It might be the most asked question in padel: which racket does that one pro actually use? We break down the eight biggest names on the Premier Padel tour for the 2026 season. For each player you'll read how he plays, why that particular racket suits him, and whether it's something for you too.
We play every racket on this list ourselves, on court. So no copied manufacturer blurb, just what we actually think.
Table of contents
- The complete overview in one table
- Agustín Tapia: NOX AT10 Genius 18K 2026
- Arturo Coello: Head Coello Pro 2026
- Fede Chingotto: Bullpadel Neuron 02 2026
- Ale Galán: Adidas Metalbone 3.5 2026
- Leo Augsburger: Siux Fenix Pro Black 2026
- Juan Lebrón: Babolat Viper Juan Lebrón 3.0 2026
- Franco Stupaczuk: Siux Electra Pro Stupa 2026
- Paquito Navarro: Bullpadel Hack 04 2026
- Does a pro really use the racket you buy in the shop?
- Which pro racket suits your level?
- Frequently asked questions
The complete overview in one table
| Player | Racket 2026 | Brand | Shape | Playing character |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agustín Tapia | AT10 Genius 18K Aluminium 2026 | NOX | Teardrop | Control with an explosive punch |
| Arturo Coello | Coello Pro 2026 | Head | Diamond | Pure power |
| Fede Chingotto | Neuron 02 2026 | Bullpadel | Hybrid | Maximum control and precision |
| Ale Galán | Metalbone 3.5 2026 | Adidas | Diamond | Power, he switches per opponent |
| Leo Augsburger | Fenix Pro Black 2026 | Siux | Diamond | Explosive and aggressive |
| Juan Lebrón | Viper Juan Lebrón 3.0 2026 | Babolat | Diamond | Hard, dry and merciless |
| Franco Stupaczuk | Electra Pro Stupa 2026 | Siux | Teardrop | Attacking with control |
| Paquito Navarro | Hack 04 2026 | Bullpadel | Diamond | Power with comfort |
Agustín Tapia: NOX AT10 Genius 18K 2026
How he plays: Tapia is the magician of the tour. He plays the left side and does things with his wrist that logically shouldn't be possible. Bandejas that suddenly turn into víboras, chiquitas from impossible angles, and then out of nowhere a smash that goes sky high. His game runs on feel, timing and unpredictability.
Why this racket: the AT10 Genius has a teardrop shape, and that's exactly the balance Tapia needs. Enough mass in the head to finish, but manoeuvrable enough to keep using those fast hands. The 18K carbon faces make the racket stiff and dry, which lets him meter the ball with extreme precision. For players who want to put a lot of feel into the ball this is one of the best rackets out there, provided your technique holds up.
View the NOX AT10 Genius 18K 2026
Arturo Coello: Head Coello Pro 2026
How he plays: Coello is well over two metres tall and uses every centimetre of it. He plays the right side and dominates the net like almost no one else. Where other players build a point, Coello just closes it with a smash that's impossible to return. Physical, aggressive and nearly impossible to pass at the net.
Why this racket: the Coello Pro is a diamond shape with a high balance, meaning all the mass sits in the top of the head. That gives maximum leverage on the smash and the víbora. The racket forgives very little on a mishit, but that doesn't bother Coello, because he almost always strikes the ball cleanly. This is a racket for players who want to finish points, not for players who want to defend.
Fede Chingotto: Bullpadel Neuron 02 2026
How he plays: Chingotto is the tactician. Small, low to the ground and with a defence that makes opponents despair. He returns balls nobody else reaches and builds points with his head instead of brute force. Wait, steer, and then strike at the right moment.
Why this racket: the Neuron 02 is a mix of everything. Hybrid shape, a large sweet spot and a medium-hard face. That means you'll get to almost every ball in defence and still aim precisely. This is the most attacking racket Chingotto has ever played with. A hybrid you can defend well with while generating considerably more power than you'd expect from a control racket.
View the Bullpadel Neuron 02 2026
Ale Galán: Adidas Metalbone 3.5 2026
How he plays: Galán is the complete player. A beast physically, technically clean, and with a smash that decides matches. He plays the left side and can switch between patient build-up and ending the point in two shots.
Why this racket: the Metalbone 3.5 is a diamond with a high balance, built to finish. Interesting detail: Galán doesn't always play the same version. He switches between the Metalbone 3.5 and the harder Metalbone HRD+ 3.5 depending on his opponent and the conditions. The HRD+ feels stiffer and gives more explosiveness when he swings full and wants to keep the pace high. The standard 3.5 is a little more forgiving and gives more ball exit, useful when he has to build the point longer against strong defenders.
For you that means the following: if you want maximum stiffness and you swing full, the Adidas Metalbone HRD+ 3.5 2026 is your version. If you want the same DNA with a bit more comfort and margin, go for the 3.5.
View the Adidas Metalbone 3.5 2026
Leo Augsburger: Siux Fenix Pro Black 2026
How he plays: Augsburger is the Argentinian talent who shot to the top at a blistering pace. Almost 1.90 metres, plays left, and a game built around verticality. He baits his opponent into smashing so he can come to the net with a kangaroo jump and hit the ball out of the cage. And whatever you do, don't give Augsburger a bad lob, because you'll be punished for it. Young, explosive and without a brake.
Why this racket: the Fenix Pro is one of the most explosive rackets in the Siux range. Diamond shape, high balance and 18K carbon faces that respond stiffly. Everything about this racket is built to finish. It does ask for a strong arm and good technique, because you'll feel a mishit immediately.
