How soft is the Hybrid Soft really?

Reviewers say it plays closer to medium than soft. It holds the ball a little longer than the Hybrid Hard at low speed.

Hybrid Soft or Hybrid Hard?

Same frame and shape. Pick the Soft for control and comfort, the Hard if you hit hard and want more power on smashes.

Does it have power for smashes?

Bandejas and víboras work well, but several reviewers note limited exit speed on flat smashes.

Which pro played the PR990 Hybrid Soft?

Lucía Sainz, as a Kuikma ambassador from 2022.

How much does it weigh?

Listed at 360 to 380 g, with a balance around 265 mm, slightly above the middle.

7.9

Conclusion

Easy to place the ball and comfortable from the back of the court, with a sweet spot that forgives off-centre hits at medium pace. Best for intermediate and conservative players who build points. Hard hitters will miss exit speed on flat smashes and should look at the Hybrid Hard.

Power7.0/10

Control7.8/10

Defense8.2/10

Offense7.2/10

Maneuverability8.0/10

Padel Racket Review - Kuikma PR990 Hybrid Soft 2022

Name: Kuikma PR990 Hybrid Soft 2022
Brand: Kuikma

Kuikma · 2022

Reviewed & Researched by Christoph Herrmann

Left-handed right-side player with an attacking, finishing game

Always overperforms in the warm-up, always underperforms in the match. Such is life.

The PR990 Hybrid Soft is the softer version of Kuikma's 2022 top line, the racket Lucía Sainz played as a Kuikma ambassador. Kuikma is Decathlon's padel brand, and the point of the 990 range was simple: a high-end build for around 100 euros.

The hybrid head puts the balance slightly above the middle without making it tip-heavy, and the soft EVA core plays closer to medium than the name suggests. It sits next to the Hybrid Hard, which uses the same frame with a firmer core, and the round Precision models, which are lighter at the head.

What the Reviewers Say

What the reviewers say

The reviewers agree on control, comfort and value. Dani 13 called it the best price to quality ratio he had seen, and in a second look said it is a strong pick for anyone who wants a multipurpose racket. He also noted that the sweet spot is big at low speed, but that very fast shots get harder to control.

Argentogues found the racket very easy to play with in the air, with simple direction and pace changes. His drawback: the ball tends to die when you miss the centre, and smashes have limited exit. Fabio Ferro saw the same gap on flat smashes, but said it handles bandejas and víboras well, and called it the best buy for a right-side or conservative player.

Mejora Tu Padel tested the full range for two weeks and said the soft core feels about one point harder than expected, closer to medium. In his words, it holds the ball a bit more than the Hard version at low speed, which gives you more control but costs you when the rally speeds up.

How it plays..

Our take: Christoph's summary

This is a racket for building points, not for ending them with one swing. The control in the air and the forgiving sweet spot are real, but a committed, heavy swing gets less back than it puts in. Players who finish at the net with flat smashes will get more from the Hybrid Hard.

Defense

Defense is where it is most comfortable. The medium-soft core takes pace off hard balls, and lobs and slow returns from the back glass are easy to place.

Attack

Offense is decent but not explosive. Bandejas and víboras are precise, but flat smashes lack exit speed, and the ball can stay on the face a moment too long on very hard hits.

Netplay

At the net it is light in the hand and stable. Blocks and soft volleys are easy, and the rough surface helps with slice.

Our Advice for New Players

Beginners can use it, and the sweet spot helps, but a cheaper round racket is enough at that stage.

Our Advice for Intermediate Players

Intermediate players are the main target. It gives control and comfort at a price that leaves room for a second racket.

Competitive level

Advanced control players on the right side will find enough here. Advanced attackers who want power at high pace should look elsewhere.

How It Compares

How it compares

The Kuikma PR990 Hybrid Hard 2022 has the same shape and build with a firmer core. Pick it if you hit hard and want the ball to leave the face faster. The Kuikma PR990 Precision Soft 2022 is round and lighter at the head, with a more central sweet spot. Pick it if handling and defense matter more than help in the air.

Research & References

Our mission is to help you choose the right padel racket with clear, in-depth reviews that make it easy to level up your game. We start with official specs, then break down each racket’s key properties. Finally, we bring together trusted video and written reviews—summarised into one consistent, easy-to-read overview.

Drafted by Padelguru from expert video reviews with Christoph Herrmann's playing profile as an editorial lens, then reviewed and edited by Christoph Herrmann.