Test: These padel rackets are longer than the rules allows

45,5 cm is the maximum allowed length of a padel racket. But when Padel Alto's Swedish sister site PadelDirekt measured 15 different models from 10 different brands, it turned out that several broke the international rules.

The International Padel Federation's (FIP) official formulation for the allowed length of a racket is clear:

"The total length, head + handle must not exceed 45.5 centimeters."

The racket must be measured from the lowest point to the highest point. The shape of the frame is irrelevant. Nevertheless, a test made by PadelDirekt shows that several rackets are longer than that. 

See the full racket rules at the bottom of the article.

Measurement of 15 models

The Swedish team went to one of the country's most well-stocked padel shops to find out how some of the biggest brands' racket models measure up. When the rule of thumb was picked, it turned out that several of them were longer than the 45.5 centimeters allowed.

We know that the test (by hand with a folding rule) is not scientific. We reserve the right to differ +/- 1 millimeter if the test is repeated.

The test 

Varlion 

Bourne Summum Prisma: 46,4 cm

Maxima Summum Prisma: 46,4 cm

RS Padel (Swedish brand)

Pro Edition Simon Vasquez: 46,3 cm

Prime Team Edition: 45,4 cm

Prime Power Edition 2.0: 45,4 cm

Nox

Nox AT10 Genius: 45,5 cm

AT2 Genius Limited Edition: 45,5 cm

Babolat

Viper: 45,4 cm

Siux 

Spartan Revolution: 45,9 cm

Wilson 

Bela Pro Padel: 45,7 cm

Adidas 

Metalbone Hard: 46 cm

Adipower 3.1: 45,9 cm

Stiga Padel

Axe: 45,5 cm

Bullpadel 

Vertex 3: 45,4 cm

Head 

Graphene Alpha: 45,4 cm

Summary 

Seven out of 15 rackets are over 45.5 centimeters long and therefore may not be used in sanctioned (federation) competitions.

Rules and regulations

Padel is played with a racket made according to the following rules. A racket consists of two parts, the head, and the handle.

Handle: max length: 20 cm, width max 50 mm (handle, not taking into account the free space in between): max thickness: 50 mm. - Head: variable length.

The length of the head plus the length of the handle may not exceed 45,5 cm,

maximum width: 26 cm, maximum thickness: 38 mm.

The total length, head + handle, must not exceed 45,5 cm.

A tolerance of 2.5% on the thickness (38.95 cm) is allowed when checking the racket.

The racket's hitting surface is perforated by an unlimited number of cylindrical holes measuring between 9 and 13 mm in the central part. The holes must be at least 4 cm from the edge (measured from the edge of the racket). The holes may have a larger diameter or a different shape with variable length and width as long as it does not unnaturally affect the game.