Padel Racket Review - Adidas Metalbone Team 35 2026

What the reviewers say

JustPadel called it "an attacking racquet balanced with comfort, designed for players who want power without having to play with an overly stiff and demanding face." Their read: the fiberglass face gives a soft-to-medium feel with more forgiveness than the Metalbone Pro, though you lose some of the direct precision and snap that carbon provides. Off-centre hits land noticeably cleaner than on the carbon siblings.

TennisNuts' staff reviewer described it as "a confident, well-rounded option for competitive club players who want power they can control," pointing to the head-heavy balance as the key — it punches through overheads while the Soft Performance EVA keeps the feel manageable deep into a match.

RacketshopTV's Nicholas played the full Metalbone 2026 range and called the softer-core variant "absolutely more easy to play with" compared to the stiff hard version. He noted "a bit better touch" at the net and recommended it for players who want smash power without punishing their arm.

allforpadel (Spanish) laid out the Team 3.5's position in the range plainly: the diamond format with a high sweet spot is what separates it from the round Team Light, and the mix of Octagonal Structure, Spin Blade Gritt and EVA Soft Performance gives intermediate players a foundation for building an attacking game.

PadelReference rated it 9/10 for power, 8/10 for maneuverability and 8/10 for tolerance — a racket that generates power without making you pay for every shot.

Our take: Kaj's summary

The forgiveness on off-centre contact is the real reason to pick this over the carbon models. The fiberglass face absorbs the cost of a mis-hit in a way that full-carbon simply does not, and the EVA Soft core takes the sting out of long sessions that stiffer rackets leave in your arm. The head-heavy balance handles smashes and net volleys without needing perfect timing. What it asks back is positioning: the diamond format puts the sweet spot high, so defensive lobs and resets from deep in the court require clean contact. Players moving into attacking padel who are not ready for the demands of a stiff carbon face will find this a far easier transition than the Pro line.

The fiberglass face takes the edge off scramble balls, and the EVA core damps the vibration that stiffer rackets send up the arm on mis-hits. That is the upside. The trade-off is that the high sweet spot of the diamond format means defensive lobs and resets from the back corners need the ball to land in the right place on the face. Players who defend a lot from deep will notice the head-heavy balance is less forgiving on low returns than a round or teardrop shape.

The head-heavy balance and the Octagonal Structure frame, which cuts torsion on off-centre hits, mean smashes and overhead volleys carry real weight even on swings that are not perfectly timed. The extended Extra Power Grip adds inertia on attacking shots. The Spin Blade Gritt surface helps on bandeja and víbora, giving extra angles when attacking. It does not have the raw snap of the Metalbone Hard or Pro versions, but for an intermediate player the difference is mostly academic.

Volleys at the net feel solid. The fiberglass face gives enough feedback to place shots, while the EVA core softens the impact enough to keep touch volleys manageable. RacketshopTV's Nicholas noted "a bit better touch" compared to the harder Metalbone variants. The high sweet spot favours decisive volleys and smash finishes over delicate drop volleys. Players who move to the net to close out points will find the racket responds well without requiring pinpoint contact.

How it compares

The Adidas Metalbone HRD+ 2026 is the step up: carbon face, harder core, more raw power and directness, more demanding on technique and the arm. If you are playing four or more days a week and hitting the ball cleanly with pace, the HRD+ rewards it. If you are still developing or want less fatigue over long sessions, the Team 3.5 fits better.

The Metalbone Team Light 2026 (round shape, even balance) is the control-oriented sibling. Players who prioritize placement, lobs and rally-building from the back will prefer the Team Light. The Team 3.5 is for those who want to push forward and finish points.