Ball output or power? What do we ask of a padel racket?
Javi Ruiz, Team Siux player on the Professional Padel Circuit. Source: World Padel Tour[/caption]
Ball output and power differences
If you are a novice padel player, you probably still wonder what the difference is between ball output and power in padel rackets. It's logical. At first, they may seem like similar terms. But nothing could be further from the truth. They are two completely different concepts that refer to different strokes within the padel court.
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That's why, at StreetPadel, we are going to try to shed some light on this whole matter. We will clarify the differences between ball output and power, explain what they are, and identify some padel rackets that can help us better understand both concepts.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGQ2FZc8JBwBall Output
We'll start by trying to define what ball output is in a padel racket. We could define it as the racket's ability to rebound the ball. Or in other words: the speed with which the ball leaves with almost no effort. That is, by just placing the racket.
Imagine the following situation: we are near the net and our opponent hits the ball violently from the back (for example, with a slice), in such a way that we hardly have time to react and only have time to place the racket. Good. Well, the ball's rebound capacity will be what measures the ball output of our racket.
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Therefore, the more ball output a racket has, the easier it will be to defend with it, as it will shoot into the opponent's court effortlessly.
For this reason, padel rackets with high ball output are said to 'launch' the ball quite a bit. But, be careful, this does not mean they are power rackets.
What type of players usually look for rackets with great ball output? Usually those who play on the right or on the drive side. These players tend to be more defensive, or at least try to control the game with their shots, so that their backhand partner finishes the play with a power shot.
Rackets with high ball output
And now you might ask. What type of rackets usually have high ball output or launch the ball quite a bit? Generally, rackets with high ball output tend to be soft rackets. Therefore, they have FOAM rubber in their core or EVA Soft or Ultra Soft rubber. Some examples of soft rackets with great ball output are:
Adidas Metalbone
The new Adidas Metalbone by Ale Galán is one of the most special rackets, as it is a power racket but with good ball output. This racket has high hardness materials such as aluminized carbon to improve its power. However, it has the unique quality of having an Eva Soft Performance core inside, which is the softest rubber in the collection. In this way, the Metalbone manages to boast one of the best ball outputs on the market.Black Crown Piton 9.0 Soft
The famous Black Crown Piton 9.0 has a Soft version that is characterized by being softer and having a greater ball output. It is a racket that has improved control, thanks to its round shape. In addition, it has aluminum faces, but the most important thing for ball output is in its core, with a Soft Memory Eva rubber. Thanks to it, the racket acquires more softness to the touch and greater rebound.Siux Diablo Revolution 24K
The new Diablo Revolution 24K is a versatile racket for those seeking a good balance between control and power. This version is the softest of the three, ideal for players looking for more comfort in the touch and a ball output with more rebound. To achieve this, Siux has incorporated an Eva Ultra Soft rubber inside. This is the Eva rubber with the lowest density Head Graphene 360+ Delta Hybrid Generally, Head rackets are some of the most chosen by players looking for better ball output. The Delta Hybrid has a Foam core, which is a foam that is softer than Eva rubber. In this way, the ball gets more rebound to gain more speed, without needing to apply much arm strength. In addition, this racket boasts the incorporation of graphene in the structure, a material that not only improves the racket's durability but also gives it more comfort to the touch.Power
At the other extreme, we find power. Without a doubt, it is one of the aspects we look for most in a padel racket, especially if we are expert players. Initially, a racket with a lot of power can even be counterproductive. Why? Because if we don't have refined technique and some control over the racket, it's likely that 80% of our shots will end up against the glass.
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We could define power as the force with which the ball comes out when we hit it. In other words: its hitting power. Although it must also be clarified that it is an aspect that depends a lot on us. The stronger and faster our acceleration, the more powerfully the ball will shoot out. Logical, isn't it?
Even so, power padel rackets will always help us hit hard and facilitate shots like the x3 smash, sending it x4 or bringing the ball back to our court.
Rackets with great power are especially for backhand players. These are the players who, almost always, tend to finish points.
Power Rackets
Unlike ball output, power rackets are usually hard rackets. They are preferred by professional players over soft rackets, which are more common among amateur players.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKv2Ux2j97sSome prominent power rackets:
Babolat Technical Viper
This is the official racket of Juan Lebrón. A weapon for the most aggressive players. What makes it one of the most powerful is its solid exterior construction, in combination with a harder core. The racket has 12K carbon fiber faces and a Black Eva core that has 3 different layers. This power racket is recognized for being one of the most solid on the market, for the hardest-hitting players.Bullpadel Vertex 03
The Vertex series of rackets is one of the most recommended for attacking players, it is the official weapon of Maxi Sánchez. This racket has a diamond shape, high balance, a 100% carbon tubular, and 12K carbon fiber faces. These materials guarantee solid contact for the most aggressive players.Vibor-a King Cobra Liquid
The new King Cobra Liquid is a high-power weapon, with a diamond shape and high balance. One of the most favorable qualities for power is its construction with 12K carbon in combination with a Black Eva rubber inside. With the combination of these elements, the racket acquires more solidity in its stroke, ideal for aggressive players.Adidas Adipower 3.0
The new Adipower 3.0 is considered the most aggressive racket in the Adidas collection. It boasts an aluminized carbon construction and features an Eva High Memory core. This is the hardest rubber in the collection, recommended for hard-hitting players who want to use all their arm strength to hit with power.Conclusions
After explaining the differences between power and ball output in padel rackets, we can draw the following conclusions. Rackets with great ball output are soft rackets although, if we are players with a certain technique and we apply great force to our smashes, they can become powerful rackets.
However, a power racket will hardly have ball output, as they will be hard rackets and will not launch the ball as much as a soft one.
That said, what do you prefer in a padel racket: ball output or power?
