Author: Isabella Torres

Isabella Torres is originally from Madrid, Spain, and has been playing Padel as a semi-professional for the past five years. After completing her education as a journalist, she discovered her true passion in life was writing about Padel.

She loves staying up late watching intense rallies on YouTube, and is excited to share her knowledge about the sport with SimplePadel’s readers.

Padel Balls vs Tennis Balls: What’s the Difference?

Padel ball vs tennis ball: they look almost identical, but they are not the same ball. A padel ball is a felt-covered pressurized rubber ball that is slightly smaller and held at a noticeably lower pressure than a tennis ball. The two weigh the same and pass almost the same drop test on paper, yet in play a tennis ball feels livelier and comes off the glass faster.

Below you will find the rulebook numbers side by side, what the differences mean on a padel court, and whether tennis balls are a fair substitute. If you just need balls, the best padel balls guide covers every option.

Need padel balls now? The Wilson Premier Padel Speed ball and the Wilson Padel X3 are both widely available in three-ball tubes. Our full guide compares more options.

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Dunlop Galactica Lite, Team and Pro LS Review

The Dunlop Galactica Lite is the lightest of the newer Galactica rackets: a 16K carbon hybrid with a Soft EVA core at 350 g, aimed by Dunlop at advanced players. This review covers it together with the Dunlop Galactica Team, a 365 g hybrid for intermediate players, and the Dunlop Galactica Pro LS, a 16K carbon hybrid with a Pro EVA core at 365 g.

They sit beside the Dunlop Galactica Pro, which is the heavier, 370 g version with a higher balance. This review covers the build, the specs, how each should play, how they differ and who should buy which, and the US listings were down to two or three units each at the time of writing.

See also our best Dunlop padel rackets guide, or browse all our padel gear reviews.

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Under Armour Padel Shoes: What’s Actually Available in the US

Under Armour does not make a padel shoe. It does not currently sell a dedicated tennis or pickleball shoe either — UA’s own “Pickleball & Tennis” category lists apparel and accessories, but no footwear. If you have seen an article claiming Under Armour sells padel shoes like the “Curry Splash” or “Stellar G2,” that is inaccurate: the Curry Splash is a Stephen Curry basketball shoe and the Stellar G2 is a military and tactical boot — neither has anything to do with racket sports.

This is the most straightforward brand guide in our series: there is no genuine Under Armour padel product to review. Instead, this page is here to save you the search, explain what UA actually sells that could reasonably double as a padel shoe in a pinch, and point you to brands that do make dedicated padel footwear.

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Bullpadel Ionic Control Review

The Bullpadel Ionic Control is the control racket of Bullpadel’s Next line: a round head, a low balance and a soft Glaphite face, sold at about $199 directly by Bullpadel on the US listing. It is the easy, forgiving partner of the Ionic Power, built for players who want to place the ball rather than smash it.

Bullpadel rates it for intermediate players and gives its maneuverability a 4 out of 5, the highest figure in its ratings. This review covers the 2026 racket: the build, the specs, how it should play, and who should buy it.

See also our best Bullpadel padel rackets guide, or browse all our padel gear reviews.

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Dunlop Megamax Review

The Dunlop Megamax Silver is Dunlop’s round entry racket for beginners and recreational players: a graphite frame, a round head with a wide sweet spot, a Pro EVA core, a 38 mm profile and a straight hole pattern at 360 g. This review covers it together with the Dunlop Megamax Green (PRT 25), a version that the US listing describes with a soft EVA core and a fiberglass face.

Both showed a single unit on the US listings at the time of writing. This review covers the build, the specs, how they should play, how they differ and who should buy them, and what to buy if they sell out.

See also our best Dunlop padel rackets guide, or browse all our padel gear reviews.

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Adidas Arrow Hit Light Review (Ari Sánchez)

The Adidas Arrow Hit Light is the lighter of adidas’s attacking diamonds for 2026, made with Ari Sánchez: a head-heavy diamond with a Soft Performance EVA core, an ASC carbon face and a longer handle. adidas lists the weight at 345–360 g plus an adjustable weight of up to 11.2 g, which puts it well below the flagship diamonds in the range.

The idea is explosive power with a lighter feel: a high sweet spot and a head-heavy balance for smashes, with a weight that keeps defense manageable. This review covers the build, the specs, how it should play, how it differs from the round Arrow Hit Ctrl and who should buy it.

See also our best Adidas padel rackets guide, or browse all our padel gear reviews.

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Nox ML10 Ventus Control Review (Miguel Lamperti)

The Nox ML10 Ventus Control 3K is Miguel Lamperti’s racket for 2026: a round control racket with a 3K carbon face, a low-density HR3 Color EVA core and a carbon frame. NOX says Testea Padel named the ML10 Ventus Control the best control racket two years in a row, and this version arrives on a new mould.

It belongs to the same ML10 line as the older Nox ML10 Pro Cup, with a low-density core and aerodynamic throat perforations. This review covers the build, the specs, how it should play, who should buy it and what to consider if the US listing sells out.

See also our best Nox padel rackets guide, or browse all our padel gear reviews.

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Bullpadel Indiga Power Review

The Bullpadel Indiga Power is the diamond-shaped racket in Bullpadel’s Tour line: a Polyglass face, a SoftEVA core and a high balance, at about $99 in the US. It is the power-leaning sibling of the round Indiga W and the Indiga Control, and Bullpadel aims it at amateurs and occasional players.

A diamond is normally a harder shape for a new player, and Bullpadel offsets that with a soft face and a soft core. This review covers the build, the specs, how it should play, who should buy it and who is better off with the round versions.

See also our best Bullpadel padel rackets guide, or browse all our padel gear reviews.

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What Is the Pro Padel League (PPL)? Teams, Champions & 2026 Season

Pro Padel League (PPL) North America logo. Image source: propadelleague.com.

The Pro Padel League (PPL) is North America’s first professional padel league: a city-based, franchise team competition launched in 2023 and built on the model of US pro sports leagues like the NBA and Major League Soccer. By 2026 it has grown to 10 franchises across the US, Canada and Mexico, attracted celebrity owners from Frances Tiafoe to polo icon Nacho Figueras, and closed a $15 million funding round. Here is how the league works, who plays in it, who has won it, and how to follow the 2026 season.

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Padel vs Pickleball: What’s the Difference?

Padel is played on an enclosed glass court with walls in play. Photo by José Alejandro Cuffia.

No, padel and pickleball are not the same sport. Padel is played on an enclosed glass court where the walls are in play, with a stringless racket and a ball much like a tennis ball. Pickleball is played on a small open court with no walls, using a solid paddle and a hard, perforated plastic ball. They look similar at a glance and are both doubles-friendly and beginner-friendly, but they play completely differently.

Both are exploding across the US right now, which is exactly why people mix them up. This guide breaks down every difference that matters, the court, the racket and paddle, the ball, the rules, the learning curve, the workout, and which is more popular, so you can decide which one to play (or whether to play both).

Thinking of trying padel? All you need to start is a racket and a tube of balls. See our picks for the best padel rackets for beginners and the best padel balls — or grab a control-focused, round-shape pick like the Babolat Contact.

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