Bullpadel Indiga CTR 26 Padel Racket

Bullpadel builds the Indiga in two shapes from the same materials. The CTR is round, with the sweet spot in the middle of the face where a beginner actually hits the ball. The Indiga PWR 26 is a diamond, with the sweet spot up near the tip and more weight in the head. Same weight, same Polyglass faces, same SoftEVA core.

Padelful's scores show what that shape change costs. The PWR gains almost a point of power (7.0 against 6.1) and loses on everything a new player needs: handling falls from 6.9 to 6.1 and the sweet spot shrinks from 6.9 to 6.4. For a first racket the CTR is almost always the right call. The exception is the ex-tennis player who already times the ball well and wants to hit through it.

Soft and friendly. The ball leaves the face with a gentle push rather than a crack, the round head is forgiving when you catch it off-centre, and the bandeja and vibora come off clean. Padelful rates control at 7.3 and rebound at 7.9, its two strongest numbers, which is exactly the balance you want while you're learning to use the walls.

What it won't do is win points for you overhead. Smash power is limited, and the fibreglass doesn't give the crisp feedback of a carbon racket, which some improving players start to miss in their second season. Nothing much changed from the 2025 Indiga CTR either: Padelful scored the two editions 71 and 70 out of 100.

First-year players, players coming back after a long break, and anyone who builds points with lobs and placement rather than the smash. It's also a sensible spare for a stronger player who wants something easy to lend to friends. Our best padel racket for beginners page puts it alongside the other round starter rackets, the control padel racket page covers round frames at every level, and the cheap padel racket page lists every option on a tight budget.

On a tighter budget, the Open Control 25 is a simpler round Bullpadel with a smooth face. Lighter players should look at the Indiga Womens 26, its older sky-blue 2023 edition, or the 350 to 360 g Flow Light 2025, which Padelful scores far higher for handling, and for children there's the Indiga Boy 26 junior racket.

Most players get a year or two out of it before they want more. The usual next step is a racket with a Glaphite face and a firmer EVAlastic core, such as the Hack Advance 26 or the Vertex Advance 26, then carbon once your contact is consistent. If you'd rather stay round, the Ionic Control 26 keeps the shape and low balance with a firmer Glaphite face. The best padel racket for intermediate players page covers that middle stage.

Add an overgrip on day one, because a new grip soaks up sweat and makes the handle easier to hold without squeezing; a pack of Bullpadel GB-1201 overgrips is plenty to start, and the padel grips page explains when to change them. A strip of protection on the frame, such as Bullpadel's three-pack of frame protectors, saves the first scrape off the floor, which comes sooner than anyone expects.

Pick up a tube of balls you can leave in the bag, such as Bullpadel FIP Next; our padel balls page explains why a fresh tube matters. Then shoes, because running trainers slide on sand-filled turf: the Bullpadel Indiga 26I men's shoe shares the racket's name, and every style is on our padel shoes page. The racket on its own clears the £40 line for free delivery.

Still choosing? Every Bullpadel we sell is on the Bullpadel rackets page, the full padel racket range covers the other brands, and our guide to choosing a padel racket walks through shape, weight and balance.