Gear · 6 min
I've played the Padelsmith #1, a British-designed diamond handmade in Andalucía. How it plays, where it falls short, and who should buy it.
Last updated: 9 November 2026
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Image: PadelsmithPadelsmith #1
Best for a first diamond that plays light and quick, with more punch than its 350g suggests. Skip if you want a heavy, stiff frame for maximum smash speed.
It plays light and quick for a diamond, and packs more of a punch than a 350g frame has any right to. It isn't a heavy smash plank, and it isn't trying to be. If you want your first diamond without the weight and stiffness that usually come with one, it's a strong choice, and the finish feels premium.
Padelsmith is a British-designed brand that focuses on one racket. The #1 is handmade in a specialist workshop in Almería, Andalucía: an all-black frame with a pink grip band.
| Spec | Padelsmith #1 |
|---|---|
| Shape | Diamond |
| Weight | About 350g |
| Balance | High (head-heavy) |
| Core | EVA Soft Black 28 - medium-soft |
| Face | European 12K carbon with an embossed 3D texture |
| Frame | Carbon and Kevlar, 38mm thick |
| Price | £320 at PadelDogs (checked 7 November 2026) |
This is where it stands out. It's manoeuvrable: quick to bring up for a volley and easy to reset in fast exchanges. The spec sheet says high balance, but at about 350g there isn't much mass in the head, so it feels well balanced rather than head-heavy or slow to swing.
It packs a punch for its size. Put-away smashes have real pop, more than I expected from a frame this light. On a flat smash it won't match a heavier 370g+ diamond such as the Bullpadel Vertex 04 for raw pace. That's the trade for the speed you get everywhere else.
The embossed face grips the ball, so bandejas and viboras come off with noticeable spin.
The feel is medium-soft: muted and controlled, not the hard 'plank' crack of a stiff competition frame. The sweet spot sits higher than on a teardrop, as you'd expect from a diamond. It rewards clean contact, but mishits aren't harsh.
Low balls off the back glass need more care than with a teardrop. That's the normal diamond trade-off, not a flaw of this racket, but it's worth knowing if you spend most rallies defending.
For a diamond it's kind on the arm, thanks to the lighter weight and softer core. The finish and the presentation box feel premium, as you'd hope at £320.
I was also sent the 12k Padel Ice White, a 365g 12K carbon teardrop, to test. I moved the Padelsmith more easily and played better with it. They are different rackets for different players, though: the Ice White is a much cheaper teardrop for beginner to intermediate players, and it's the value pick in our intermediate racket guide.
The diamond shape puts it in the advanced conversation. It breaks two of the pro-spec rules in our advanced racket guide, though: at about 350g it is 20-30g lighter than a typical competition frame, and the core is medium-soft rather than hard. On court that makes it one of the gentler ways into a diamond - the same slot as the Vertex 04 Comfort, rather than a stiff, heavy smash plank.
If the Padelsmith isn't quite right, these are the frames I'd look at either side of it.
Bullpadel Vertex 04 Comfort
Best for a first diamond, with a softer core that is kinder on the arm. Skip if you want the stiffest, fastest ball off the face.
NOX AT10 Genius 12K
Best for all-court players ready for their first teardrop. Skip if your contact still drifts off-centre.
Not sure you're ready for a diamond? Our intermediate racket guide covers the teardrop frames most players should master first, and racket shapes explained shows what changes between round, teardrop and diamond.
For strong intermediates who are ready to move up, yes. It plays light and quick for a diamond, which makes it one of the easier first diamonds. If you are still on a round racket, master a teardrop first.
A diamond. On court it plays light and quick for a diamond, because it weighs about 350g and has a medium-soft core.
It packs more punch than you'd expect from 350g, and put-away smashes have real pop. For raw pace on flat smashes, a heavier 370g+ diamond still has the edge.
It is designed in Britain and handmade in a specialist workshop in Almería, Andalucía, with a European 12K carbon face and a carbon and Kevlar frame.
PadelDogs stocks it at £320 with free UK delivery and takes returns on unused rackets only (checked 7 November 2026). We couldn't find it on Amazon UK (checked 7 November 2026).