Padel Racket Review - Adidas Cross It Light 3.5 2026

What the reviewers say

The reviewers agree on the basic character. The racket is very quick in the hand, it forgives mistakes and it is made for control, not for finishing points. Fun Padel Shop puts it simply: "It supports your game instead of exposing every small mistake." They found that it came alive at the net, where the low weight lets you react late and still place the ball.

Padel Reviews likes the mix of a hard 24K face and a soft core, and says the "sweet spot is everywhere" because of the round shape. Their warning is about stability: lighter rackets like this one "cannot be as reliable in blocking situations as a heavier racket", so players who often face big hitters may want something sturdier.

The Spanish channels add more detail. Pádel Review calls it a pure control racket that is "very easy to hit and very hard to miss with". They also say it loses out on volleys when you need pace, and that €300 is a lot for a round control racket. Zona de Pádel tested the full 2026 range and describes it as "a soft racket, very easy to handle, with a textured surface that stands out more than on other Adidas models". Dani 13 says the build "stays the same as last year" and calls it a very manoeuvrable racket with a good feeling of control.

The reviewers do not agree on level. Fun Padel Shop and Zona de Pádel aim it at beginners and intermediates, while retailers list it as an advanced racket. The feel sits between the two: soft enough to forgive, firm enough in the face that better players still get clean feedback.

Our take: Kaj's summary

This is one of the easiest rackets in the Adidas range to play well with. The big sweet spot and low weight take the sting out of late or off-centre contact, and the soft core keeps the arm fresh over a long evening. The catch is output: an improving player who still needs the racket to add pace on the smash will find it comes up short, and €300 is a lot to pay for comfort.

Defence is where the Cross It Light earns its place. It is quick to get down to balls in the corner, and the round head forgives you when you are stretched near the glass. Lobs and chiquitas come off controlled, not hot. The limit shows against heavy hitters: blocking a hard, flat ball feels less stable than with a heavier frame.

Attack is the compromise. The power is there if you swing fully and hit clean, and the soft core gives a little help on the smash, but it will not finish points on its own. You place the bandeja and víbora more than you drive them, and the strong 3D texture helps on sliced shots. Players who win points with flat smashes will want more weight in the head.

The reviewers are split at the net. Fun Padel Shop found fast hands for reaction volleys and last-second changes. Pádel Review felt the volleys lacked punch when you need to push the pace. Both points are fair: the racket is excellent for placing and redirecting the ball, and less convincing when you need to put a volley away.

How it compares

Against the Adidas Cross It Light 3.4 2025, there is almost nothing to choose on court: the same face, foam and feel, according to Dani 13. If you can find the 2025 model at a discount, it is the better buy. The 2026 version adds the pink finish and the padded wrist strap.

The Adidas Cross It Carbon Ctrl 3.5 2026 is heavier at 360–375g, with a 6K carbon face and a slightly stiffer feel. Dani 13 describes it as a similar racket to the Cross It Light with a little extra in attack, and it costs less. Pick the Carbon Ctrl if you want more punch for less money. Stay with the Light if speed and comfort matter most.