Y1 Padel Racket Review 2026: Y1 RX1 Specs, UK Prices and Verdict

Padel Mad is reader-supported. When you buy through links on this page we may earn an affiliate commission, at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. We write our reviews from published specs, retailer listings and brand information, not first-hand on-court testing. Prices and stock were checked on 11 November 2026; always confirm the live price before you buy.

Y1 is a padel brand that says it designs and tests its rackets within the UK padel community, and it describes itself as the first carbon-neutral padel brand. Its current range is built around three moulds: RX (teardrop), CX (round) and AX (diamond). If you are looking for a Y1 padel racket as a first or second racket, the model most people end up with is the Y1 RX1, the brand’s beginner teardrop with a fibreglass face.

This review covers what Y1 and Amazon UK list for the RX1, who it suits, how it compares with the rest of the Y1 range, and three cheaper or lighter alternatives. Every racket we link to was in stock on Amazon UK on 11 November 2026.

Y1 RX1 at a glance

What the RX1 offers

Shape and balance

The RX1 uses Y1’s RX mould, a teardrop with a mid to high balance. Y1 pitches it at players who want more power and precision without giving up comfort, and the Amazon listing describes it as supporting attacking play. In practice a teardrop sits between a round racket (easiest control, sweet spot low down) and a diamond (most power, least forgiving). The higher balance puts a little more weight in the head, which helps volleys and smashes but makes the racket feel slightly slower at the net than a low-balanced round model.

Face and core

The hitting face is fibreglass, which is softer and more forgiving than carbon, and the core is a 10 to 13 AirSpring EVA that Y1 says gives a forgiving yet energetic feel. That combination is what you want while you are still learning to time the ball off the glass. Y1’s Texture Control Face adds a rough finish for spin, and the OptiFlow holes pattern is there to keep the sweet spot response consistent.

Frame and grip

A Double Tube Frame adds strength and stability. The perforated VibraControl grip is meant to absorb vibration and sweat, and the racket comes with a neoprene wrist strap. Most players fit an overgrip within a few weeks anyway; our padel overgrips guide covers the options.

Who the Y1 RX1 suits

• Tennis and squash players moving to padel, who already have a full swing and will enjoy the extra head weight. Our padel vs tennis guide explains what changes.
• Beginners after a few months of play, who have outgrown a hire racket and want a little more punch without a stiff carbon face.
• Players who want to support a UK padel brand at a mid-range price.

Think twice if you are brand new to racket sports. A round racket with a low balance is easier to control from the back of the court. Y1’s own round beginner model, the CX1, was £69.99 on the Y1 website on 11 November 2026, but we did not find it on Amazon UK. The Wilson Optix V1 below is a round alternative that is on Amazon.

The Y1 range on Amazon UK

If the RX1 feels too basic, Y1 sells several step-up models through the same Amazon seller. These were the main current ones in stock on 11 November 2026:

Y1 CX3: the control step-up

The CX3 uses the round CX mould with a 3K carbon face and a cork layer, which Y1 says reduces vibration while adding precision. It is the pick if you liked the comfort of fibreglass but want a crisper, more connected feel and the easier control of a round head.

Y1 RX3: the RX1 with carbon

The RX3 keeps the RX1’s teardrop shape and mid to high balance but swaps the fibreglass face for 3K carbon twill. Expect a firmer, more direct strike. Y1 labels it intermediate.

Buying for a child? The Y1 JX Junior is a round, fibreglass racket for young players, £59.99 on Amazon UK on 11 November 2026.

Older Y1 names such as the Control TF and Panna TF no longer appear in Y1’s current range. If you have one, our Y1 Control TF review covers that model.

Choosing your racket

Not sure whether a teardrop is right for you? This short English-language guide from The Padel School walks through shape, balance and weight. Our own guide to choosing your first padel racket covers the same ground in writing.

Pros and cons

Y1 RX1 vs the alternatives

HEAD Radical Evo: an Amazon-exclusive HEAD teardrop with a fibreglass face, soft foam and Innegra fibres for shock absorption. HEAD describes it as lighter with a lower balance, so it is easier to manoeuvre than the RX1 and costs £20 less. See our best HEAD padel rackets guide.

Wilson Optix V1: a round racket with a fibreglass weave and low-density foam that Wilson aims squarely at beginners. If you have never played a racket sport, this is the easier first buy. Read our Wilson Optix V1 review.

HEAD Zephyr UL: HEAD calls it one of the lightest rackets on the market, with Graphene 360+ and Power Foam for comfort on off-centre hits. A good choice if you have arm or shoulder trouble.

For nine beginner rackets compared side by side, see our best beginner padel rackets guide, or the best padel rackets under £100.

Verdict

The Y1 RX1 is a sensible first proper racket for players who already have a racket-sport swing. You get a forgiving fibreglass face and AirSpring EVA core, a teardrop shape with some extra head weight for attacking shots, and a Double Tube Frame, for £79.99 on the day we checked. Complete beginners will find a round racket easier, and bargain hunters can save about £20 with the HEAD Radical Evo, but if you want a UK brand with a clear upgrade path, the RX1 is a good place to start.

Frequently asked questions

Is Y1 a good padel brand?

Y1 is a smaller brand than HEAD, Bullpadel or Wilson, but it has a full range from junior and beginner rackets up to advanced carbon models, and it sponsors UK players. It says it designs and tests its products within the UK padel community. Its rackets are sold on Amazon UK and on Y1’s own website.

Is the Y1 RX1 good for beginners?

Y1 labels it a beginner racket, and the fibreglass face and soft core are forgiving. The teardrop shape and mid to high balance suit beginners who already play tennis or squash best. Complete newcomers may prefer a round racket.

How much does the Y1 RX1 weigh?

Y1 lists 365g, plus or minus 10g. The Amazon UK listing title says 355g, which falls inside that range.

What is the difference between the Y1 RX1 and RX3?

Both use the teardrop RX mould with a mid to high balance. The RX1 has a fibreglass face, while the RX3 has a 3K carbon twill face for a firmer, more direct feel. On 11 November 2026 the RX1 was £79.99 and the RX3 £129.99 on Amazon UK.

How much is a Y1 padel racket in the UK?

On 11 November 2026, Y1 rackets on Amazon UK ranged from £59.99 for the JX Junior and £79.99 for the RX1 up to £159.99 for the AX3 and AX LTD, with some advanced models, such as the Pro X, costing more.

More padel racket guides

• Best beginner padel rackets UK 2026
• Best padel rackets under £100
• Best intermediate padel rackets
• Best padel rackets 2026
• Y1 Control TF review and Wilson Optix V1 review
• How to choose a padel racket and are racket protectors worth it?

Specs come from Y1’s product pages and Amazon UK listings, not our own testing. Prices were correct when we checked on 11 November 2026 and may change. Padel Mad earns a commission when you buy through the affiliate links on this page, at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.