vindje.com / Guides / Sports & outdoor
Padel has boomed in the Netherlands, and many players sell rackets after one season, so used ones are easy to find. Check for cracks in the frame, a worn surface and whether it is a fake, which is common with popular padel models. For tennis rackets, the grip size and a fresh string job matter most.
Padel rackets come in three shapes. Round shapes are easiest to control and suit beginners. Teardrop is a balance of control and power. Diamond shapes put weight in the head for power and suit experienced players. Beginners often buy a diamond racket because a pro uses it, then sell it after a few months, which is why so many lightly used top models show up.
Faces are made of fibreglass (softer, more forgiving) or carbon (stiffer, more power). The core is soft or hard EVA or foam. Common brands: Bullpadel, Adidas, Head, Babolat, Nox, Siux, Starvie, Wilson and Decathlon's Kuikma.
Copies of the Bullpadel Vertex, Adidas Metalbone and Nox AT10 models are widely sold online and turn up on Marktplaats. They often weigh differently, have sloppy graphics or no serial or hologram sticker, and feel dead on the ball. Look up the official product photos and compare details like the holes pattern, the bridge and the text on the frame. A current flagship at well below half the shop price, with no receipt and 'new in plastic', deserves suspicion.
European grip sizes go from L0 to L5; most adults use L2 or L3 (equal to 4 1/4 and 4 3/8 inches). Hold the racket in your normal grip: there should be room for a finger between your fingertips and palm. A grip that is too small can be built up with an overgrip; too large cannot be fixed easily.
Look for cracks at the throat and the top of the frame, broken grommets (the plastic strips the strings pass through), and the age of the strings. A restring costs about EUR 20-35 depending on string choice, so add that to the price if the strings are dead or broken.
Padel rackets weigh between roughly 340 and 380 grams. Lighter rackets are easier on the arm and suit beginners and players with elbow problems; heavier ones give more power. Ask the seller to weigh it on a kitchen scale, which is also a quick check against fakes, since copies are often outside the official weight range. For tennis, the weight is usually printed on the frame as strung or unstrung.
Tennis frames change little between generations. A Babolat Pure Drive, Wilson Blade or Clash, Head Speed or Yonex Ezone from two or three years ago plays almost the same as the current version at half the price. For padel, mid-range models from last season, like the Bullpadel Vertex or Hack in earlier versions or the Head Delta, are good value. On vindje.com you can ask for a round or teardrop padel racket for a beginner, genuine brand, under 70 euro, and it will skip the listings for covers and balls.
| Item | Typical asking price |
|---|---|
| Beginner padel racket (Kuikma, Head, Adidas entry) | EUR 15-45 |
| Mid-range padel racket, 1-2 seasons old | EUR 40-90 |
| Top padel model, 1 season old (Bullpadel Vertex, Metalbone) | EUR 90-180 |
| Recent tennis racket (Pure Drive, Blade, Speed) | EUR 50-130 |
| Older tennis racket | EUR 15-40 |
| Restringing a tennis racket | EUR 20-35 |
Rough Marktplaats asking prices in the Netherlands. Condition, age and season move them a lot.
Describe what you want in your own words and vindje.com searches Marktplaats in Dutch, then reads every listing and keeps only the real matches. For example:
Bullpadel or Adidas padel racket, round or teardrop shape, no cracks, genuine, under 80 euro, within 15 kmSearch Marktplaats like this
For someone playing a couple of times a week, about one or two seasons before the core softens and the surface wears. Casual players can use one for years.
Compare the graphics, weight and serial or hologram sticker with official photos. Fakes often have sloppy prints and are priced far below the going rate.
Most adults use L2 or L3. You should be able to fit one finger between your fingertips and palm when holding it.
If you do not know when it was last strung, yes. Old strings lose tension and feel dead.