HEAD padel rackets: choose the right range and weight
HEAD's range covers very different jobs. Start with Vibe for a first adult racket, Radical Team for softer contact and placement, Radical Motion for a lower-weight carbon option, or Coello Motion for an experienced attacking game. The family name alone will not tell you how demanding a racket is. Check the exact model, year, balance and face construction before buying.
This page compares the adult HEAD rackets covered by our researched catalogue and verified retailer links. It is not a complete list of everything HEAD sells. The shortlist gives you four starting points; the comparison includes alternatives that may fit your budget or preferred feel better.
17 linked HEAD rackets compared · Updated 27 September 2026
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The Vibe combines a teardrop shape, fibreglass face and Power Foam at a nominal 350 g. HEAD describes a soft feel and lists the balance at 265 mm. It is our starting point for beginners and casual players who want a manageable adult racket without moving straight into an advanced attacking model.
Choose it while you are learning to prepare early, return consistently and control the height of a lob. It is also worth considering if your current racket feels cumbersome during quick exchanges. The tradeoff is a softer construction: a player who already knows they want a firm, direct response should compare the Radical models instead.
The Radical Team suits improving players who prefer a softer response. Its fibreglass face, Control Foam and 255 mm balance distinguish it from the carbon-face Radical Motion and Pro. Nominal weight is 360 g.
Our reason for choosing it is the combination of feel and balance, not the word Team. Try it if you spend more points building position than trying to finish with an overhead. Avoid treating it as a compulsory stepping stone: if you prefer firmer contact, compare the Motion directly rather than buying the Team because of an assumed ranking within the range.
The Radical Motion is a 355 g teardrop racket with Double Carbon and Control Foam. HEAD's specification table lists a 260 mm balance, while its product introduction calls the balance low. We use the numerical specification and the table's mid-balance classification for comparison.
This is a placement-focused option for experienced players who want less nominal weight than the 370 g Radical Pro. HEAD describes its feel as hard. That makes it a different proposition from the Radical Team, even though the Motion weighs less. Try both if you are unsure whether your priority is easier handling or softer contact.
The Coello Motion combines a diamond shape, a carbon-and-fibreglass hitting surface and Power Foam. It weighs 360 g nominally and has a 268 mm high balance. HEAD positions it for advanced and tournament players.
It is a sensible comparison for someone who likes the Coello idea but finds the 370 g Pro too substantial. In his 2026 Coello comparison, Padel Magazine reviewer Stéphane Penso found the Motion quicker to prepare than the Pro, while still noting weight toward the head. Lower weight does not make this a beginner recommendation.
Use the comparison to narrow your options by level, shape and weight. Then open the individual racket page for its complete researched specification and retailer options. A racket can suit more than one level; the filters should reflect that overlap.
The weight figures are nominal specifications, not measurements of the exact unit a retailer will send. Grips and added protection change the finished setup. If two rackets look similar on paper, ask the retailer about actual unit weight and handle a demo if you can.
17 of 17 HEAD rackets shown · Quoted in-stock offers in your region: €69.95–€296.95 · Quoted prices checked 16 October 2026
HEAD began with skis. Howard Head, an aircraft engineer, founded HEAD Ski Company in 1950 after working on a composite ski that used metal and wood. The company added a tennis division in 1968 and introduced an aluminium racket the following year. Padel became another part of that equipment business.
HEAD's padel history has two starting dates. Its own anniversary account traces licensed racket production in Argentina to Billy Mosche in 1989. It dates the formal start of HEAD Padel to 2000, which is why the brand celebrated its 25th padel anniversary in 2025.
Eduardo Vieytes, HEAD's commercial manager in Argentina, helped assemble the early design and development team. Their original rackets used lightweight Kiri wood from Misiones with a fibreglass resin finish. The brand's account also records its ties to players including Daniela Álvarez and the Maquirriain brothers during padel's growth in Argentina.
What the HEAD range names mean
Vibe, Bolt and Evo: start with the exact specification
These are the first models to investigate for recreational play. Our catalogue includes Vibe, Bolt, Coello Vibe and Evo Extreme, but their weights, balances and foam specifications differ. Sharing a beginner audience does not make them interchangeable.
Vibe is our reviewed starting pick here. Coello Vibe provides another recreational option in a separate signature family. Evo Extreme should not be confused with an Extreme Pro simply because both names contain Extreme. Compare the actual product record, then decide whether you prefer the feel and handling of that particular racket.
Radical: placement, with a meaningful Team/Motion/Pro split
The Radical Team uses a fibreglass face and is the softer route in this shortlist. Motion and Pro use a different construction and target experienced players. A lower scale weight on Motion does not erase that distinction.
