Series 1: Build Your Own Padel Brand
Part 2 : “How to Define Your Padel Product Positioning Before Place a Sample order?”
When new brands start developing their first padel racket, most of them rush to contact factories — but very few have a clear answer to one key question:
👉 “What kind of product do you really want to build?”
Before any racket production talk begins, defining your padel racket product positioning is the foundation that determines your success as a brand.
🎯 Step 1: Define Your Brand Level and Market Target
Are you aiming for entry-level recreational players, intermediate enthusiasts, or professional athletes?
Each level requires a different balance of frame, materials, weight, balance, feel, and price point.
A clear positioning helps your OEM partner recommend the right structure and carbon combination — saving weeks of trial and error.
💡 For example, a 12K carbon face sounds “premium,” but if your target users are beginners, the racket should be combined with softer EVA and an anti-vibration structure for a more comfortable swing.
⚙️ Step 2: Balance Price and Quality with Realistic Expectations
Many first-time founders dream of “top quality at a low price.”
The truth is: every technical decision — from EVA foam density to paint layers — influences looks, cost, feel, and durability.
Understanding this trade-off early helps you communicate effectively with your factory and build a realistic product plan.
🧩 Step 3: Align Your Concept with Manufacturing Language
Factories don’t think in “brand tone” — they think in “SPECS”.
As a brand owner, your job is to translate your vision (“lightweight but powerful,” “soft touch control”) into measurable specs like:
- Weight range
- Balance point
- Core hardness
- Surface material
This is where an experienced OEM partner can bridge the gap between your concept and production reality.
🏗️ Step 4: Prepare Before You Reach Out
Before contacting factories, prepare a brief document that includes:
- Target audience: who will use your racket
- Design references or feel preference: this helps factories give feedback on what’s technically feasible; the feel you want directly affects material combinations and cost.
- Quantity and timeline expectations: allows the factory to confirm production capacity.
When you show this level of clarity, you’ll be treated not as a “new inquiry,” but as a serious brand partner.
Keep “Expected Retail Price Range” in mind — it helps you evaluate realistic production quotes.
💬 From the Field
In my experience working on-site with padel racket factories for over 18 months, the most successful brand collaborations always start with clarity.
Clear positioning builds trust, and trust builds great products.
✍️ By SHIH-NUNG (Snow Hsu)
OEM padel racket developer & bilingual project manager at Greenbird Sport
— Supporting brands and clubs with custom padel racket development in China.
If you’re building a Padel brand or evaluating OEM/ODM partners,
Greenbird Sport works with clubs, startups, and brands to develop custom padel rackets with reliable partner factories in China.
For project discussions or OEM inquiries,
📩 snow@greenbirdsport.com
⚡ Coming Next
Next in the series: Part 3 : “Understanding the Padel Racket Production Process — Mold : Frame”
- A behind-the-scenes look at how every detail shapes your racket’s feel and performance.
- I’ll share from Mold, Structure, Painting, Delivery to Distribute.
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