Padel Racket Review - Adidas Metalbone Ctrl 35 2026

What the reviewers say

Dani 13, one of Spain's most thorough racket reviewers, tested the Metalbone CTRL 2026 across multiple sessions. He rates it unusually offensive for a medium-soft control racket: "In the víbora and bandeja zone, this racket stands out above other options at the same hardness. At medium pace it already has enough ball output so your shot reaches the back without needing to swing hard." At the same time, he flags a real limitation: at higher pace the lively EVA core can cause the ball to float unexpectedly, especially with the weights loaded at the head. His verdict: without the screws in, it is more maneuverable and better for defense; with screws added to the top, it becomes noticeably more powerful on overheads.

Total Padel/Padel Warehouse tested all three 2026 Metalbone versions side by side. Chris from Padel Warehouse, who describes the CTRL as one of his favourite rackets, noted: "When I am defending and feel out of position and need a little more help, the Control is there for me. And it still has plenty of pop when I want to be aggressive at the net and look to finish the point." Aladdin from Total Padel added that the round shape is often underrated: "Coming back to the round shape is always so revealing. The high sweet spot is always helping you in every shot, because if you want to find the right zones and the right directions, it gives you extra comfort and tolerance."

RacketshopTV's Nicholas played the full Metalbone 2026 line and highlighted the CTRL's value for players who need both defense and attack: "From the back of the court I got a lot more control. I could do the whole swing and still feel that I got the ball where I wanted it. And with the round shape of course a larger sweet spot, so even if I came a little bit off-center, it was not too stiff for me."

Justpadel's Sven Boele captured the overall feel in his written review: "Thanks to the enormous sweet spot, virtually every ball feels cleanly struck, which provides plenty of confidence in both defensive and build-up shots."

PadelCritic scored the racket 8.7 overall, with control at 9.2 and forgiveness at 9.1, noting: "Advanced players who build points from the back, value spin, and want a forgiving sweet spot without sacrificing premium feel will find it hard to look elsewhere in this category."

Our take: Kaj's summary

For a player still building technique, the thing that matters most is consistency under imperfect conditions, and the Metalbone CTRL 35 delivers that. The sweet spot is genuinely large for a premium carbon racket, off-center shots still carry, and the arm-friendly core means you can play long without paying for it the next morning. The Weight and Balance System is a real feature: strip the screws out for a lighter, more forgiving setup when you are working on your defense, or shift weight to the head when you want to test more leverage on overheads. The honest caveat is pace control at high swing speeds, where the lively core can overshoot, so it is not the racket for a player who already hits hard and wants precision over assistance.

In defense, the Metalbone CTRL 35 is one of the most reassuring options at this price. The round shape keeps the sweet spot central and low, which means lobs and cross-court blocks come off cleanly even when you are late. The EVA Soft core absorbs pace and lets you redirect rather than fight the ball. Dani 13 noted that without the weights fitted, it becomes measurably easier to move, which is worth considering for anyone who faces a lot of fast exchanges from the back.

Do not dismiss the CTRL as a purely defensive tool. Dani 13's key finding was that, at medium pace, it is the most offensive-feeling round control racket currently available, comparable to the feel of the Siux Electra ST2. The Power Groove rail and 16K Aluminized Carbon faces translate into real ball speed on overheads when you contact the ball cleanly in the central zone. Loading the weights into the head adds a noticeable lever effect on smashes. The limitation shows at high swing speeds: the core's liveliness becomes harder to manage, and the ball can balloon if you do not fully close the racket face through contact.

At the net, the CTRL is precise rather than explosive. Volleys feel controlled and repeatable, and the round shape provides enough punch for decisive shots without sacrificing touch on blocks and drop volleys. The main caveat reviewers flag is in fast net exchanges: the head can feel slightly behind in sharp directional changes, especially with weight loaded at the top. Nicholas from RacketshopTV liked it for the bandeja, noting the control and placement it offered, but acknowledged missing some speed on finishing shots. Use the weights low or remove them entirely if fast net play is a priority.

How it compares

The Adidas Metalbone 35 2026 (diamond shape, stiffer core) is the natural sibling comparison. Players who want to stay in the Metalbone family but prioritize finishing and overhead power over forgiveness should choose that model. Those who want the CTRL feel but on a smaller budget can consider the Metalbone Carbon CTRL 35 2026, which uses 6K carbon instead of 16K and is softer and more forgiving, but gives up some stiffness and punch on overheads.

Outside Adidas, the Nox AT10 Luxury Genius 18K 2026 targets a similar audience with a teardrop shape and a versatile feel, but sits closer to a hybrid profile. The Bullpadel Vertex 05 2026 offers more attack for players wanting a round control racket with genuine finishing ability, at the cost of less comfort and a smaller sweet spot.