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Adidas Metalbone CTRL 3.5 2026
Rackets/Adidas

Adidas Metalbone CTRL 3.5 2026

63% positive62 reviewsView price on Amazon

#1 in Best Padel Rackets 2026#1 in Best Padel Rackets for Control 2026

In shortMost players like the large, forgiving sweet spot, easy power and control, and many add weights at the top for more punch. The soft, springy face divides opinion, with some finding it too bouncy at the net or in warm weather. A few report the weight screws breaking.

What players keep saying

Loved for

Complaints

Also mentioned: soft12

Year
2026
Shape
Round
Weight
345–360g
Balance
Low/Medium
Core
EVA Soft Performance core
Surface
16K Carbon

How it plays2 players

  • Power3.0
  • Control3.5
  • Maneuverability4.0
  • Comfort4.5
  • Forgiveness5.0

Who's playing it

Side
Left 50%Right 50%
Level
Intermediate 2
Ratings
  • 51
  • 40
  • 30
  • 21
  • 10

Reviews

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Showing 11 reviews mentioning good control Show all

Sort: Most helpfulNewest

I am intermediate playing for about 1 year and this is my second padel racket, Before this I played with some random cheap rackets my club had, and this is a huge jump, i like how easy it is to hit my shots, sweet spot is the all racket so even when I miss hit the ball does not die like on other rackets I tried, it doesn't have a massive power but it's enough for me as I don't really smash, i do get great deep vibora and volley with it. When I use it in defense it feels really solid on ground stokes and lobs.

good controlforgivinggreat in defence
Power4Control4Maneuverability4Comfort5Forgiveness5
Gali A·Intermediate·Right side·All-round·1–6 months

Recently moved from the right side to the left with the Metalbone CTRL 2026 and really likes it: excellent feel and ball exit, great control in defence and at the net, and heavy, spinny bandejas and viboras. Only flat smashes lack the pop they want.

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“I've been using the Adidas Metalbone CTRL 2026 and I really like it: the feel and ball exit are excellent, and I get great control on defense and at the net.”
positivegood controlgood spin
Redditr/Padelracket·

Tried the Metalbone CTRL 2026 and found it very stable with one of the largest sweet spots, better power than the 2024 and 2025 versions and slightly stiffer foam; less stable without the weights.

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“The Ctrl with the weights on the sides becomes a brick wall, great ball output, stability improves, and more forgiving on off center hits. It has one of the largest sweet spots imho.”
positiveforgivinggood control
Redditr/Padelracket·

Loves it without weights: great manoeuvrability; slightly smaller sweet spot than 2025; prefers it to the AT10 12K.

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“2025 definitely has a larger sweet spot but i took off all the weights on my metalbone control 3.5 2026, and i love it”
positivegood controlfast at the net
Redditr/Padelracket·

In love with the CTRL with two weights at the top: well balanced, sweet spot across the whole face, amazing sound and feel, lots of control and power; the best of the nine rackets they have owned.

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“Sweet spot is the whole racket, the sound and feel are amazing, super control, lots of power”
positiveforgivinggood controleasy power
YouTubeOtro Nivel Padel·

Owns both the 2026 and 2025 Metalbone CTRL and has no issues with power, playing both sides: forgiving, easy to place at different paces, with power there when they put it in themselves.

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“The racket is forgiving, you are able to place shots on different kind of power levels. But does have the power if you need it, but your body needs to give it that.”
positiveforgivinggood control
Redditr/Padelracket·

Very manoeuvrable, easy lobs, enough power and less tiring than the HRD+.

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“What I love most is how maneuverable it feels, and how easily I can hit lobs with it. I was worried I might miss some power, but honestly I don’t feel that way.”
positivefast at the netgood control
Redditr/Padelracket·

Tried a friend's a couple of times: perfect balance and crazy control, but it lacks some power for aggressive players.

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“I have used it once or twice and can tell you the balance for me is perfect, control over the ball is crazy but it lacks a bit in power.”
mixedgood control
Redditr/Padelracket·

One of the best control rackets they've tried: the whole face feels like a sweet spot and volleys are crisp, at the cost of power.

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“Felt like every part of that racket is a sweet spot and all my volleys felt crisp. Ofc you trade this for lack of power, but man that racket felt like I could not mis hit it.”
positivegood controlforgiving
Redditr/Padelracket·

Agrees the regular Metalbone punishes simple shots, and says that after switching to the 2026 Metalbone CTRL with the weights at the top, about 80% of their mistakes disappeared.

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“You pretty much summed it up. I switched to the CTRL 2026 and weights on top and 80% of my mistakes just vanished!”
positivegood control
Redditr/Padelracket·

Insane control with decent power even without weights; noticeable trampoline effect.

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“go for the metalbone ctrl, the control is insane and there is still alot of power in the racket.”
positivegood controleasy power
Redditr/Padelracket·

Common questions about Adidas Metalbone CTRL 3.5 2026

Is Adidas Metalbone CTRL 3.5 2026 worth it?

Of the 59 reviews with a clear verdict, 63% are positive, 27% mixed and 10% negative. The praise mentioned most is forgiving. The most common complaint is durability issues.

What do people like about Adidas Metalbone CTRL 3.5 2026?

The praise reviewers mention most: forgiving (17 reviews), easy power (16 reviews) and good control (11 reviews). For example: Finds the Metalbone CTRL 3.5 more forgiving and easier to play than the ST4, and lighter, which helps on the right side.

What are the most common complaints about Adidas Metalbone CTRL 3.5 2026?

The complaints reviewers mention most: durability issues (2 reviews). For example: Finds the Metalbone CTRL 2026 too soft with too much trampoline, and its weight screws a gimmick that break quickly (comment in French).

How does Adidas Metalbone CTRL 3.5 2026 rank?

#1 in Best Padel Rackets 2026, #1 in Best Padel Rackets for Control 2026, ranked by real player reviews.

Where do these Adidas Metalbone CTRL 3.5 2026 reviews come from?

60 are quotes from discussions on Reddit and YouTube, each linked to the original post. 2 were written by players here. Player reviews are checked for spam before they appear, and only they count toward the star rating; quotes never do.

Adidas Metalbone CTRL 3.5 2026View on Amazon