{"title":"All-round rackets","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"dunlop-fx-start-2026-padel-racket","title":"Dunlop FX Start 2026 Padel Racket","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe sensible first racket: a hybrid head with a wide sweet spot, medium balance, and the same Pro-EVA core Dunlop put in their flagship.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDunlop call it ideal for game improvers, and the geometry backs that up. A hybrid head keeps the sweet spot central and generous rather than pushing it high like a diamond, so a mishit still clears the net. Medium balance at 360g means it doesn’t feel heavy through the swing while your technique is still forming.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe part worth knowing.\u003c\/strong\u003e This racket runs \u003cem\u003ePro-EVA\u003c\/em\u003e — the same core as the FX Pro at more than twice the price. Dunlop keep the softer Soft-EVA for their junior frame, not this one. What you’re missing against the more expensive rackets is the technology in the frame and face, not a downgraded core.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eConstruction is a graphite frame with a straight hole pattern, rather than the drilled Power Holes distribution on the Pro and Team. The face is smooth — no Spin Boost texture — which is the right call at this level, where consistent contact matters more than spin.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eProfile is 38mm, the legal maximum, so you get the full hitting surface.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOn comfort.\u003c\/strong\u003e Not flagged as arm-friendly. Pro-EVA is a firm core, and while the hybrid shape and medium balance make it forgiving to hit, that isn’t the same as being gentle on an arm. If comfort is your deciding factor, ask us.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003csmall\u003eSpecifications from Dunlop’s own 2026 FX Series product presentation, verified 2026-08-20. Manufacturer weights are a target and vary by around ±10g on every brand.\u003c\/small\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Dunlop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":63977625420147,"sku":"PO-1029","price":141.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1015\/6287\/6275\/files\/dunlop-fx-start-2026-padel-racket-1.png?v=1787363444"},{"product_id":"nox-nextgen-pro-hybrid-12k-nfa-2026-padel-racket","title":"NOX NextGen Pro Hybrid 12K NFA Series 2026 Padel Racket","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe all-round half of NOX’s NextGen Pro pair — the same 12K carbon build as the Attack, in a shape that defends as well as it attacks.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNFA stands for NOX Future Academy, where the brand’s young prospects train. Where the Attack commits to a diamond head and finishing power, the Hybrid keeps the sweet spot central and the frame usable at both ends of the court. NOX calls it \u003cem\u003epolivalente\u003c\/em\u003e — versatile — and positions it for players who don’t want to pick a side yet.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe core is MLD Black EVA, a multilayered rubber running different densities through the frame, rated intermediate-to-hard for feel. The face is 12K carbon. The surface is NOX’s Dual Spin finish — a 3D texture combined with a sandblasted bath, so the bite on the ball comes from the surface itself rather than a coating that wears smooth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStated weight is 360–375g.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOn the head shape.\u003c\/strong\u003e NOX doesn’t publish one for this racket, which is unusual. Three independent European spec databases all record it as a teardrop with medium balance, and that matches both the model name and the all-round role NOX gives it, so that’s what we’ve listed. One Australian retailer has it down as a diamond — their own product description on the same page says hybrid, so we think that field was copied across from the Attack. NOX also doesn’t publish a profile thickness for this model; 38mm is the legal maximum and its sibling is 38mm, but we’re not going to state it as fact.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOn comfort.\u003c\/strong\u003e The frame carries NOX’s Anti Vibration System — rubber inserts set into the frame. We have not flagged this racket as arm-friendly: the core is on the firm side and there is no independent evidence about how it treats an arm over a long match.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOn independent reviews.\u003c\/strong\u003e None exist for this model. The most substantial third-party write-up is a buying guide written from the specification, with no tester named and no court time behind it. We’d rather tell you that than quote it as a review.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003csmall\u003eSpecifications from the manufacturer, verified 2026-08-20. \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/noxsport.com\/en\/products\/pala-nextgen-pro-hybrid-12k-nfa-series\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eSource\u003c\/a\u003e. Manufacturer weights vary by around ±10g.\u003c\/small\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"NOX","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":64076285149555,"sku":"APS-NO-0031","price":312.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1015\/6287\/6275\/files\/nextgen-pro-hybrid-12k-nfa-series-palas-pnfanghy1226nox-5304296.png?v=1787226348"},{"product_id":"nox-ea10-ventus-hybrid-12k-xtrem-2026-padel-racket-edu-alonso","title":"NOX EA10 Ventus Hybrid 12K Xtrem 2026 Padel Racket (Edu Alonso)","description":"\u003cp\u003eEdu Alonso’s signature frame — a teardrop built for the player who rotates between attacking and defending and refuses to specialise.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlonso is 25, Spanish, currently around world number 16, and NOX signed him in 2025 as one of the pillars of the brand alongside Agustín Tapia. If the ML10 is the veteran’s racket, this is the one from the other end of the career.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow it actually plays.\u003c\/strong\u003e The genuine playtest we found rates it 75\/100 and lands on one honest finding worth repeating: the power is almost entirely player-driven. It rewards clean mechanics and will not cover for a late or sloppy contact. Independent scoring has it unusually even across attacking, hybrid and defending roles, which backs NOX’s own “multipurpose” label — one reviewer described it as the racket for the advanced all-court player who hates specialising.