the jump in weight. It's the mistake we correct most at the Tienda Padelpoint counter.

My racket has split at the frame, is that under warranty?

It is if it's a manufacturing defect: delamination with no impact, joints that give way on their own, or bubbles. It doesn't cover knocks against the wall, the fence or the floor, which is by far what we see most. You have 3 years of legal warranty on purchases from 2022. Bring it to La Nucía with the receipt and we'll handle the claim.