Padel Racket Review - Head Speed Motion 2023/2024

What the reviewers say

Reviewers agree on two points: it is easy to handle, and the ball leaves the face with little effort. Probando Palas, comparing it with Paula Josemaría's Extreme Motion, found it very manageable from the back of the court, with a sweet spot a little wider than the Extreme's and a livelier touch that gives good ball exit at low pace. He expected it to lose control on fast balls, and it lost less than he feared.

The Italian channel Padel Review was the most enthusiastic. They said the glass and carbon face gives "a lot of free ball exit and real power", scored it 9 for power and 7.5 for control, and at around 200 euro called it a clear best buy for intermediate players and up, on either side. Zona de Pádel places it with the Speed Pro as the most manageable of the 2023 Speed models, and notes that the hybrid face gives a slightly more elastic feel that suits both women and men who want versatility. The retailer review at Padel Reference calls it very comfortable and easy to handle, and rates spin as its weakest category.

The disagreement is at the net and on spin. Probando Palas found blocks harder to control, because the ball sinks into the face and comes off fast, and he missed a rough surface on offensive volleys, where "the ball floats a little". Padel Review saw the same effect from the other side: the free exit is exactly why control drops a step.

Our take: Bowe's summary

The Speed Motion does what its reviewers describe: light in the hand, a wide sweet spot and easy depth from the back. The trade-off that matters most is the face. Players who build points with slice and spin should know that the glossy surface gives little grip, and that the springy response asks for a firmer wrist on fast blocks, so test those two shots before you buy.

Defense is where it is most comfortable. The low weight gets the racket into position late, and the wide sweet spot sends lobs and resets off the glass deep without a full swing. At high pace it holds control better than its lively touch suggests, which surprised Probando Palas.

The high-ish balance adds weight to the ball on smashes, and Padel Review was impressed by what it produced overhead. The bandeja is comfortable and has good feel. When you accelerate hard, though, the response is less progressive than on the Extreme Motion, and a fast bandeja can fly long into the glass.

Reflex volleys are quick thanks to the handling. Blocks against hard balls need a firm wrist, since the face returns the ball fast, and offensive volleys get less spin than on a rough racket. Drop shots work well because the touch gives plenty of ball feel.

How it compares

The Head Speed Pro 2023 uses a similar hybrid face but weighs around 370g, which gives more stability and control on hard balls at the cost of some speed at the net. The Head Speed Pro X 2023 is the 12K carbon, 375g model for strong advanced players who want a harder feel. Against the 2023 Extreme Motion, a diamond with a rough 3D surface, Probando Palas preferred the Speed Motion from the back and the Extreme at the net and overhead.