Padel Racket Review - Head One Ultralight Black 2025

What the reviewers say

Four video reviews in English and Spanish agree on the basics. It is extremely easy to swing, the sweet spot is huge, and it runs out of power when you try to hit hard.

the4Set tested it against the heavier Extreme One and called it "definitely the most agile racket I've tried." He liked it most on the bandeja, where the long preparation makes the low weight count. At higher pace, though, he felt the racket absorb some of the power and the ball lose speed. In his smash test the Extreme One went further, but not by much.

Probando Palas (ES) was most impressed by how forgiving it is: "it's really hard to hit the ball outside the sweet spot." He also gave the clearest warning. At medium pace the ball travels well, but when you speed up it sinks into the soft face, and you need good technique to reach the back of the court.

Total Padel filmed its first look at Head's headquarters, on Head's invitation, and was the most positive about power: "there's great ball output for a racket that weighs only 300 grams." They also felt the face plays a little smaller than it looks, which pushes you to hit in the middle. In a later match video on the same channel, German champion Denise Hoefer borrowed it and summed it up: "It forgives a lot, but I was missing my speed when I was playing volleys."

Spin is the one point with a caveat. the4Set and Probando Palas both say the sandy finish grips well while it is new but wears with use, and with only one hole you then get less help. Probando Palas suggests adding grip strips once the surface smooths out.

Our take: Kaj's summary

For a player still building a stroke, the two biggest helps here are how quickly it gets ready and how well it keeps off-centre hits in play. That forgiveness has a limit as you improve, because a faster swing gets little extra back from the soft face. Players who progress quickly will probably outgrow it, so it fits a first racket better than a long-term one.

Defense

The low weight pays off most at the back. You are rarely late on fast balls off the glass, and the large sweet spot keeps off-centre lobs and resets in play. At low and medium pace the ball comes off the face nicely. When you try to counter hard from the back, the soft face soaks up some of the pace.

Offense

Power is the clear limit. the4Set and Probando Palas both found that smashes and attacking volleys lack punch unless you accelerate the arm hard, and at high speed the ball sinks into the face. Probando Palas got better results from the topspin smash (the rulo), where a quick wrist and the sandy face matter more than mass. Total Padel was more positive about overhead power in their first look.

Net play

At the net it is ready early, so blocks and reflex volleys are easy. Punching a volley through is harder, and that is exactly where Denise Hoefer missed her usual speed. Touch shots suit it: Probando Palas liked the drop shot, and both he and the4Set rated the bandeja among its best shots thanks to the easy swing and the forgiving round face. The víbora works too, but you have to accelerate a lot to make it bite.

How it compares

The Head Extreme One 2025 shares the one-hole design but weighs about 40 to 50 grams more, uses a stiffer, denser carbon weave with a 3D rough face, and is less round. In the4Set's smash test it went further. Choose the Extreme One if your swing is already developed and you want more punch from the same durable frame. If low weight, comfort and forgiveness matter most, the One Ultralight is the better buy.

The Head One Ultralight White 2025 is the same racket in a different colour. the4Set weighed his black one at 299g and the white one at 306g, which is normal production tolerance.