Padel Racket Review - Adidas Metalbone Reserve Edt 2026 Ale Galan

What the reviewers say

Sven Boele at JustPadel tested the Reserve EDT directly and described the experience clearly: "The top-heavy balance and incredibly powerful feel let you generate speed and impact with minimal effort. The soft to medium touch provides extra comfort on the ball without sacrificing power."

the4Set's Pablo, reviewing the full 2026 Metalbone lineup, confirmed the standard Metalbone (the Reserve's twin underneath the paint) uses Adidas's softest core, the Soft Performance, and noted it is "hyper reactive, which can affect control" but produces "huge power very easily." He also flagged that defense is where it asks the most of you: "Because of the ball output and the high balance, shots can fly higher than normal."

Zona de Pádel tested the Metalbone on court and summed it up well: "Quite difficult to handle on defense, which is then very well compensated on offense. Especially on the víbora. The long handle and head control also help a lot on the rulo." They rated the sweet spot as large and the feel as responsive without tipping into board-like stiffness.

RacketshopTV's Nicholas framed the choice between core options clearly: the Soft Performance version is "more easy to play with" than the HRD. At the net "it still helps a lot with heavy finishing volleys," and he recommended it for "the offensive player who likes to finish points."

All four sources land in the same place: exceptional power and spin on attacking shots, demanding in defense and on timing-sensitive plays.

Our take: Christoph's summary

The Metalbone Reserve is a racket built for players who win points by finishing them. At the net it rewards a full-arm committed swing with heavy output on smashes and víboras, and the rough 16K surface adds enough spin to make those shots genuinely hard to handle on the other side. The Soft Performance core makes it more approachable than the HRD variant, but players who prefer a firmer, drier volley feel may find the extra reactivity works against tight control at close range. The head-heavy balance returns real acceleration for players who can channel it through a full swing.

The head-heavy balance is a real commitment in defense. Reviewers from the4Set and JustPadel both noted the standard Metalbone is the hardest model in the Adidas 2026 lineup to reset under pressure. The ball comes off the EVA Soft Performance core fast, which works in your favor when you are on time and against you when you are not. In hot conditions the core softens further and the reactivity climbs, so the margin for a controlled reset narrows. Players who regularly need to redirect hard balls from the corners or produce precise defensive lobs will feel the limitation.

The 16K carbon face, oversize diamond mold, and head-heavy balance combine to produce real acceleration through the top of the frame. Sven Boele at JustPadel described generating speed and impact with minimal effort. Zona de Pádel highlighted the long handle and head control as particular assets on the víbora and rulo. The Spin Blade Decal rough surface grips the ball on contact and adds spin to attacking shots without requiring extra wrist work. This is where the racket delivers: committed, full-arm swings through the contact zone.

At the net the Metalbone Reserve sits between the CTRL and HRD for feel. The Soft Performance core gives volleys more trampoline action than the HRD, which translates to free speed on heavy finishing volleys but demands more timing precision on touch plays. The top of the frame goes through the ball well on bandejas and smashes. The diamond sweet spot sits high in the frame, so contact quality matters more here than with a round-shaped alternative. Players who rely on wrist-led blocks or short-swing punch volleys will need time to adapt.

How it compares

The Adidas Metalbone HRD 2026 uses the same frame, shape, and balance but swaps in a harder core (High Memory). The HRD gives slightly more power and a stiffer, more controlled volley feel. Players who want the most power on the market and can handle the extra physical demand should look at the HRD. Players who want the same attacking frame with a little more comfort and ball feel should choose the Reserve.

The Adidas Metalbone CTRL 2026 is the round-shaped alternative in the same family. It has a lower balance, a larger sweet spot, and is considerably more manageable in defense. Players who attack but also need to defend often will find the CTRL more practical, even if it gives up some overhead power.