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe core is MLD Black EVA, a multilayered rubber, rated intermediate-to-hard. The face is 12K Xtrem carbon — NOX’s Xtrem process reduces the waviness in the weave, which makes the sheet flatter and stiffer than an ordinary 12K. The surface is NOX’s Dual Spin finish — a 3D texture combined with a sandblasted bath, so the bite on the ball comes from the surface itself rather than a coating that wears smooth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStated weight is 360–375g, profile 38mm. NOX doesn’t publish a balance figure; independent measurements put it around 255mm, medium.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOn comfort.\u003c\/strong\u003e We have \u003cem\u003enot\u003c\/em\u003e flagged this racket as arm-friendly, and that’s deliberate. It is firmer than the ML10 with a smaller sweet spot, and one independent scorer specifically cautions against it for players with elbow or wrist sensitivity. If that’s you, the ML10 Ventus Control is the racket in this range to look at instead.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOne correction worth making.\u003c\/strong\u003e Several retailers list this racket’s face as “12K Alum Xtrem” and its core as HR3. Both are wrong — those are the AT10 Genius specifications. NOX states 12K Xtrem carbon and MLD Black EVA for this frame, and that’s what we’ve listed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003csmall\u003eSpecifications from the manufacturer, verified 2026-08-20. \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/noxsport.com\/en\/products\/ea10-ventus-hybrid-12k-xtrem-by-edu-alonso\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eSource\u003c\/a\u003e. Manufacturer weights vary by around ±10g.\u003c\/small\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"NOX","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":64076285673843,"sku":"APS-NO-0033","price":455.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1015\/6287\/6275\/files\/ea10-ventus-hybrid-12k-xtrem-by-edu-alonso-pea10ventush1226-8435778902676-9207640.png?v=1787226354"},{"product_id":"nox-at10-genius-18k-alum-2026-padel-racket-agustin-tapia","title":"NOX AT10 Genius 18K Alum 2026 Padel Racket (Agustin Tapia)","description":"\u003cp\u003eAgustín Tapia’s signature frame, and the flagship of the NOX range. Tapia is joint world number one with Arturo Coello.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow it actually plays.\u003c\/strong\u003e Every credible source rates control above power — around 8.5 for control against 7.5 for power. It is not a frame that manufactures pace for you. What it does have is stability, consistently its strongest measured attribute, and a sweet spot that two independent measured reviews both describe as generous and central rather than pinpoint.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe forgiveness is asymmetric, and that’s the honest caveat: good below centre for defence, blocks and bandejas, noticeably less so high on the face. That asymmetry is what people mean when they call this racket demanding. It gives nothing away for free — but it is not harsh or arm-jarring, which is a different thing entirely and gets conflated constantly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat 18K actually means, honestly.\u003c\/strong\u003e The K number counts filaments in a single carbon tow — 3K is about three thousand strands per bundle, 18K about eighteen thousand. Fatter tows mean fewer crossings and a flatter, more open weave. It changes the feel of the top sheet. It does not decide how the racket plays: the core, the shape and the balance do most of that work. Anyone telling you 18K is automatically better than 12K is selling you a number. NOX themselves rate this 18K as the \u003cem\u003esofter\u003c\/em\u003e of the two.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAlum\u003c\/strong\u003e means the carbon is aluminised — a treatment on the fibre, not an aluminium frame. NOX’s stated benefit is that it absorbs less solar radiation, so the racket holds its characteristics through temperature changes. In an Australian summer that is a more relevant claim than it sounds. The side effect is a slightly less rigid feel than raw 18K carbon.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVersus the 12K Alum Xtrem we also stock.\u003c\/strong\u003e Same mould, same shape, same 38mm profile, same price in Europe. The differences are the core and the face: this one runs MLD multilayered Black EVA against the 12K’s harder HR3, and NOX’s own stiffness index puts the 18K at roughly three-quarters of the 12K. So the 12K is the firmer, drier, more explosive frame with more free power on the smash and less tolerance when you’re stretched. This is the same racket made kinder. Neither is an upgrade on the other — they are side-grades, and the honest question is whether you want more punch or more comfort.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNew for 2026 is the Weight Balance system: interchangeable 2g and 4g counterweights that let you shift balance toward the head or the hand. Independent testing found adding 4–8g moves the effective balance by around 5mm and measurably improves stability.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStated weight is 360–375g, profile 38mm. NOX describes the balance as medium without publishing a figure; independent measurement puts it around 256–259mm.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOn comfort.\u003c\/strong\u003e We have flagged this one as arm-friendly. The measured review we trust most calls it a safe choice for players who have had padel elbow, and between the multilayered core, the Pulse System damping and NOX’s Custom Grip there is a real construction argument behind it. It is the more forgiving of the two AT10 Genius frames on the arm. No racket is a treatment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003csmall\u003eSpecifications from the manufacturer, verified 2026-08-20. \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/noxsport.com\/en\/products\/pala-at10-genius-18k-alum-2026-by-agustin-tapia\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eSource\u003c\/a\u003e. Manufacturer weights vary by around ±10g. Play characteristics are summarised from independent published reviews and measured tests, not from manufacturer marketing copy.