Choosing a padel racket by play style
Power rackets carry more weight toward the head and a diamond-leaning shape, built for players who want to end points fast off an aggressive smash. Control rackets shift weight toward the handle with a rounder shape, favoring touch and placement over raw pace, and tend to suit newer players since the sweet spot is more forgiving.
Hybrid rackets sit between the two, usually in a teardrop shape, and cover most intermediate players who haven't settled into one extreme or the other yet. None of these three is objectively better than another. The right one depends on where a player already tends to win or lose points.
AT10, EA10, and ML10: what the series names mean
Each NOX racket line carries the initials of the player it was built around.
- The AT10 series is Agustín Tapia's racket, tuned for the aggressive, high-spin game that made him the world's top-ranked player.
- The EA10 Ventus line belongs to Edu Alonso, built around a more Hybrid balance.
- The ML10 Ventus Control series is Miguel Lamperti's racket, weighted toward Control for players who prioritize precision over power.
Buying by player name is really buying by play style once you decode the initials, since each pro plays the style their racket was designed for.
Materials and construction
NOX builds its rackets around carbon fiber frames, most commonly in 12K or 18K weave, with the higher K count generally producing a stiffer, more solid feel that holds up better across temperature swings on outdoor courts.
The core material underneath the carbon face determines how much of that stiffness translates into ball speed versus control, which is why two rackets with the same carbon weave can still feel completely different in hand.
Padel rackets, unlike tennis rackets, are solid and perforated rather than strung, a rule that applies across the sport regardless of brand.
Building the rest of a padel kit
A racket is the first decision, but padel is played off the walls like squash, which puts real demand on footwear and ball supply too.
NOX's padel shoes are built around the lateral movement the sport requires, and a bag keeps a racket's frame from taking impact damage between sessions. The full breakdown of what a new player needs to get started is on the main padel collection page.
FAQs
What's the difference between Power, Control, and Hybrid padel rackets?
Power rackets favor a stiffer, more aggressive hit with weight toward the head. Control rackets favor touch and placement with weight toward the handle. Hybrid rackets balance the two.
Which NOX padel racket does Agustín Tapia play?
For the 2026 season, Agustín Tapia's primary racket is the AT10 Luxury Genius 12K Alum XTREM, his new signature padel racket, built with a thinner 12K carbon construction for a firmer, drier feel and greater shot precision. He also plays the AT10 Luxury Genius 18K Alum, a more control-focused option within the same AT10 Luxury line. Both share Nox's latest technologies, including the Weight Balance system, Dual Spin surface texture, and Photochromic Paint finish.
Do padel rackets need to be strung like tennis rackets?
No. Padel rackets are solid, perforated paddles rather than strung rackets, which is one of the core differences between padel and tennis equipment.
How do I know which padel racket is right for my level?
Beginners generally do better with Control rackets, since the larger sweet spot forgives off-center hits. Advanced players who already generate their own power tend to prefer Power or Hybrid rackets that let them place the ball more aggressively.
