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65% positive35 reviewsView price on Amazon
In shortPlayers mostly like it for a very large, forgiving sweet spot, a soft feel, solid defence and kindness to the arm. The main drawback is a strong trampoline effect on blocks and fast volleys, and several report cracking or broken plastic weights. Suits defensive, control-minded players.
Showing 9 reviews mentioning forgiving Show all
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Bought the 2025 Metalbone CTRL on sale for about €200 after their 2026 one was broken. Finds it a little livelier than the 2026, with more trampoline effect, but more forgiving and easier on the wrist and elbow, and calls it an amazing competitive racket.
“I picked up the 2025 for about €200 during a sale. I don’t know what your budget is but I feel like it’s a fair price for an amazing competitive racket.”
A player who tried the Metalbone CTRL 3.4 2025 a month ago leans positive: medium-to-slightly-soft feel, a very big sweet spot, and help with speed and power.
“Punto dulce muy grande. No está mal la pala. Te ayuda a ganar velocidad y potencia.”
Finds the Metalbone CTRL forgiving with enough power when they supply it, but the 2025 model's plastic top weights broke, so they can only use the weights in the middle.
Love-hate with the Metalbone CTRL 3.4: incredible sweet spot and enough smash power, but they couldn't stand the trampoline effect at the net.
“The sweet spot is incredible and it has enough power for smashing, but I cannot stand the trampoline effect, especially at the net.”
Loved the huge sweet spot and control for lobs and defence, but it wasn't agile enough so they switched to the ST4.
“I loved the Metalbone, especially the huge sweet spot, control, and ball output. The shots it excelled at for me were lobs and back of court defending.”
One big sweet spot, but very bouncy and softer than the normal Metalbone 3.4.
“literally the face is one big sweet spot. It is quite trampolining… more than the normal Metalbone imho.”
Soft enough to get the ball moving when I'm defending, and the long handle is a big plusfiddling with screws before a match. Wouldn't pick it for smashing everything. For blocking, lobbing and waiting for a ball I can actually attack, it works for me
Played the Metalbone CTRL 2025 after an Xcalion and found it soft, easy to use and bouncy, a good racket for intermediate players.
“I played Metalbone CTRL 2025 after Xcalion. It’s soft, easy to use and bouncy. It’s good racket and I think it’s good for intermediate players.”
Owned the 2025 Metalbone CTRL as well as the 2026: massive sweet spot, very manoeuvrable, with a longer handle they love.
“Massive sweet spot, very maneuverable and I love the longer handle. Just an amazing racket.”
Of the 34 reviews with a clear verdict, 65% are positive, 24% mixed and 12% negative. The praise mentioned most is forgiving. The most common complaint is durability issues.
The praise reviewers mention most: forgiving (9 reviews), arm-friendly (4 reviews) and good control (4 reviews). For example: Loved the huge sweet spot and control for lobs and defence, but it wasn't agile enough so they switched to the ST4.
The complaints reviewers mention most: durability issues (3 reviews) and small sweet spot (1 review). For example: Their Metalbone CTRL 3.4 cracked in the middle after a light knock against their knee; they find the Carbon version's face much stronger and more controllable.
#3 in Best Padel Rackets 2025, ranked by real player reviews.
34 are quotes from discussions on Reddit, YouTube and Other, each linked to the original post. 1 was written by players here. Player reviews are checked for spam before they appear, and only they count toward the star rating; quotes never do.