Adidas Metalbone Reserve EDT 2025

Technologies

Pros

• ✓The 16K Aluminized Carbon face keeps flex to a minimum on impact: on flat smashes the ball rockets off the face without that sinking feeling that robs distance on softer rackets The frame's octagonal structure cuts down on torsion for off-centre hits, which pays off on a cross-court vibora, where you rarely catch the sweet spot dead-on The Soft Performance EVA core cushions just enough that a 375g diamond doesn't hammer your elbow through long sessions of repeated bandejas The sandy finish, reinforced by the Spin Blade decal, bites into the ball on the vibora and the sliced dropshot, adding a spin that shows up in a low, skidding bounce The high balance in a diamond shape puts the mass right where the smash lands: on shots down the 3 and 4 lines, the racket does half the work for you if you're set up right

Cons

• ✗The high balance demands you prepare the shot early on defence; get caught out by a deep lob and arrive a beat late, and your wall exit falls short At 360-375g with top-heavy mass, manoeuvrability at the net is limited: reflex volleys at close range demand fast hands and punish sloppy technique The diamond's sweet spot is small and set high; miss it and the 16K face gives back a harsh, unforgiving response It's a limited edition that's sold out in most stores, with prices sitting around €325-348: availability works against it

The Adidas Metalbone Reserve EDT 2025 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. Its 360-375g weight range places it in the medium-weight group, the most common among amateur players.

Adidas Metalbone Reserve EDT 2025: the Ale Galán signature diamond

The Adidas Metalbone Reserve EDT 2025 isn't your average catalogue racket — it's a limited edition personally signed by Ale Galán within adidas's Reserve line. Pure diamond shape, 38mm frame, a 16K Aluminized Carbon face and a weight of 360-375g that puts it squarely in competition territory.

The intent here is obvious: pressure the opponent, make quick decisions, and dictate the pace of the point from the net. There's no comfort blanket for players who want an easy ride.

What does 16K Aluminized Carbon bring to the Metalbone Reserve?

16K Aluminized Carbon pairs extreme stiffness with an aluminized finish that gives a solid, direct response on contact. On court, that means the face barely flexes when you strike: energy isn't lost bending the surface, it goes straight into the ball.

The result is high ball exit speed and very direct feedback on every shot. You know exactly what you did with the ball the instant you hit it — for better or worse.

The counterbalance is the Soft Performance EVA core. It's what stops this racket from playing like a plank: it cushions just enough that your arm survives a long bandeja-heavy session without piling up vibration, and lets the ball stay on the face a fraction longer before it releases.

Octagonal frame and 38mm: why torsion matters on the vibora

The Octagonal Frame isn't just cosmetic. An octagonal structure reduces frame torsion at the moment of impact, and torsion is exactly what ruins off-centre shots.

On a cross-court vibora, arm fully extended and contact happening in the upper third of the face, most stiff diamonds twist in your hand. Here the frame holds its line, and so does the shot's direction.

The 38mm profile adds structural rigidity to the whole package and explains a good chunk of this padel racket's ball exit — more generous than you'd expect from a 16K carbon face on paper.

Technical specs

How it performs, shot by shot

Smash. This is its home turf. The high balance in a diamond shape concentrates mass right where the smash connects, making it easier to time overheads. Down the 3 line, the racket supplies the momentum — you just need to be in position. The flat smash comes out fast and genuinely flat, without the parasitic wobble softer rackets introduce.

Bandeja and vibora. The sandy finish, reinforced by the Spin Blade Decal, adds textured surface for extra spin. It shows up more on the vibora than the bandeja: the spin is real, and the ball skids low off the bounce.

Volley. Firm, with no unwanted kick thanks to the 16K's stiffness. The catch is manoeuvrability: on reflex volleys at close range, that top-heavy mass arrives late if your wrist isn't quick.

Defence and wall exit. Time for honesty here. A high-balance 375g diamond punishes you when you're rushed. The wall exit demands early prep and a full backswing; improvise it, and it falls short.

Sweet spot. Small and shifted upward, as you'd expect from this geometry. Inside that window, the racket responds brilliantly. Outside it, the feedback is harsh and unforgiving.

Who is this racket built for?

The Adidas Metalbone Reserve EDT 2025 is built for the competitive player with a seasoned arm, stable technique, and the will to finish points at the net. You need real smash volume and the stamina to handle 360-375g across three sets. If your game is built around defending and constructing points, this isn't your racket.

The ideal profile checks three boxes:

1. **Advanced or competitive level**, with clean ball-striking and a consistent point of contact.
2. **A finisher's role**, regularly playing the backhand side or closing out points overhead.
3. **A complementary partner** who handles the point construction and baseline play, leaving the finishing touches to whoever's wielding the Metalbone.

Verdict: power with no safety net

This adidas offering does exactly what it promises. The pairing of 16K Aluminized Carbon and Soft Performance EVA solves the classic stiff-diamond dilemma: it keeps ball exit speed high without turning every bandeja into a jarring blow to the elbow.

What it won't do is bail you out when the point gets messy. With limited manoeuvrability for fast net exchanges, a narrow sweet spot, and defence that demands anticipation, the margin for error is thin.

Then there's the limited-edition factor: sold out across most retailers, with prices around €325-348. This is a niche racket, for players chasing the Galán signature model who have the game to back it up.

If you fit the profile, you'll find one of the most direct tools in the power segment. If you're unsure about your smash technique, there are more forgiving diamonds out there — and considerably easier to get hold of.