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Round frames put the sweet spot in the centre of the face. They are the most forgiving and the easiest to control, which is why nearly every coach starts a beginner on one. Diamond frames move the sweet spot up towards the tip, which adds power on the smash but shrinks the margin for error considerably. Teardrop sits between the two and suits most improving players. If you are unsure, round is the safer buy and you will not outgrow it quickly.

Not automatically. A heavier frame is more stable when the ball arrives quickly and puts more weight behind a smash, but it is slower to bring up at the net and harder on the elbow and shoulder. Most club players are best served between 355g and 370g. If you play several times a week, or you have had tennis elbow, err lighter rather than heavier.

Balance describes where the weight sits rather than how much of it there is. Head heavy pushes mass towards the tip for power, at the cost of manoeuvrability. Head light keeps weight in the handle so the racket is quicker to move, which suits fast hands at the net and anyone protecting an arm injury. Even balance is the middle ground and the most common choice.

No. A padel racket has no strings and a solid perforated face, built around the lower pressure padel ball and the walls of the court. A tennis racket is not legal in padel and will not play correctly against the glass. The balls differ too, so a padel ball on a tennis court will feel dead.

For a club player hitting once or twice a week, two to three years is typical before the core softens noticeably and the racket starts to feel dull. Frequent players and anyone who catches the glass regularly will get less. Protective tape along the top edge is the cheapest way to extend it, because most frames fail at the head rather than the core.

Padel handles are effectively one size, unlike tennis where you choose a grip. Players adjust the feel with overgrips instead. One overgrip is standard; add a second if the handle feels thin in your hand. An overgrip also needs replacing far more often than most people do it.

No, but the ball behaves differently. Cold air and cold balls both reduce bounce, so a frame you found powerful in summer can feel dead in January. That is the ball, not the racket. A fresh tube makes more difference than changing equipment.