How to Look After Your Padel Racket (Especially in Bangkok)

Why racket care matters here

Quick take. Keep your racket out of the heat (never in a hot car) and out of cold, wet places. Don't scrape it on the floor to pick up balls. Fit a frame protector tightly, change your grip often and carry it in a padel bag, ideally one with a thermal pocket.

Most padel rackets have an EVA or foam core under a carbon or fibreglass face (see what's inside a padel racket). Those materials don't like extremes, and Bangkok's heat, humidity and air-conditioned rooms test them all year.

Six habits

1. No ball-scooping. Scraping the racket along the court to lift a ball wears and cracks the edge. Pick it up by hand or tap it up against your foot.
2. Use a frame protector. A protector tape round the top of the frame takes the knocks from the floor and walls. Fit it tightly so it doesn't peel.
3. Change your grip often. A worn grip makes you squeeze harder, which tires the arm. In Bangkok humidity an overgrip wears fast; if you play daily, a weekly change is not too often.
4. Keep it out of the heat. Heat can weaken the fibres and soften the core, so never leave it in a car in the sun or on a scooter seat.
5. Avoid cold, damp places too. Don't store it in a wet bag or a cold room. Let it dry after a sweaty session.
6. Carry it in a padel bag. A bag with a thermal compartment protects it on the way to the court. See what to pack in your padel bag.

When to replace it

Signs a racket is past its best: cracks in the frame, a face that has gone soft or "dead", or a rattling core. Our racket buying guide helps you choose the next one, and many Bangkok clubs let you try demo rackets first; see our court guide.

Share your own racket tips with the Bangkok Padel Community on Facebook.

Sources

• 6 ways to take care of your padel racket (Padelgear)