Black Crown Viva Padel Racket (2026)

A starter racket needs to be forgiving, predictable and cheap enough not to worry about, and a round head with a soft core and fibreglass faces ticks all three. Black Crown splits the play 50 and 50 between power and control, calls the category Rookie, and retailers present it as the most affordable racket in the 2026 collection.

We found no independent test of the Viva and no Padelful page, so we cannot give ratings. What we can say is what the brand and retailers print: round, low balance, 355 to 370 g, and a control-first character. If you want a score before buying, there isn't one yet.

Black Crown's other rackets are aimed higher. The Iconic and the Piton 14 are listed for intermediate to advanced players, and the Special Max is the brand's top attacker. The Viva is the gentle first step, which is why it is round and soft.

When you outgrow it, the sensible next move is the softer, forgiving Piton White Soft or the Iconic, not a jump to the firm top-end rackets. Our beginner padel rackets page compares other brands' starters, and a carbon-faced step up inside the brand is the Win Carbon. If weight is the worry, the Win Ultralight is far lighter, and the Enebe Astra and Enebe Point Light are other soft starters.

Players who already hit with control and want to finish points, and anyone who will not be happy without a carbon face. If you want to compare cheap rackets from across the market, the cheap padel racket page lists them, and the control padel rackets page covers the shape.

Start with a racket protector, because beginners meet the glass more than they expect, then add a tacky overgrip from the padel grips range. Pressurised padel balls and proper padel shoes do more for your first month than a racket upgrade, and a padel bag keeps it protected.

Our guide to choosing a padel racket explains shape and weight, and the full padel racket range has the rest.