Padel Racket Review - Lok Carb On Hype 2 Franco Dal Bianco 2026

What the reviewers say

The two testers who played this edition agree on the basics: for a diamond it is manoeuvrable, comfortable and forgiving, and it plays softer than its attacking label suggests. They differ on how much it gives back when you swing hard.

Dela4padel gave it a full review and questioned the shape straight away: "In the hand it looks more like a teardrop than a diamond, a versatile racket that helps in attack and in defence." He found it very manoeuvrable, with a centred sweet spot and a medium-soft feel that gives plenty of ball output at a slow to medium pace. At a higher pace the ball stays on the face a moment longer and can float, flat smashes lose bite, and the lightly marked 3D texture gave him little extra help with spin. Kick smashes worked better for him than flat ones.

Dahlgren at OngoalSweden played the FDB edition straight after the standard Carb-On Hype 2 and felt a difference. He could feel the ball more, got less free pace, and as a power player got less reward on his overheads than he wanted. His verdict points it at a different player: "If you are more of a control player who likes to feel the ball when you hit, this is absolutely the racket for you."

Zona de Pádel tested the standard Carb-On Hype 2, which Lok lists with the same build. They were struck by how light it felt in the hand: "It is very easy to handle, it feels almost like a feather." They also found it much softer than the Maxx Hype, with a very wide sweet spot, but harder to control in fast play.

Padel Nuestro's written review of the 2026 collection places the FDB between the Maxx Hype and the Maxx Flow. Because of its medium, more reactive feel, they call it "a less demanding option" than Yanguas's racket, suited to intermediate players who want to attack more.

Our take: Bowe's summary

Handling is the main reason to pick the FDB. It swings like a lighter racket and forgives off-centre hits, which few head-heavy diamonds manage. The cost is a softer, less direct response: players who want a crisp face to place the ball and add spin will find the feel muted and the texture too mild, while players who want easy depth at a medium pace will get on well with it.

At the back of the court the quick handling helps most. Dela4padel found it easy to move on defensive balls, and the soft response gives depth on lobs and on balls off the back glass without a big swing. The balance still sits high, so fast, low balls need early preparation. Units vary within the weight range, and Dela4padel noted his was on the light side, so a heavier one will feel slower.

Power comes from ball output more than stiffness. At a medium pace, smashes and bandejas get good speed from a moderate swing, and Dela4padel found the kick smash easier to execute than the flat one. Hit hard and flat, and the face holds the ball a moment, so the shot loses bite. That matches Dahlgren's complaint about his overheads. Attackers who want a dry, crisp finish should look at the Maxx Hype Gen 2.

At the net the quick handling helps on reflex volleys, and the centred sweet spot keeps less cleanly struck blocks in play. Fast exchanges are the weak point, because the soft face can lift the ball instead of driving it down. The lightly marked texture gives only modest help when you want to put weight or spin on a volley. Bandejas and víboras at a controlled pace are reliable.

How it compares

The Lok Carb-On Hype Gen 2 is the same racket on paper in a different colourway. Lok lists identical materials, weight and profile, yet Dahlgren found the standard version gave him more free pace and the FDB more feel. If you can, try both before you buy.

The Lok Maxx Hype Gen 2 Mike Yanguas is the step up: an 18K carbon face that feels harder and drier, with more finishing power on the smash. It suits advanced attackers who can handle a stiffer racket. Lok's Carbon Flow 2 uses the same materials as the FDB in a rounder shape with a central balance, for players who want more control than attack.