Tio Tio

Tio Tio is a boutique brand based in Berlin, Germany taking a community-first approach to building a padel brand. Starting with small popup events, they are currently opening the first rooftop padel club in Germany.

The Tio Tio racket is an affordable racket that is easy to play with if you have the strength to manage it. With its high balance, it’s not built for maneuverability. I felt the weight in the head of the racket immediately upon picking it up, but after playing with it for a few minutes I quickly adjusted.

What I received from the weight in the head though was clean, easy, consistent bajadas. I wasn’t even focusing on what I was doing, and they still came out just over the net and slid on the ground on the other side of the court.

My flat “ugly” bandejas, aka bandejas feas, were easy to put into the fence and the side wall.

Volleys, I liked less. The bounce effect meant that anything other than just simple blocks went into the walls, especially at high speeds.

This is not a racket for advanced players… nor is it trying to be. It’s a fun racket. It’s a racket that you recommend to a friend who’s just coming to padel from squash or tennis.

Lobs also took some getting used to. It took me some time to learn to control the head of the racket - to avoid shooting the ball into the next court.

Note: Just so my bias is clear: I know the owners of Tio Tio, and I consider them friends.