How to Look After Your Padel Racket: A Short Maintenance Guide
A padel racket doesn't need much looking after. But the things that damage them are completely avoidable, and most players only learn them after a £150 frame cracks on a wall edge that a £3 tape would have stopped.
Protect the Edge
The frame edge takes the most abuse in padel — wall contacts, accidentally dragging the racket along the floor, and the occasional dropped catch. Edge protector tape costs a couple of pounds and wraps around the bottom half of the frame to absorb impacts that would otherwise cause chipping or cracking.
If your racket doesn't have edge tape from the manufacturer, add it before you play. If it does, check it regularly and replace when it wears through.
Store It Properly
Don't leave a padel racket loose in a kit bag rattling against boots and water bottles. The face is hard carbon or fibreglass, but the edges and throat area are vulnerable to impact damage.
A padded racket sleeve or dedicated padel bag keeps the frame protected. If you're travelling with it, padded bag, always.
Keep It Out of Extreme Heat
Car boots in summer can reach 60–70°C. Carbon frames are heat-resistant, but the resin that binds the carbon fibres together is not. Prolonged exposure to high temperatures can soften the resin and change the frame's structural properties. The same applies to leaving a racket in direct strong sunlight for extended periods.
Store at room temperature when not in use.
Re-grip Regularly
The grip is the only part of the racket you directly control. A worn, slippery grip reduces control and increases grip pressure, which fatigues the arm faster. Replace overgrip every 3–4 months with regular play, or sooner if it starts to feel slick.
Base grip replacement is less frequent — every 12–18 months for most players — but if the cushioning has compacted or the surface is cracking, replace it.
Clean the Face
Dirt and clay build up on the carbon face over time, slightly changing the ball contact. Wipe down with a damp cloth after play. Don't use abrasive cleaners — they'll scratch the surface coating. For stubborn dirt, a soft brush works better than scrubbing.
When to Replace vs. Repair
A cracked frame cannot be meaningfully repaired. Epoxy patches look okay but the structural integrity is gone. If the carbon face has cracked through, the racket is done.
Cosmetic surface scratches on the face are fine — they don't affect performance. A chipped edge guard is fine if the underlying frame is undamaged. Replace the edge tape and carry on.
Full 12K carbon construction is more resistant to the kind of delamination that affects fibreglass-core rackets, but no frame is indestructible. When it's time to replace: 12kpadel.com — full 12K carbon from £79.95, free UK delivery.
See also: How long does a padel racket last? | Best padel racket for beginners UK