View the Siux Fenix Pro Black 2026
Juan Lebrón: Babolat Viper Juan Lebrón 3.0 2026
How he plays: El Lobo. Lebrón plays the right side and is pure aggression with extreme control. Fast hands at the net, a víbora that puts absurd spin on the ball, and a smash he rarely hesitates over. Lebrón is known for his temperament and his fanatical play, and plenty of players hate facing him. In Spain he's a cult hero and at the same time an arch-rival to many.
Why this racket: the Viper 3.0 was developed together with Lebrón and you can tell. Diamond shape, a hard core and a dry, direct touch. The ball comes off immediately, with no damping in between. That's exactly what you want when you're finishing, but it also means the racket solves very little for you in defence. If you're after a softer version with the same character, take a look at the Babolat Viper Soft Juan Lebrón 3.0 2026.
View the Babolat Viper Juan Lebrón 3.0 2026
Franco Stupaczuk: Siux Electra Pro Stupa 2026
How he plays: Stupa plays left and loves pace. He hits early, looks for the attack and gives his opponent very little time, and he has one of the best víboras on tour. At the same time his game is more technically polished than you'd think at first glance, because he'd rather build points. Exhausting to play against.
Why this racket: the Electra Pro is a teardrop and that's no accident. It gives him power without losing control, exactly the mix that suits a player who attacks a lot but doesn't finish blindly. Of all the rackets on this list, this is one of the most accessible for advanced club players, because the teardrop shape has a larger sweet spot than a diamond.
View the Siux Electra Pro Stupa 2026
Paquito Navarro: Bullpadel Hack 04 2026
How he plays: Paquito is the showman of the tour and at 37 he's still right up there. He stands left, he's creative, and he has a víbora that's notorious. He plays on feel and surprise, with plenty of variation in pace and spin. He holds his racket like a magic wand and turns everything into a show, with a lot of emotion.
Why this racket: the Hack has been Bullpadel's power icon for years. The 04 from 2026 keeps that DNA but adds technology that makes the racket kinder on the arm. Diamond shape for the hit, rough finish for the spin, and damping so you can keep going longer. For players who want power but have a sensitive elbow, this is one of the better diamond rackets.
View the Bullpadel Hack 04 2026
Does a pro really use the racket you buy in the shop?
Honest answer: almost, but not quite. This is the part most webshops don't write down.
- The model really is the same. The rackets on this list are the commercial versions of what the pro actually plays. Same shape, same core, same faces.
- The weight often differs. Pros nearly always have their racket customised, usually with added lead or an adjusted balance. The one in the shop is the standard version.
- The grip is different. Practically every pro plays with a customised or doubled overgrip, so the grip thickness and feel are not the same.
- They wear it out faster than you. A pro goes through a racket in weeks. You'll get a season or more out of it, so durability matters more for you.
- Colourways change. Many pros play several colour versions of the same model across a season. The technology underneath stays the same.
In short: you really are buying the pro's racket, just not the exact one he holds in a match. And that's fine, because the standard version is the better choice for almost everyone.
We know this kind of thing because we play every racket on this list ourselves before it goes into the shop. You can read more about how we work on our about us page.
Which pro racket suits your level?
Not every racket on this list is a sensible choice for everyone. This is how we'd judge it, having played them ourselves:
| Your profile | Our pick from this list |
|---|---|
| Advanced club player who wants to attack | Siux Electra Pro Stupa 2026 |
| Tactical player who steers the point | Bullpadel Neuron 02 2026 |
| All-rounder with feel and technique | NOX AT10 Genius 18K 2026 |
| Finisher with a strong arm | Head Coello Pro or Siux Fenix Pro Black |
| Power seeker with a sensitive elbow | Bullpadel Hack 04 2026 |
| Competitive player who wants it all | Adidas Metalbone 3.5 2026 |
Don't see yourself in there? Then run through our Racket Finder, it gets you to the shape and stiffness that suit you in three steps. Still stuck between two rackets? Send us an email or a PM and we'll think it through with you.
Frequently asked questions
Which racket does Agustín Tapia use in 2026?
Tapia plays with the NOX AT10 Genius 18K from the 2026 collection, a teardrop-shaped racket with 18K carbon faces.
Which racket does Arturo Coello use?
Coello plays with the Head Coello Pro in 2026, a diamond-shaped racket with a high balance that was developed together with him.
Which racket does Ale Galán use?
Galán plays with the Adidas Metalbone 3.5 in 2026 and switches to the harder Metalbone HRD+ 3.5 depending on his opponent.
Which pro racket is suitable for an advanced club player?
The Siux Electra Pro Stupa 2026 is the most accessible on this list. The teardrop shape gives a larger sweet spot than a diamond, so you're punished less on a mishit.
What's the difference between a diamond and a teardrop racket?
On a diamond the mass sits higher in the head, which gives more power on the smash but forgives little. A teardrop sits in between, with a larger sweet spot and more control. That makes a teardrop the safer choice for most club players. There's more on this in our article on diamond, teardrop and round shapes.
Why is a pro's racket so expensive?
You're paying for the highest carbon quality, the newest technology and the development done with the player himself. If you want the character without the top price, look at last year's version of the same model.
I'm stuck between two rackets from this list. What now?
Send us an email or a PM with your level, which side you play and what you're struggling with in your game. We've played them all ourselves and we'll tell you honestly which of the two suits you better, even if that's the cheaper one.
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This list applies to the 2026 season and is updated as soon as a player changes racket or brand.
