Volt 500 Junior Padel Racket

A round head puts the sweet spot in the middle of the face, and a low balance keeps the weight in the handle. Together with a soft core and a fibreglass face, that makes a racket that is easy to swing and forgiving when the contact is off, which is what a child's early lessons mostly are.

Volt's brand page lists a smooth surface and a 38 mm profile, and says a cover and a protector are included. It does not list a weight, an age range or a grip size. We would rather tell you that than invent a number.

The adult Volt 500 V5 keeps the round shape and low balance but moves to a carbon face and lists 345 to 365 g. That is a lot to ask of a young wrist, so the junior racket is the sensible choice for a child, and a taller teenager might look at the adult one later.

Because the weight is not published, check it against the box when it arrives and compare it with the junior weights on our kids padel rackets page. A grip that is too thick makes a small hand cramp, so an overgrip from our padel grips range can fine-tune it.

Fit a racket protector to the frame, keep it out of a hot car boot, and pair it with soft padel balls and flat-soled padel shoes for the court. Our guide to choosing a padel racket explains weight and balance, and the full padel racket range sits behind it.

A strong teenager who already hits hard will outgrow a soft fibreglass racket quickly, and our best padel rackets for beginners page is the better route for them.