Is last year's padel racket the better deal?
Updated September 17, 2026. Racket lists on this page update daily from our database.
Most padel brands release a new version of their main rackets every season, and last year's model often gets marked down to clear stock. That can be a great deal, or a small saving on a racket that changed a lot.
What usually changes year to year
- Graphics and colors. Always.
- Small construction tweaks: a revised core, a reworked frame bridge, a new surface texture, or a removable weight system.
- Sometimes the mold. A new mold can change the shape, balance, and sweet spot. That's when the two years can play quite differently.
Brands also start showing next season's rackets well before the calendar year turns, so a "2026" racket can become last year's model sooner than you'd expect.
How to decide
- Compare the specs. If shape, balance, weight, and core are the same, you're mostly paying for the new look.
- Compare total prices, shipping included, at stores that actually have it in stock.
- Check availability. Discounted older models sell out fast, especially in popular weights.
- Watch the price. Set a price-drop alert on either version and let the deal come to you.
One thing to check before you buy clearance stock
A brand's warranty usually runs from the date of first retail sale and needs proof of purchase, and some brands exclude closeout stock outright. Babolat's US warranty, for example, covers one year from first retail sale and says plainly that it does not apply to closeout product. That doesn't make last year's model a bad buy, but it's worth knowing that a $100 saving may come with less cover, so ask the store what the warranty is before you pay.
Year-over-year pairs we track
Once we have a few months of daily prices, each racket page will show a price history chart, so you can see whether today's discount is actually low.