\u003c\/small\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"NOX","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":64076285903219,"sku":"APS-NO-0034","price":497.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1015\/6287\/6275\/files\/at10-luxury-genius-18k-alum-2026-by-agustin-tapia-pat10genius1826-8435778902621-2175122.png?v=1787226356"},{"product_id":"babolat-air-vertuo-2-6-2026-padel-racket","title":"Babolat Air Vertuo 2.6 2026 Padel Racket","description":"\u003cp\u003eA 345g teardrop that actually feels like 345g — built for players who'd rather get to the ball than blast it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow it actually plays.\u003c\/strong\u003e Independent testing scores it 8.4\/10 and the shape of that score tells you everything: manoeuvrability 9.0, comfort 8.6, control 7.8, sweet spot 7.8, stability 7.0, and power 6.8. Power is the lowest number on the card and that is a deliberate design decision, not a failing. The reviewer's phrase was that ball exit is dynamic rather than explosive. If you finish points with your smash, this is the wrong racket and we'd rather tell you now.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhere it wins.\u003c\/strong\u003e The 265mm neutral balance spreads the weight instead of hanging it out at the tip, which is why it transitions so quickly and why it stays usable in the third set. Tested profile scores put it at 8.30 as a defender, 8.09 as a hybrid, 7.44 as an attacker — a genuine all-court frame that leans defensive.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOn comfort.\u003c\/strong\u003e We've flagged this one arm-friendly, and there's construction behind the label rather than marketing. The soft Black EVA core, the fibreglass face and Babolat's Vibrabsorb elastomer dampeners together score 8.6 for comfort in independent testing — near the top of what gets measured. If you're managing elbow load and want a Babolat, this is the one in the range we'd point you at. No racket is a treatment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOne correction.\u003c\/strong\u003e Babolat's trade listing calls this a \"hybrid fibreglass shape\". Independent measurement records it as a drop shape — a teardrop. We've listed teardrop, because that's what was measured rather than what was marketed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eShape\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTeardrop\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWeight\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e345g\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBalance\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e265mm — neutral\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eProfile\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e38mm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFace\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFibreglass with 3D Spin+ texture\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCore\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBlack EVA, soft\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFrame\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCarbon\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTechnologies\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eVibrabsorb System · 3D Spin+\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLevel\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIntermediate all-court\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003csmall\u003eSpecifications from the manufacturer, verified 2026-09-02. Play characteristics and ratings summarised from an independent published test, not from manufacturer marketing copy. Manufacturer weights vary by around ±10g on every brand.\u003c\/small\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Babolat","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":64591862366579,"sku":"APS-BA-0014","price":250.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1015\/6287\/6275\/files\/150184-AIR_VERTUO_2.6-100-1-Face_21cf24b8-e1d7-4d38-8d39-28659a6ae919.jpg?v=1789511361"},{"product_id":"babolat-air-origin-2026-padel-racket","title":"Babolat Air Origin 2026 Padel Racket","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Babolat Air Origin 2026 is the lighter, faster half of Babolat's entry tier. Where its sibling the Counter Origin is built for staying in the point, the Air Origin is built for the player who wants to move forward: at roughly 345g with a low 265mm balance, it is one of the easiest rackets in the 2026 range to swing quickly, and that is exactly what it is for.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA light, handle-biased racket asks very little of your wrist and shoulder. Volleys come around faster, reactions at the net feel easier, and off-centre hits twist the frame less than a head-heavy layout would. Babolat pitches it at aerial players taking their first steps, which is accurate — this is a first or second racket for someone who already likes being at the net.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe face is fibreglass over an EVA foam core. Fibreglass flexes more than carbon, which softens the feel, widens the effective hitting area and is kinder on the arm — for most club players at this level it is the more suitable material, not a compromise. The honest trade-offs: the smooth face offers less spin bite than the raised finishes higher in the range, and the light, even build means power has to come from your swing rather than the frame. If you mostly defend at the back of the court, the round-headed \u003ca href=\"\/products\/babolat-counter-origin-2026-padel-racket\"\u003eCounter Origin\u003c\/a\u003e is the more forgiving pick of the pair.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/strong\u003e (manufacturer): weight ~345g, balance 265mm, profile 38mm, fibreglass face, EVA core. Source: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.babolat.com\/\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003eBabolat 2026 padel range\u003c\/a\u003e, supplier catalogue (verified 3 Sep 2026).\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Babolat","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":64596922270067,"sku":"APS-BA-0026","price":184.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1015\/6287\/6275\/files\/150153-Air_Origin-100-1-Face_1a7019cc-f9ea-4f80-b3f7-a05cab9f4598.jpg?v=1789511359"}],"url":"https:\/\/australianpadelshop.com\/collections\/all-round-rackets.oembed","provider":"Australian Padel Shop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}