Kelme Shark Padel Racket

Of the two Kelmes Padelful has scored, the Shark is the quicker: 8.5 for manoeuvrability, 8.2 for control and the sweet spot, 8.4 for rebound, and 7.0 for power. Padelful's own summary is a little breathless (it calls the power exceptional), but the scores tell the real story: this is a control and comfort racket that gives the ball back easily rather than a hitter.

Padel Shack recommends it for players with elbow or arm problems because the extra-soft foam passes on very few vibrations. That fits the build. A soft core under a fine 3K weave is about as gentle as carbon gets.

One thing in the listings doesn't add up. Padel Shack's spec table and Padelful both give 3K carbon faces, but Padel Shack's description talks about four layers of woven fibreglass. Two sources against one sentence, so we list 3K carbon and will check the racket itself when stock arrives.

The Felina 2022 is the Shark's twin on paper, same face, core and frame, and Padelful scores it a little punchier (7.3 for power) but slower in the hand (8.0). The black Puma has the same 3K face over Kelme's Soft Ultra core and an anti-vibration system, though nobody has scored it. The Coyote 2025 is newer but its listings disagree on shape and core.

If comfort is the whole point, Oxdog's Pure Court has an even bigger sweet spot (9.6 on Padelful) but much less power (5.9). The Shark is the better choice if you want carbon's response as well as comfort.

Improvers and intermediates who play a lot at the net, and anyone with a sensitive elbow who still wants carbon. It's one of the easier carbon rackets on our cheap padel racket page, and the teardrop padel racket hub explains why the shape works for all-court players.

A smooth face and a quick head reward a tacky grip, so keep a fresh overgrip on from our padel grips range, and fit a racket protector to look after the carbon frame.

Soft rackets are happiest with lively balls; pick a tube from our padel balls page. Add padel shoes with a herringbone sole and a padel bag, and read how to choose a padel racket if you're still comparing.