Stiga 18K LW 2 Cybershape Padel Racket

LW stands for light weight, and STIGA says the point is to reduce strain on the arm and wrist without compromising control. The stockist adds that it is gentler on the elbow and calls it suitable for all players, especially younger players and anyone who wants a lighter racket. That is a useful pitch for a junior who has outgrown a toy racket, or for a club player whose forearm tires in the third set.

The racket keeps the Cybershape features: a hexagonal head with straight edges and an asymmetric frame, a longer handle with a replaceable wrist strap, and a face with the Crystal Grip finish. STIGA claims the sweet spot is about 20 per cent larger than a round racket's and sits higher on the face, and that the shape cuts air resistance by 12 per cent in wind-tunnel tests. These are the brand's numbers, not independent ones.

The honest answer is that we cannot tell you. Bygghemma lists a low balance point, which it says gives a comfortable feeling of control in the arm. STIGA's own product page describes a medium balance, and another retailer says neutral. A light racket with a low balance would be a genuinely easy one to swing, while a medium-balance one would feel a touch more purposeful through the ball.

Until someone publishes a balance measurement in millimetres, treat the word as marketing and decide by holding the racket. If you cannot demo it, the safest assumption is that it will not feel head-heavy.

The 18K 2 is the same idea at 360 g with a medium balance, so the difference is 15 g and a little more feel in the head. If your arm is fine and you play twice a week, the heavier one gives more stability. If you get sore or are building technique, the LW 2 asks less of you.

At the other end of the range, the 18K Hard 2 is the stiff attacker the 18K X Hard is the hardest-hitting and the 3K 2 is the precise one. The 1.3K Hard is the entry point into the shape.

Strong hitters who like to finish with a smash will find a 345 g racket light on stability, and power is not what STIGA is selling here. Older rackets such as the 18K LW and the Amanda Girdo Edition are separate models, so do not assume their specs carry over. If you are a complete beginner, the best padel racket for beginners page and the kids padel racket page list simpler first rackets.

A longer handle is easy to overgrip, so a fresh tacky wrap from the padel grips page makes sense, and frame tape from the racket protector range protects the odd-shaped head. For a junior, fresh balls from the padel balls page are friendlier than a flat old tube.

A bag with a shoe pocket such as the Babolat RH Pro keeps sand off the kit, and the padel shoes page covers court shoes. The full padel racket range is on one page, and our guide to choosing a padel racket explains weight and balance.