Padel Racket Review - Adidas Metalbone Superlight 35 2026

What the reviewers say

The most detailed written assessment comes from Padelful, who put the Superlight through its paces and found it "a control-oriented, arm-friendly option for players who value maneuverability and want an easy racket over a demanding one." Their key observation: "the actual behavior feels more maneuverable than aggressive. Balance is handled in a way that keeps the head easy to move, so I never felt like I was dragging the frame through contact. That makes a real difference on fast exchanges and on reactive blocks."

On its honest limitation, Padelful is direct: "What you give up is clear. It does not hit with serious authority, and it won't satisfy players chasing maximum power on every attacking ball."

VKS Rackets, a specialist UK retailer with over 50 years in racket sports, positioned the Superlight as "ultra-light, easy-to-manoeuvre" and specifically noted that the diamond oversize head "still give[s] access to decent power, making it a fun option for learning attacking padel without sacrificing comfort."

Padelscout's expert panel rated it 7.8 overall, with a standout maneuverability score of 8.0 out of 10, and noted that its low-to-medium balance keeps the frame easy to position quickly. Their verdict: "a solid choice for intermediate players who want a control-leaning teardrop that prioritizes comfort and maneuverability."

Dani 13, one of Spain's most-watched padel gear reviewers, reviewed the full Adidas 2026 lineup and noted that the fiberglass Metalbone variants feel noticeably softer and more manageable than the carbon models. On the Metalbone Team Light, which shares the Superlight's core construction and weight bracket, he pointed to the lower balance and more centered sweet spot as making it "una opción un poquito más manejable" (a noticeably more manageable option) compared to the full Metalbone.

Our take: Bowe's summary

The Metalbone Superlight 35 does exactly what it says: it removes almost every physical barrier to getting the ball back in play. It is extremely easy to move, forgiving on mishits, and reliably comfortable across a long session. For players building their game or returning from injury, that accessibility is real. The trade-off is that players who rely on spin, precise touch, or a crisp, informative contact will feel the fiberglass soft combo smooths out the feedback they need. If you want to feel exactly where on the face you caught the ball and apply topspin from a textured surface, this is not that racket.

The Superlight is genuinely easy to use on defense. The low weight means the frame moves quickly to intercept wide balls and high lobs, and the forgiving fiberglass face takes pace off the opponent's shot without jarring. Resets and blocks feel comfortable, and the large sweet spot gives you margin on rushed positions. Padelful noted that "defensive lobs come off with good ease, and the response is predictable enough to help you reset points without forcing the issue."

Overhead play is where the diamond shape pays dividends. The sweet spot sits high in the head, so smashes and bandejas connect cleanly when you meet the ball at the right height. The soft core means the racket does some of the work for you, generating pace from the rebound rather than demanding a full aggressive swing. The downside: if you are an aggressive player who fully accelerates through overhead shots, the soft response can feel uncontrolled, and the ball exits faster than expected. Players still developing their overhead timing benefit from the natural rebound; experienced attackers may find it too lively.

Net play is this racket's clearest strength. The 315-330g weight makes it effortless to prepare volleys quickly, and the Padelful review was direct on this: "the racket lets you keep the racket head alive without overworking the arm. That's where the low physical demand really pays off." First volleys and chiquitas feel clean and placeable. The smooth fiberglass surface does not grip the ball for heavy spin the way a textured carbon face would, so víboras and slice serve better as directional shots than spin weapons.

How it compares

Against the Adidas Metalbone Team 2026 (around €200): the Team uses the same diamond shape but adds a Gritt textured surface and a slightly heavier build for more spin and attacking bite. Choose the Team if you are an intermediate who accelerates through shots confidently. Choose the Superlight if light weight and arm comfort are the priority.

Against the Bullpadel Ionic Light 2026 (around €135): the Ionic Light sits in a similar price bracket and plays as a control-oriented teardrop, with a somewhat more precise feel than the Superlight's soft fiberglass. If you want clean control and tactile feedback at this price, the Ionic Light is worth comparing directly.