Padel Racket Review - Adidas Cross It Carbon Ctrl 35 2026

What the reviewers say

Zona de Padel (Spanish) tested the Cross It Carbon predecessor and found it highly maneuverable, noting that "the maneuverability of this racket on the backcourt is one of its strongest qualities, despite the longer handle," though they wanted slightly more hardness for a more reactive attack feel. The 2026 refinements appear to address exactly that balance point.

RacketshopTV (English) tested the Arrow Hit CTRL Carbon in the same 2026 control series alongside multiple models, observing that "with the round shape and even balance you get good control and better precision in your lobs and defensive shots" and found it "arm-friendly and a bit more soft compared to the Metalbone control series."

PadelRacketReviews.nl (Dutch, written review, 8.3/10) praised the 18K carbon construction quality and found the mid-balance point enables "quick transitions between defense and attack," though noted the carbon blade delivers a slightly smaller effective sweet spot compared to fiberglass options.

PadelScout rated it 8.2/10, describing it as "balanced, precise, and manageable" with the centered sweet spot making it "ideal for control play and forgiving off-center hits."

Our take: Christoph's summary

This racket is built for players who construct points from behind the baseline, not players who end them with a committed swing. The even balance and round shape make it forgiving and fast in defensive situations, but the lack of head-heavy momentum means you're not getting inertia on the smash or on fast forehand volleys at the net. For right-side attackers who rely on weighted, decisive finishes, this is not the tool; for left-side defenders or tactical players who control pace and placement, it is a genuinely capable premium option.

Defense is where the Cross It Carbon CTRL 35 earns its name. The even balance and round shape keep it nimble in quick lateral exchanges, and the large centered sweet spot forgives off-center defensive contacts. EVA Soft Performance absorbs incoming pace without letting the ball die on the strings, making resets and lobs controlled even under pressure. Zona de Padel noted the racket "moved like a feather on defense despite the long handle," and several reviewers highlighted that the Dynamic Air Flow perforations noticeably reduce swing resistance in fast defensive movements.

Offensively, this racket works through precision and placement rather than brute force. The 6K carbon face delivers enough stiffness for clean drive volleys and controlled overheads, and the longer handle adds leverage on bandejas and aerial shots. But the even balance means there is no head-heavy inertia to lean on for smash power: the ball output is measured and consistent rather than explosive. Zona de Padel's tester commented that "on aerial shots it gives a lot of control, but on hard incoming balls the racket absorbs them before they bounce," which is the trade-off this design makes by design.

At the net, the CTRL 35 is comfortable on stopping volleys and resetting pace, and the Dynamic Air Flow system keeps swing speed high for quick reactions. Touch shots and drop volleys feel controlled thanks to the EVA Soft core. The racket is less suited to the punchy, heavy tennis-style volley: the even balance does not generate the same wrist-driven acceleration that a head-heavy frame would on a decisive finishing volley. Spin generation via the Spin Blade surface texture and Smart Holes Curve pattern is reliable, making angled slice volleys and cross-court placements consistent.

How it compares

Against the Adidas Cross It Carbon 2026 (diamond shape, head-heavy), the choice is straightforward: the CTRL 35 is for players who prioritize control and defense; the standard Carbon is for power-forward attackers. They share the same 6K carbon face and EVA Soft core, but the shape and balance produce entirely different court personalities.

The Adidas Metalbone CTRL 2026 is a stiffer, more demanding control option with higher feedback intensity. Players who want control but also more reactive ball output and a firmer, more precise feel should consider the Metalbone CTRL; those who prefer a softer, more comfortable defensive platform with a bigger sweet spot will prefer the Cross It Carbon CTRL 35.