Adidas Metalbone HRD+ 2026

Technologies

Pros

• ✓The High Memory EVA core gives back almost all the impact energy: on flat smashes and rulo por 3 the ball comes off with an acceleration few hard rubbers can match The ribbing of the HRD system stiffens the bridge and sides so the face doesn't twist on off-centre hits, meaning the racket stays true on aggressive restos and low volleys cut at your feet The sandy surface with Spin Blade Decal really bites on víboras and cut bandejas, letting you close the face without fear of the ball skidding The Weight & Balance System shifts up to 11.2 g across six screws, so you can lighten the head for defence or load it up for finishing points without switching rackets The 38 mm frame with Octagonal Structure absorbs impact without flexing, keeping your direction true when blocking heavy balls

Cons

• ✗The sweet spot is small and sits high on the 485 cm² face: miss it and the ball comes out short while your arm takes the punishment Ball exit is low for the racket's weight; if you're not generating your own arm speed, it won't gift you an extra metre on lobs or in defence The high balance demands early preparation on wall exits: arrive a touch late and the head-heavy feel leaves the ball stuck mid-court The combination of 16K carbon and this density of EVA is tough on elbow and shoulder, punishing anyone putting in heavy hours without a solid physical base

The Adidas Metalbone HRD+ 2026 is designed for competition or pro-level players who prioritise performance and precision over comfort. Its diamond shape moves the sweet spot to the top of the face, giving more leverage and power at the cost of some tolerance. The high balance adds weight to the swing and pushes the racket toward an offensive profile. With a weight of 345-360g, it sits among the lighter rackets on the market: easier to swing and less stressful on the elbow.

Ale Galán puts his name to the Adidas Metalbone HRD+ 2026, the hardest-hitting racket in the brand's lineup: a Carbon Aluminized 16K face, High Memory EVA core, 38 mm frame and 345-360 g spread across a high-balance diamond shape, all governed by HRD (Hybrid Ribs Dynamic) technology. This is not a forgiving padel racket, and it never set out to be.

The hardest racket in the Adidas range — and you feel it from the first ball

When one mould combines the stiffest carbon and the densest rubber in the catalogue, touch stops being about subtlety. The aluminized 16K weave barely gives on impact, and the High Memory core returns almost every bit of energy it absorbs instead of soaking it up.

The result is a crisp, short strike, with the ball leaving the strings before your arm has even finished the swing. Anyone coming from a mid-density EVA will notice this racket rings more than it sinks. That's the signature of this padel racket — and also its entry barrier.

HRD (Hybrid Ribs Dynamic): stiffness exactly where a diamond shape breaks down

The Achilles' heel of a high-balance diamond is torsion on off-centre hits. The hybrid ribs of the HRD system target that exact weak point, stiffening the bridge and sides so the face doesn't twist when the ball arrives off-axis.

The payoff is stability — which isn't the same as forgiveness. The racket won't twist on an aggressive resto or a low cut volley, but the sweet spot remains compact and sits clearly in the upper half of the 485 cm² face.

Power Groove and Low Poly organise how material is distributed across the head to concentrate mass where you finish points, while the Octagonal Structure reinforces the 38 mm profile and the Smart Holes Curve shapes the perforation pattern on the face. None of this softens the racket — it just makes it more consistent shot after shot.

Adidas Metalbone HRD+ 2026 specs

How does it perform on smash, víbora and bandeja?

On rulo por 3 and flat smashes the Adidas Metalbone HRD+ 2026 is devastating: the high balance adds inertia and the High Memory core transfers almost all of the swing's energy. On víbora and bandeja it responds well when you're set up properly; scrambling in defence, the head-heavy feel costs you.

• **Smash and kick serve returns:** this is where the racket makes its case. The high mass and rigid frame turn a clean swing into a ball that's near-impossible to defend.
• **Víbora:** the sandy surface with Spin Blade Decal grips just enough to close the face and send it crosscourt without the ball skidding.
• **Bandeja:** demands a long, clean stroke; with a loose wrist it flattens out and falls short.
• **Wall exits:** the toughest test. You need to prepare early, because arriving late with this head weight leaves the ball stranded mid-court.
• **Volleys and blocks:** firm and directional, though the hard EVA gives back little feedback on soft blocks.

An honest note: ball exit is low for how much this racket weighs. This Adidas model doesn't give you free metres — whatever you gain comes from your own arm speed.

The 11.2 grams you get to control

The Weight & Balance System lets you shift up to 11.2 g across six screws, and on a racket like this it's no gimmick. Load the head and you sharpen the hammer effect; shift weight toward the bridge and you gain manoeuvrability for volleys and defence, all without leaving the 345-360 g range.

It's the most direct way to tune this diamond-shaped racket to a player who wants the power without all of its default defensive demands.

What level is the Metalbone HRD+ built for?

Competition, plain and simple. The combination of extreme hardness, a small sweet spot and high balance calls for solid technique, early shot preparation and a physical base that can absorb the sharp impact on elbow and shoulder.

The ideal profile is a player who attacks from the back of the court and finishes points at the net, not one who builds points with looping, high balls. As a doubles partner, it pairs best with someone more defensive and block-oriented, who can sustain long rallies while this racket waits for the high ball to punish.

If your game revolves around deep lobs, defending off the back wall and patient counter-attacking, this isn't the shape for you.

Verdict: tour-level power, with no safety net

The Adidas Metalbone HRD+ 2026 delivers exactly what Ale Galán's signature racket promises: hitting hard with stability, thanks to an HRD system that keeps the face steady where other diamond shapes fall apart. It achieves this at the cost of forgiveness, and the sweet spot and ball exit are the toll you pay.

Before buying, it's worth answering three questions:

1. Do I smash enough to justify a 38 mm frame and EVA this dense?
2. Can my elbow handle a flex-free 16K carbon face over a full season?
3. Will I actually use the Weight & Balance System, or would I rather have a racket that comes pre-balanced?

Three yeses, and you've found the most powerful racket Ale Galán has ever put his name to. One no, and there are considerably more forgiving shapes within Adidas' own catalogue.