Padel Racket Review - Adidas Metalbone Team Light 35 2026

What the reviewers say

The consensus across written and video reviews is clear: this is the Metalbone for players who want the family's DNA without the harshness.

Padelful describes the Team Light 2026 as "the lighter, easier-going Metalbone," noting how quickly it comes through the air and that the combination of a round mold, medium-soft feel, and fiberglass faces "gives it a friendly, forgiving character without making it vague." They particularly praised the net game: "At the net, it feels especially agile. Volleys come out fast, with enough stability to block and place without the racket twisting around."

JustPadel positioned it squarely for "recreational to intermediate players who want to play offensively but prefer a lighter racket," adding that the fiberglass construction "offers more flex, a larger sweet spot, and more forgiveness than the Carbon and Pro variants, but delivers less direct power."

Allforpadel (the official Adidas store channel) explained the key line distinction: the Team Light uses a round shape with a centered sweet spot, while the Team uses a diamond shape with a high sweet spot. Both share the fiberglass face and EVA Soft Performance core, but the round format makes the Team Light the more defense-oriented and forgiving of the two.

RacketshopTV tested the 2026 Metalbone range and noted that the control-oriented round models with even balance gave notably more court coverage and control on lobs compared to the power-focused diamond variants, while acknowledging the trade-off in overhead weight.

Tennis Warehouse described the racket as "an instant classic for our players here," calling it "a speedy control racket" that "everyone reveled in the quick nature of the hitting experience."

One honest caveat runs through every review: this racket cannot match the heavier Metalbone models for finishing smashes. Padelful put it plainly: "What you give up is obvious: less authority in the smash, less punch on full-blooded overheads."

Our take: Lars's summary

For right-side players who build points through consistency and placement rather than raw finishing, the Team Light 3.5 makes real sense. The centered sweet spot and manageable balance mean you can stay reliable under pressure, execute controlled volleys and work the rally without the racket demanding perfect mechanics every time. What it cannot do is serve as a smash weapon. Players who want to win points with heavy overheads will find the fiberglass too elastic and the balance too neutral. This racket is about building the opportunity, not ending the point with force.

Defense is where this racket shines most. The round shape and centered sweet spot mean that even balls arriving at awkward angles come off cleanly. Defensive lobs carry good depth when you commit to the swing, and the EVA Soft Performance core absorbs pressure without turning the contact point into a lottery. Off the glass, the response is stable and predictable. The one thing to note: the ball needs an active swing to go deep. Passive, punch-it-back lobs can come up short against aggressive opponents.

Offensive play is possible but calibrated. The Extra Power Grip handle adds inertia that helps generate pace on overheads, and the Spin Blade Gritt texture makes the víbora and bandeja easy to access with good ball contact. Where it falls short is in the finishing department. The fiberglass face does not deliver the same pop as the Carbon models on full-swing smashes, and the ball can feel too elastic when you need to put it away hard. Think of it as a racket that creates offensive opportunities rather than one that converts them with weight.

Net play is the Team Light's best zone. The light weight and low balance make it exceptionally fast on reaction volleys, and the round sweet spot gives you confidence when taking the ball early. Chiquita responses, block volleys, and quick exchanges all feel natural. The bandeja is particularly well-suited: the racket gives a clean, controlled path through the ball with easy access to spin and good placement margin. The víbora works too, though it generates spin more than pace. Where more advanced players might notice the limit is in the heavy punch volley at close quarters, where additional mass would add more authority.

How it compares

The most natural comparison within Adidas is the Metalbone Carbon Control 2026: also round-shaped and control-oriented, but heavier (~365g) with a stiffer 6K carbon face that adds more authority on overhead plays. Players who have moved past the intermediate level and want sharper finishing should look there. The Team Light is the right choice if arm comfort and court speed matter more than smash weight.

Outside Adidas, the Nox AT10 Luxury Genius 2026 occupies a similar zone: round, control-first, comfortable, and targeted at players who build points through placement. The Nox leans slightly firmer and heavier; the Adidas wins on pure maneuverability and agility at the net.