adidas Padel Rackets – Comparison & Buying Guide
adidas splits its padel rackets into seven series, each clearly aimed at a different playing level and style: Metalbone and Adipower for advanced and tournament players, Cross It and RX for ambitious intermediate players, Drive and Match for beginners, and Arrow Hit as a versatile option spanning multiple levels. The right choice mainly comes down to balance, core hardness and frame construction.
Which adidas series suits which player?
What should you look for when buying? How to find your racket
The following five criteria decide whether a racket really feels right for you. Go through them once and you'll know exactly which adidas series matches your game.
1. Shape: round or diamond?
The head shape determines how forgiving or how powerful a racket plays.
- Round: a large sweet spot set lower in the head – even slightly off-centre hits still feel good. The right choice if you're still working on your technique or value consistent, controlled rallies.
- Diamond: the sweet spot sits higher, towards the top of the head. This favours powerful overheads and smashes at the net, but demands more precise timing since the forgiving area is smaller.
- At adidas: the beginner series Drive and Match use round shapes, while Cross It and the top models in the Metalbone range are diamond-shaped – so the series alone already gives you a rough pre-filter.
2. Balance: head-heavy, balanced or handle-heavy?
Balance describes where a racket's weight is centred, and directly affects how much power you get “for free” and how quickly you can react.
- Head-heavy: more swing weight in the head – meaning more natural power, especially on smashes, but slightly slower handling at the net during fast exchanges.
- Handle-heavy: more weight towards the handle – the racket is quicker to manoeuvre and more agile, but you have to generate power more actively yourself. Ideal if you volley a lot at the net or need to react defensively.
- Balanced: a compromise between the two – usually the safest choice if you're not yet sure which playing style suits you best.
- At adidas: use the balance point filter directly on the category page – so you can instantly see which models match your preferred playing style without checking every product page individually.
3. Core material and hardness
Inside every racket sits an EVA foam core, and its hardness decisively shapes the feel of play.
- Softer core: more comfort, a gentler ball response, more control over placement – and easier on the arm and wrist during intense sessions.
- Harder core: more direct energy return, more power without extra effort, but less forgiveness on off-centre hits.
- At adidas: almost every series also comes in a CTRL version (e.g. Metalbone CTRL, Adipower CTRL) with a softer core and/or a round head instead of a diamond one – so you get the technology of your favourite series but with more control instead of maximum power.
4. Weight
adidas padel rackets in the Tennis-Point range weigh between 320 g and 370 g.
- Lighter (320–350 g): more manoeuvrable, faster reactions at the net, less fatigue over long matches – usually the better choice for beginners, smaller-framed players or anyone who volleys a lot.
- Heavier (350–370 g): more stability and punch on hard balls, but slightly slower in fast exchanges.
- Practical tip: if in doubt, go for the lighter end of the range – a racket that's too heavy is harder to “correct” later than one that's too light, which you can add weight to using the Weight & Balance System if needed.
5. Weight & Balance System – adidas' signature feature
On selected models in the Metalbone and Adipower series, you can use an included allen key to add, move or remove small weights on the head of the racket. In practical terms, that means you don't have to commit permanently to more power or more control right away – you can adapt your racket over time as your level improves, rather than having to invest in a whole new model.
Choosing by playing level
- Beginners: start with a round shape from the Drive or Match series – a large sweet spot, low weight, forgiving on mishits. Filter by playing level “Beginner” or browse straight through the beginner padel rackets.
- Advanced players: the RX series or the CTRL versions of Metalbone/Adipower offer the step up to more power while still keeping good control. Filter by playing level “Advanced” or go straight to the advanced padel rackets.
- Tournament players: Metalbone, Adipower or Cross It in diamond shape deliver maximum power for an aggressive game at the net. Filter by playing level “Tournament” or go straight to the tournament rackets.
Still not sure which series suits you? With our padel test rackets you can try out selected models before making your final decision.
Buying advice for the Tennis-Point range
- Use the playing level filter to sort all adidas padel rackets directly by beginner, advanced or tournament.
- The balance point filter (balanced, handle-heavy, head-heavy) helps you weigh up control against power.
- The series filter lets you compare Metalbone, Adipower, Cross It, RX, Drive, Match and Arrow Hit side by side.
- There's a dedicated category for kids in the gender filter (“Kids”).
- Complete beginners can skip the individual selection process with a ready-matched padel set.
- Matching models from last season or reduced discontinued items can be found among the used padel rackets.
- You'll find all other brands and the full range in the padel racket overview.
Still not sure which adidas racket is right for you? At Tennis-Point you'll find over 10,000 tennis and padel products in one place, plus fast delivery and a money-back promise if the racket just doesn't feel right after all – so you can find the right racket for your game risk-free, without having to choose between several shops.
What's the difference between Metalbone and Adipower?
Both are aimed at advanced and tournament players. Metalbone features an individually adjustable Weight & Balance System for maximum flexibility, while Adipower is built around a fixed, balanced combination of power and control.
What does the Weight & Balance System do?
On selected Metalbone and Adipower models, it lets you move or remove weights on the racket head to individually fine-tune balance and feel.
What does CTRL mean on adidas padel rackets?
CTRL marks the control version of a series – it prioritises ball control over maximum power, while otherwise sharing a similar basic construction.