From the clubhouse
8 Best Junior Padel Rackets UK (2026)
Jamie Holt29 September 2026
Kids pick up padel quickly. The court is small, the ball comes back off the glass, and there's always someone to rally with. What holds them back is a racket that's too big.
An adult racket is 45.5cm long and usually weighs 355–375g. On a nine-year-old that's like swinging a frying pan. They swing late, grip too hard and hit everything off the frame.
A junior racket fixes that. Here are the best in the UK right now, sorted roughly by age.
Quick picks
- Best overall (10+): HEAD Speed Junior: light, soft and sold by Amazon.
- Best for under-10s: HEAD Monster Kids: short, light and fun to look at.
- Best for ages 8–12: Babolat Alioth JR: an oversize round head for maximum forgiveness.
- Best for keen teenagers: NOX AT10 Genius Junior: the junior version of Tapia's racket.
- Best budget: Uwin VR-X Junior: under £40 and still a proper junior racket.
Junior padel rackets compared
| Racket | Best age | Shape | Face | Typical price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HEAD Speed Junior | 10+ | See listing | Fibreglass | £55–£65 |
| HEAD Monster Kids | Up to 10 | Round | Fibreglass | £45–£55 |
| Babolat Alioth JR | 8–12 | Oversize round | See listing | £90–£95 |
| NOX AT10 Genius Junior | Teens (325–335g) | Teardrop | See listing | £75–£80 |
| Bullpadel Vertex Jr | 10+ | See listing | See listing | £55–£60 |
| adidas Arrow Hit Junior | 10+ | See listing | See listing | £60–£65 |
| PDX Cub | Younger kids | See listing | Carbon/fibreglass | £55–£60 |
| Uwin VR-X Junior | 10+ (330g) | Round | Fibreglass frame | £35–£40 |
The 8 best junior padel rackets
Best overall
1. HEAD Speed Junior
- Ages 10+
- Fibreglass face
- Power Foam
- Frame protection
HEAD pitches the Speed Junior at players aged 10 and up who want touch and precision. It's light, with a fibreglass face and HEAD's Power Foam core, so the ball goes over the net without a big swing. There's also a built-in protector to stop the frame chipping when it's dragged along the turf, which it will be.
It's sold and shipped by Amazon, which makes returns easy if the size isn't right. For most juniors this is the safe choice.
- Buy it if
- Your child is 10 or older and plays regularly in a junior group.
- Skip it if
- They're under 10. The Monster Kids is a better size.
Best for under-10s
2. HEAD Monster Kids
- Up to age 10
- Short and light
- Fibreglass face
- Two-hand handle
This is a proper kids' racket rather than a shrunken adult one. It's shorter and lighter, and the handle is long enough for two hands, which helps small children with backhands. The monster graphics are a big selling point for the age group.
It uses a fibreglass face for a soft feel and has a carbon bumper to protect the frame. HEAD says it's designed for children up to 10. It's sold by Amazon and has a 4.8-star average.
- Buy it if
- You've got a young child starting junior sessions.
- Skip it if
- They're 11 or older and tall for their age. Go for the Speed Junior.
Best for ages 8–12
3. Babolat Alioth JR
- Ages 8–12
- Oversize round
- Lightweight
Babolat designs the Alioth JR for children aged 8 to 12. The oversize round head keeps the sweet spot big and central, so off-centre hits still clear the net. It's also light enough to swing easily at the net.
It costs more than the HEAD rackets, and it's sold through a third-party seller. If your child is at that frustrated "why does it keep hitting the frame" stage, it's worth it.
- Buy it if
- Your child mishits a lot and you want the most forgiving head.
- Skip it if
- You're on a budget. It's one of the dearest junior rackets.
Best for keen teenagers
4. NOX AT10 Genius Junior
- Teardrop
- 325–335g
- Junior version of AT10
The AT10 is one of the best-known rackets in padel, and this is its junior version. At 325–335g it sits between a junior racket and a light adult one, which suits teenagers who have outgrown kids' sizes.
