Quick note: Some links are affiliate links. We earn a tiny commission if you buy (at no cost to you). Keeps the lights on!
In shortPlayers praise its ball speed and smash power, but it is demanding. Several struggled with control, placement and a shrunken sweet spot, and its high balance felt heavy or hard on the elbow. Better for natural hitters than anyone seeking forgiveness.
Also mentioned: firm2
Sort: Most helpfulNewest
An owner of both the 2025 and 2026 Metalbone HRD says it is one of the best rackets they have tried for ball speed, though its high balance can cause elbow pain for some.
“Yo he tenido la hrd del 25 y del 26 y para ganar velocidad de bola es de lo mejor que he probado”
Switched from the standard Metalbone to the HRD: the foam was harder, but the sweet spot shrank a lot, they never felt secure and the ball bounced too much; great for natural hitters but it penalises everything else.
“si bien su goma era más dura, el punto dulce bajaba muchísimo. No lograba encontrar sensación de seguridad y la bola rebotaba en demasía.”
Just got the new Metalbone HRD+ for left-side play and it feels great for hard smashes; the movable weights let them tune it.
“For left sided, I Just got the Adidas Metalbone HRD+ and it feels great. I got the new one, but last years played exactly the same in my opinion.”
Insane, satisfying power, but it punishes control and brings more unforced errors than their Nox.
“The power is insane and very satisfying, but it clearly punishes you more on control and I get more unforced errors compared to the Nox.”
A tall former tennis player who tried several friends' rackets and played best with the Metalbone HRD+ 2026: its dry, stiff feel felt more natural, while the standard Metalbone was too bouncy to place the ball.
“What I liked from the hrd+ 2026 was the “dry” feel and stiffness, for some reason it felt more natural to me.”
A left-side player who now hates their Metalbone HRD+ 26: the trampoline sends their volleys to the glass, though the smashes are good.
“I so hate this racket now because of the trampoline effect all my volleys go to the glass.”
Demoed the 2026 Metalbone hard and found it too heavy and head-heavy even without weights, more so than their Counter Viper.
“Yo la probé la semana pasada y aún sin pesos me pareció demasiado pesada y cabezona, mucho más que mi counter viper”
Just tried the 2026 Metalbone hard and found it feels lighter than the Technical Viper despite a higher listed balance.
“A mí al revés, balance en teoría más alto que la technical viper pero se siente más ligera”
Has the 2026 HRD and, now that it is cold, finds it a little dry with the ball not travelling much; considering a regular Metalbone for winter.
“tengo la HRD de 2026 y ahora con el frio se me da la sensación de ser un poco seca y como que la bola no corre mucho”
Tried it and couldn't control their power or ball placement.
“I already tried the 3.5 metalbone hrd+ and don't really like it in a way that i can't control my power and placement of the ball”
Of the 10 reviews with a clear verdict, 40% are positive, 20% mixed and 40% negative. The praise mentioned most is easy power. The most common complaint is demanding.
The praise reviewers mention most: easy power (2 reviews), great on smashes (2 reviews) and good control (1 review). For example: An owner of both the 2025 and 2026 Metalbone HRD says it is one of the best rackets they have tried for ball speed, though its high balance can cause elbow pain for some.
The complaints reviewers mention most: demanding (3 reviews), head-heavy (2 reviews) and small sweet spot (1 review). For example: Tried it and couldn't control their power or ball placement.
10 are quotes from discussions on Reddit, Other and YouTube, each linked to the original post. Player reviews are checked for spam before they appear, and only they count toward the star rating; quotes never do.