Kelme Puma Padel Racket

Padel Shack's listing, the only detailed one we found, gives a teardrop head with an even balance, 3K carbon faces and a carbon frame, and a Black EVA Soft Ultra core. It also mentions Kelme's Anti-Vibra System, meant to take some sting out of hits when you attack. The face is smooth, so spin comes from your swing rather than from grit on the surface.

Kelme doesn't publish a UK spec sheet, and the listing gives no year; its product code ends in 22, which suggests a 2022 design. We'll check the racket against these figures when stock arrives.

No independent tester has scored the Puma, so we won't invent numbers. What the build tells you is reasonably clear. A 3K face is the finer, more forgiving carbon weave; a soft core lets the ball come off with a little help; an even-balanced teardrop keeps the sweet spot in the middle of the face. That adds up to an all-rounder that gives depth from the back and stays manageable at the net.

Its closest relation is Kelme's own Felina 2022, which Padelful has scored: 3K carbon on an extra-soft core, 7.9 overall with 8.3 for rebound and 8.1 for control. Expect the Puma to sit in that territory, but treat that as a guide, not a score.

Kelme's teardrops on our shelves share a lot. The Puma, Felina and Shark all have 3K carbon faces over soft cores; the Warrior is listed with a 12K face. The newer Coyote 2025 is the odd one out, with a disputed shape and core. The differences between the first three come down to colour, a few grams and the exact core name, so buy the one you like the look of.

Padel Shack calls it ideal for intermediate and aspiring players who want a mix of power and control, and we'd agree. If you've played a season on a fibreglass racket and want to try carbon without spending much, it's a sensible step. Our teardrop padel racket page explains why the shape suits all-court players, and the cheap padel racket page lists other carbon options at a similar price.

A smooth carbon face needs a hand that doesn't slip, so keep a fresh overgrip on from our padel grips range, and fit a racket protector before the frame meets the glass.

Add a tube from our padel balls page, padel shoes with a herringbone sole and a padel bag, and read how to choose a padel racket if you're still deciding.