It's a teardrop, so it's a bit more attacking than the round rackets above. It's a sensible step for juniors in club squads, and it'll make them very popular in the changing room.
- Buy it if
- Your teenager plays every week and idolises Agustín Tapia.
- Skip it if
- They're a beginner. The extra cost won't make them better yet.
Best junior Bullpadel
5. Bullpadel Vertex Jr
- Junior version of Vertex
- 2026 model
The Vertex is Bullpadel's flagship line, and this 2026 junior version brings the look and name to a smaller frame. Bullpadel aims it at young players who want to improve with a more serious racket.
There's also a Bullpadel Hack Junior in a diamond shape, but a diamond is harder to control. Most juniors are better off with the Vertex.
- Buy it if
- Your child wants the same racket line as the pros on TV.
- Skip it if
- You want a big-brand racket sold directly by Amazon.
Best adidas junior
6. adidas Arrow Hit Junior
- Junior
- Comfort-focused
adidas describes the Arrow Hit Junior as a racket for young players to improve their technique in comfort. It's a straightforward junior racket from a major padel brand.
It doesn't have many reviews yet, but the few it has are positive. Stock is limited, so if it's gone, the HEAD Speed Junior is the closest swap.
- Buy it if
- Your child is an adidas fan and wants a comfortable racket to learn on.
- Skip it if
- You want lots of reviews before buying. This one is still new.
Best lightweight carbon
7. PDX Cub Kids' Padel Racket
- Carbon and fibreglass
- Soft grip
- Lightweight
PDX is a smaller padel brand. The Cub is its kids' racket. It combines carbon fibre and fibreglass, which keeps it light but durable, and it has a softer grip sized for small hands.
It's well rated so far. It's also one of the few kids' rackets with a bit of carbon at this price.
- Buy it if
- You want a light kids' racket with a bit of carbon in it.
- Skip it if
- You'd rather stick with a big-name brand.
Best budget
8. Uwin VR-X Junior
- Round
- 330g
- Soft EVA
- Fibreglass frame
Most sub-£40 "junior" rackets on Amazon are garden toys. The Uwin VR-X isn't. It's a round, 330g racket with a soft EVA core and a fibreglass frame, built for real courts.
It's a good first racket for a 10–14-year-old who's just started sessions. If they stick with it, you can upgrade later.
- Buy it if
- Your child is trying padel and you don't want to spend £60 yet.
- Skip it if
- They're very small. At 330g it suits older juniors.
How we picked
We looked for junior and kids' rackets from padel brands that are currently sold on Amazon UK, covering the main age groups and budgets. Ages, weights and materials come from each listing and the manufacturer. Where a listing doesn't give a weight or shape, we've marked it "see listing" rather than guess. We left out plastic garden sets. They're fine for the beach, but not for a club court.
How to size a junior racket
Use age as a starting point, then adjust for height and strength:
- Under 8: A kids' racket like the Monster Kids, and a slower ball if the club has one.
- 8–10: A kids' or junior racket. If they can hold it out at arm's length for ten seconds without the head dropping, the weight is fine.
- 10–14: A junior racket like the Speed Junior or Vertex Jr.
- 14+ or nearly adult height: A light adult racket (340–355g). See our beginner racket guide or the lighter frames in our women's racket guide.
If in doubt, go lighter. A racket that's too light costs a bit of power. One that's too heavy teaches bad habits and can hurt a young wrist or elbow.
Round vs teardrop for kids
Round rackets are the default for children. The sweet spot is bigger and nearer the hand, which makes them easier to control.
Teardrop junior rackets, like the AT10 Junior, suit older kids who already rally confidently and want more pop on smashes. Diamonds are for competitive teenagers only.
Getting kids started
Lots of UK clubs run junior sessions at weekends and after school, and many lend rackets for the first few weeks. Try before you buy if you can. Kids often decide what they like based on colour, and that's fine.
Our beginner's guide explains the rules in plain English if you're learning alongside them. Then find a court near you.