Radical Motion and Radical Pro are the more relevant comparison if you already enjoy firm contact. The Pro's nominal 370 g is 15 g above the Motion. Consider that difference over a full session, particularly during repeated preparation at the net. Choose the heavier version only if you prefer its handling in play, not because Pro sounds like the next qualification to earn.
Coello: separate the signature from the playing demand
The Coello name appears on several models. Our catalogue includes Pro, Motion, Team and Vibe, covering different audiences. Choosing the family because you like the player is understandable; choosing the version still needs a practical fit decision.
The Motion and Pro are the advanced attacking options discussed here. Team offers a softer route within the diamond-shaped models, while Vibe serves a recreational audience. Do not assume that a shared colour scheme means a shared face, weight or feel. Check the full model name at checkout.
Extreme: check One, One X and the model year
The Extreme records in our catalogue include Motion, Team, Pro, One and One X. There are both 2025 and 2026 products in this comparison, so a family label is not enough to establish which racket an offer describes.
Extreme One and One X are a particularly important distinction. Their nominal weights are 350 g and 370 g respectively. The lighter One still has an advanced, high-balance profile in our research. It should not enter a beginner shortlist simply because it appears under an up-to-360-g filter.
Radical Team or Radical Motion?
Start with the contact you prefer. Team offers the softer fibreglass route. Motion offers a carbon face at a lower nominal weight and is intended for experienced players. Neither is an automatic upgrade over the other.
During a demo, use ordinary rally situations: a blocked volley, a defensive ball after the glass and a controlled lob. Note whether you can repeat the depth you want without changing your swing to accommodate the racket. A single clean smash is a poor basis for a purchase you will use through an entire match.
Coello Motion or Coello Pro?
The first practical difference in our catalogue is nominal weight: 360 g for Motion and 370 g for Pro. Both belong in an experienced attacking comparison. Motion is our starting choice here because it gives that audience a lower-weight route without pretending to serve every level.
If you already play comfortably with a heavier, high-balance racket, include Pro in your demo. If you repeatedly arrive late on volleys, try Motion and a differently balanced option before deciding. You do not need to stay within Coello if another HEAD family makes your normal game easier to repeat.
Buying a HEAD racket without guessing
Write down what you want to change about your current racket. “My hand is late in fast exchanges” is more useful than “I need a better racket.” “I want firmer contact” leads to a different shortlist from “I want a softer response.”
Next, compare the exact generation and variant. Team, Motion, Pro, One and One X are meaningful parts of the identity. An older product can still be a reasonable buy when its condition, specification and retailer terms suit you. A discount alone does not make an unsuitable model a good choice.
Finally, check the current retailer page. Prices and availability can change. A View button may lead to a valid product listing without a current purchasable offer; it does not mean the product has disappeared from the comparison. Our picks remain editorial choices rather than changing order whenever a price moves.
Frequently asked questions
Which HEAD padel racket should a beginner start with?
Vibe 2026 is our first starting point here. Compare the other researched recreational models if you prefer their exact weight, balance or price. Coello Motion and Extreme One remain advanced options despite their lower nominal weights.
Is Radical Team only for beginners?
No. HEAD positions the 2026 Radical Team for intermediate and advanced players. Its softer face is a preference, not a limit on how far someone can progress.
Is Radical Motion softer than Radical Pro?
Do not infer that from Motion's lower weight. HEAD describes Radical Motion as hard. Compare the exact construction and try the contact yourself; weight and face feel answer different questions.
Is Coello Motion the same racket as Coello Pro?
No. They have separate product identities and nominal weights. An offer for one should never be presented as an offer for the other.
Does a lighter HEAD racket suit every beginner?
No. Balance, construction and intended audience matter too. Extreme One is an example of a low nominal weight paired with an advanced, high-balance profile.
Why are older HEAD rackets included?
A researched older model can remain useful when a verified retailer listing exists. We show its actual year rather than treating it as the current generation or removing it solely because a newer racket exists.
How we chose
PadelFormat's editorial team checked the available catalogue against manufacturer information and exact retailer identities, then reviewed independent coverage and player discussion for additional context. Manufacturer facts, another reviewer's observations and our buying advice serve different purposes. Forum comments help identify questions to investigate; they do not establish measurements or a consensus. Affiliate relationships do not determine which racket is recommended for a playing need.
Use the racket chooser to compare HEAD with other brands. The full racket database lets you filter a wider range, while the budget guide helps if price is your main constraint.
