StarVie Junior Padel Racket

A round head puts the sweet spot in the middle of the face and the weight low in the frame, which makes it the standard shape for a child's first racket: easier to centre the ball, easier to swing. Ipon Tennis says the Junior's round shape gives a large sweet spot and a low balance point, and calls it ideal for smaller hands.

The core is what sets this racket apart. PK28 is an ultra-soft density rubber that retailers say gives a soft touch and easy ball exit, and reduces vibration. That is gentle on young wrists and helps a child get the ball over the net, though it also means little pace of its own.

Stringers World lists the weight as under 330 g, which is light for a padel racket but heavier than the lightest junior rackets we have looked at. Ipon Tennis gives no figure and calls it lightweight. Neither gives an age or a height range, and the listing says only that it is for children and teenagers, beginners and players with some experience who want to improve.

That is wide. A small child may find a racket near 330 g heavy, and a tall teenager may outgrow it quickly. For under-8s, Babolat's Alioth Mini Junior is aimed at that age, and we cannot give exact ages for the StarVie because the seller does not. Our kids padel racket page explains how to choose by height.

Padel Nuestro also lists a StarVie Junior 2024 at about 330 g, with an EVA Soft core and an Xtreme Spot fibreglass layout rather than the PK28 core. So the name has been used for different builds. Our listing says 2025, so the PK28 description is the relevant one, but check the year on a secondhand or older-stock racket.

For comparison, Babolat's Alioth Junior is 320 g with a head-light round shape, the adidas Arrow Hit Junior is listed at 310 to 330 g, and the Nox AT10 Genius Junior at 300 to 325 g.

Very young children, who need a lighter mini racket, and fast-improving juniors who want pace. An ultra-soft core gives little power, and the racket gives no age guidance. If your child is already hitting hard, a more lively junior model will suit better.

Junior rackets need junior kit. Balls come from the padel balls page, a fresh overgrip from the padel grips page helps small hands, and frame tape from the racket protector range protects a racket that will be dropped. Our padel racket range covers the adult step-up.

For an adult first racket in the same soft round mould, StarVie's Nyra is the one. A small padel bag keeps sand off the kit, and the padel shoes page covers court shoes, including Babolat's Jet Premura 2 Junior. Our guide to choosing a padel racket explains shape and balance for the next racket.