Every Y1 Padel racket answers two questions: how do you play, and how much feel do you want? The range (RX, AX or CX) is built around a playing style. The number in the name tells you the face, from soft fibreglass up to 22K carbon. Get those two right and you’ve found your racket.
This guide walks through how the Y1 range is structured, what each part of a racket does, and how to pick the one that suits your game. If you only want a quick answer, use our Racket Finder.
Why Y1 Padel rackets are structured by range and number
Most brands release rackets one by one, which leaves players comparing dozens of models with no clear way to tell them apart. Y1 Padel built its range the other way round. Each range has its own shape, balance and feel, designed for one style of player. Within each range, the rackets step up through the face materials, so you can stay with the shape you like and move up as your game improves.
That means the name tells you almost everything:
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The letters are the range. RX for attacking players, AX for hybrid (balanced) players, CX for control players.
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The number is the face. 1 is fibreglass, and 3, 12, 18 and 22 are the K rating of the carbon face. The higher the number, the stiffer and more precise the racket.
So an RX1 is an attacking racket with a soft, forgiving fibreglass face, and an RX22P is an attacking racket with the stiffest face in the range.
The RX range: for attacking players
The RX range is for players who like to take the ball early, volley hard and finish points at the net. RX rackets use a teardrop shape with a higher balance, which puts more weight into the head for extra power on smashes and volleys, without the sharper handling of a full diamond.
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RX1 and RXLTD: fibreglass face. The RXLTD has the same specs as the RX1 in a lighter colourway.
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RX3: 3K carbon face.
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RX12: 12K carbon face.
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RX18: 18K carbon face.
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RX22P: 22K carbon face, the stiffest in the range.
The RX1 is also the racket the Y1 Racket Lab matches most to beginners: 27% of completed beginner responses were matched to it. Its teardrop shape gives easy power without a big swing, and its fibreglass face and AirSpring EVA foam keep it forgiving.
The AX range: for hybrid and balanced players
The AX range is for players who do a bit of everything: attack when the chance is there, defend when it isn’t. Y1 calls the AX mould a diamond with a twist. It has a wide head and a fairly flat top like a diamond, but the BiFusion Frame, which fuses two frame layers into one, keeps the weight down so it plays more like a hybrid: powerful, but stable and forgiving.
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AX3 and AXLTD: 3K carbon face. The AXLTD has the same specs as the AX3 in a different colourway.
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AX12: 12K carbon face.
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AX18: 18K TeXtreme spread-tow carbon face.
The AX3 is the racket the Racket Lab matches most to intermediate players (24% of completed intermediate responses), and the AX18 is its top pick for advanced players (38%).
The CX range: for control players
The CX range is for players who build points with placement, lobs and patience rather than raw power. CX rackets use a round shape with the sweet spot sitting low and central, which makes them the most forgiving and easiest to handle in the line-up.
From fibreglass to 22K: how the face changes the feel
The face is the surface you hit the ball with, and it has a big effect on how a racket feels.
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Fibreglass (1): the softest and most forgiving. The ball sits on the face a little longer, which gives easy power at slower swing speeds and is kind on the arm. Best for new and occasional players.
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3K carbon (3): a step firmer, with more precision while staying comfortable. A great choice for improving players.
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12K carbon (12): firmer again, with more control and a crisper response. Suits regular intermediate players.
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18K carbon (18): stiff, precise and consistent, for advanced players who generate their own power.
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22K carbon (22): the stiffest face in the range, for high-level players who want maximum precision.
As a rule of thumb, choose a softer face if you play once a week or less, or if you’re still building your swing. Move up the numbers as you play more and want more precision.
The 4 Fs: what else shapes the feel
Range and face are the two big choices, but every Y1 racket is designed around the 4 Fs: frame, face, foam and flow.
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Frame. The shape and balance. Round frames give control, teardrops sit in the middle and diamonds give power.
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Face. The hitting surface, from fibreglass to 22K carbon.
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Foam. The core. Softer EVA, like AirSpring, adds comfort and easy power at slower swings. Denser foam, like EV50 ProFoam, rewards a faster swing with control and power.
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Flow. The holes. With the OptiFlow Holes System, Y1 custom-creates the drilling pattern for every frame, placing each hole to optimise airflow so the racket stays balanced.
Built on what players actually tell Y1
Y1 Padel didn’t guess at these ranges. It built its own Racket Lab, an online quiz and in-person fitting sessions, and has collected over 40,000 responses from players describing how they play and what they want from a racket. At in-person Lab sessions, players rally with different rackets for 10 to 15 minutes while the Y1 team watches how each one plays and asks how it feels. Those responses shape every recommendation and the next rackets Y1 makes.
Still not sure?
Use our Racket Finder: answer a few quick questions and it will point you to the right racket. You can also read our Christmas buying guide for a quick pick by level, or ask our team in store.
FAQ
What do the letters in Y1 Padel racket names mean? They’re the range. RX rackets are for attacking players, AX rackets are for hybrid or balanced players, and CX rackets are for control players.
What do the numbers in Y1 Padel racket names mean? The number is the face. 1 is fibreglass, and 3, 12, 18 and 22 are the K rating of the carbon face. The higher the number, the stiffer the racket.
Which Y1 racket is best for an attacking player? The RX range. Beginners should start with the RX1, and stronger players can move up to the RX12, RX18 or RX22P.
Which Y1 racket is best for an all-round player? The AX range. The AX3 suits most intermediate players, and the AX18 suits advanced players.
Which Y1 racket is best for a control player? The CX range, with its round shape and forgiving sweet spot. Start with the CX1 or CX3.
Is a stiffer padel racket better? Not for everyone. Stiffer faces give more precision but need a faster swing. Softer faces are more forgiving and easier on the arm, which suits newer and occasional players.