adidas Padel Rackets – Comparison & Buying Guide
adidas splits its padel rackets into seven series, clearly differentiated by playing level and playing style: Metalbone and Adipower for advanced and tournament players, Cross It and RX for ambitious mid-level players, Drive and Match for beginners, and Arrow Hit as a versatile option spanning several levels. The right choice mainly comes down to balance, core hardness and frame construction.
Which adidas series suits which player?
What should you look out for when buying? How to find your racket
The following five criteria determine whether a racket feels right for you. Go through them once – afterwards, you'll know exactly which adidas series suits your game.
1. Shape: Round or diamond-shaped?
The head shape determines how forgiving or how powerful a racket plays.
- Round: a large, low-lying sweet spot – 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-shaped: the sweet spot sits higher up, towards the racket head. This favours powerful overhead and net shots but requires more precise timing, as the forgiving area is smaller.
- At adidas: the entry-level Drive and Match series rely on round shapes, while Cross It and the top models of the Metalbone range are diamond-shaped – so you can already narrow things down roughly just by series.
2. Balance: Head-heavy, balanced or handle-heavy?
Balance describes where the racket's centre of gravity lies and directly influences how much power you get "for free" and how quickly you can react.
- Head-heavy: more swing weight in the head – this means more natural hitting power, especially on smashes, but slightly slower handling at the net during fast exchanges.
- Handle-heavy: more weight towards the handle – the racket can be manoeuvred faster and is 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 still unsure which playing style suits you best.
- At adidas: use the Balance Point filter directly on the category page – so you can immediately see which models match your preferred style of play, without having to go through every product page individually.
3. Core material and hardness
Inside every racket sits an EVA foam core, whose hardness decisively shapes the feel of the game.
- Softer core: more comfort, a gentler ball response, more control over placement – it also protects your 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: within practically every series there's also a CTRL version (e.g. Metalbone CTRL, Adipower CTRL) with a softer core and/or a round instead of diamond-shaped head – so you get the technology of your preferred 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 agile, faster reactions at the net, less fatigue over long matches – usually the better choice for beginners, players with a smaller build, or anyone who plays a lot of volleys.
- Heavier (350–370 g): more stability and punch on hard balls, but slightly slower during fast exchanges.
- Practical tip: if you're unsure, lean towards the lighter end of the range – a racket that's too heavy is harder to "balance out" later than one that's too light, which you can add weight to afterwards using the Weight & Balance System.
5. Weight & Balance System – adidas's unique selling point
On selected models from the Metalbone and Adipower series, you can add, move or remove small weights on the racket head using an included Allen key. In practice, this means you don't have to make a final choice between more power or more control right away – instead, you can adapt your racket to your growing playing level over time, rather than having to invest in a new model straight away.
Decide by playing level
- Beginners: start with a round shape from the Drive or Match series – large sweet spot, low weight, forgiving on mishits. Filter: playing level "Beginner" or browse directly through the padel rackets for beginners.
- Advanced players: the RX series or the CTRL versions of Metalbone/Adipower offer the transition to more power while still keeping good control. Filter: playing level "Advanced" or go straight to the padel rackets for advanced players.
- Tournament players: Metalbone, Adipower or Cross It in a diamond-shaped version deliver maximum power for an aggressive game at the net. Filter: 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 and power in a targeted way.
- Use the Series filter to compare Metalbone, Adipower, Cross It, RX, Drive, Match and Arrow Hit directly against each other.
- For kids, there's a dedicated category in the gender filter ("Kids").
- Complete beginners can skip individual selection with a ready-matched padel set.
- You'll find matching models from previous years or reduced discontinued models among the used padel rackets.
- All other brands and the full range are available in the padel racket overview.
Still not sure which adidas racket suits you? At Tennis-Point you'll find over 10,000 tennis and padel items in one place, plus fast delivery and a money-back promise if the racket doesn't feel quite right after all – so you can find the right racket for your game risk-free, without having to choose between several shops.
Frequently asked questions about adidas padel rackets
What's the difference between Metalbone and Adipower?
Both are aimed at advanced and tournament players. Metalbone relies on an individually adjustable Weight & Balance System for maximum flexibility, while Adipower is more geared towards 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 adjust balance and playing feel.
What does CTRL mean on adidas padel rackets?
CTRL marks the control version of a series – it prioritises ball control over maximum hitting power, while otherwise sharing a similar basic construction.