Shockout Serious Padel Racket Protector

Material first: PVC with a micro-gridded surface that is meant to stand up to wear and impacts. It goes on with a high-tack adhesive, called NT, that is said to stay put on the frame, and the same listing says you can swap it later without damaging the racket's original lacquer.

The Serious name is the design, a Joker look, and the guard is also sold as a way to make a racket your own. It sits on the top edge of the head, where the glass and the floor do the most damage.

Shockout sells the same style of guard in several looks, and the listings do not describe each one the same way. The Comic protector names the micro-grid and the NT adhesive, the Phantoms protector names PVC and no added weight, and the Serious lists most of the set.

The simplest reading is that they are the same product with different printing, but nobody says so, so we do not state it as fact. For a plain alternative, see Black Crown's plain black strip or the Bullpadel Pro frame protector.

Wipe the frame, line the guard up at the top of the head and press it down on both sides. A strong adhesive means you only get one good go, so take your time. If you peel it later, go slowly, because lacquer can lift with a hard pull whatever the listing says.

See the full racket protector range, a fresh overgrip from the padel grips range and the padel racket range. Small kit is on the padel accessories page.

Anyone who wants a stated size and thickness before buying, players who dislike a loud design and anyone who expects a guard to stop cracks. It protects paint and edge from scrapes.