Adidas Rx Series Light 2024

Technologies

Pros

• ✓The Soft Performance EVA core holds the ball those extra few milliseconds and gives you deep ball exit off the wall even when you arrive late and your arm is stuck At 345-360 g with a medium balance, the bandeja comes out effortless: you can adjust your wrist at the last second and place it high without rushing the arm The fiberglass face soaks up vibration and spreads the sweet spot across nearly the whole 499 cm² face, a real plus on long sessions or if your elbow's been acting up Structural Power adds targeted stiffness at the core, so flat drives and deep volleys don't feel dead despite the soft rubber Smart Holes Lineal groups the holes in aligned sets of three to brace the 38 mm frame, the part that takes the most punishment on a lightweight, soft-core racket

Cons

• ✗The flat smash comes up short: at 345-360 g with soft rubber there's just not enough mass behind the ball to close out the point in one shot The smooth face offers little grip, so the vibora and cut spin come out with less kick and less bite on the ball A player with already-developed arm speed will hit the ceiling fast: the racket doesn't give back what you put into the impact The model is already discontinued across much of the retail channel, with sizes and weights growing harder to find

The Adidas Rx Series Light 2024 suits intermediate players who already have a technical base and want to progress without jumping to a too-demanding paddle. Its round shape concentrates the sweet spot in the center of the face, increasing tolerance and favouring control. The medium balance keeps a balanced behaviour between baseline shots and volleys. With a weight of 345-360g, it sits among the lighter rackets on the market: easier to swing and less stressful on the elbow.

The adidas RX Series Light 2024 weighs in between 345 and 360 grams, pairs a fiberglass face with a Soft Performance EVA core, and rounds things out with a 38 mm frame and the Smart Holes Lineal system. Round shape, medium balance, 499 cm² of hitting surface.

The numbers spell out a padel racket built around one very specific idea: don't punish the player who isn't always perfectly positioned yet.

Soft Performance EVA meets fiberglass: the forgiveness formula

The soft EVA core is what drives everything here. Soft rubber deforms more on contact, holds the ball those extra few milliseconds, and delivers a very generous ball exit even when you're hitting with a checked arm or from a half-height position.

The fiberglass face pushes in the same direction. It's a less rigid material than carbon, with less of a sharp rebound, and it dampens vibration while softening the feel. The trade-off has to be said plainly: there's no explosive response here.

With that combination, the sweet spot stretches across nearly the entire hitting area. Balls taken near the core or up toward the top edge still come out with direction, which is exactly what an intermediate player needs while they're still dialling in their timing.

What does Structural Power bring if the rubber's this soft?

Structural Power is a reinforcement placed at the racket's core that adds targeted stiffness where the structure flexes most. It doesn't turn this adidas model into a power racket, but it stops the whole thing from feeling dead: it claws back some pop on flat drives and deep volleys.

Structural Reinforcement works along the same lines, bracing the joint between the throat and the frame. Smart Holes Lineal, meanwhile, groups the holes along the profile in aligned sets of three, aiming for consistent ball contact and durability, a sensitive spot given that a soft core puts more strain on the frame.

How it performs shot by shot

Ball exit off the wall. Its best-case scenario. The manageable weight and medium balance let you adjust your wrist at the last moment, and the rubber produces deep ball exit without needing to rush the arm.

Bandeja. Very comfortable. The racket asks for minimal effort to cut and place; the trajectory comes out controlled and with height, exactly what you'd expect from a round, medium-balance frame.

Vibora. This is where the limits show up. You can close the angle and go for the high bounce, but the smooth face doesn't grip the ball much and the resulting spin is modest.

Smash. Good for the smash by 3 and for repositioning shots, not for the flat smash that ends the point outright. At 345-360 grams with soft rubber, there simply isn't enough mass landing behind the ball.

Volley and defense. Comfortable blocking, an easy lob to lift, and very little vibration through the forearm. This is where a lightweight, soft-core racket really earns its keep.

Is the adidas RX Series Light a powerful racket?

No. This is a control racket: the soft EVA core, fiberglass face, medium balance, and 345-360 g weight all push toward maneuverability, ball exit, and a wide sweet spot. Power has to come from your technique and weight transfer, not from the materials.

adidas RX Series Light 2024 specs

Who it suits and who should look elsewhere

It suits:

1. Intermediate players after extra forgiveness while they're still building a reliable bandeja and ball exit off the wall.
2. Anyone who racks up long hours on court and rates arm comfort above raw pop.
3. Players with less arm strength, who benefit from the light weight and centred balance.

It's not for players who live to finish points at the net, anyone already generating enough arm speed to make the most of a stiff core, or players who build their game around spin: the smooth finish limits kick and cuts down on bite.

As a doubles partner racket, it works best in the builder role — backhand, height, patience — paired with a partner who takes care of finishing from the net.

Verdict: control and comfort with a defined ceiling

This racket delivers on what its spec sheet promises and doesn't pretend to be something it isn't. It widens the margin for error, goes easy on the arm, and sustains long rallies; in exchange, it forces you to build the point rather than end it outright.

The model is already discontinued across much of the retail channel, with adidas replacing it directly with the 2026 generation of the adidas RX Series. If you find a unit of the RX Series Light 2024 at clearance pricing and your priority is control and comfort, it's still a sound buy. If what you're after is power, the issue isn't the price — it's the racket's whole approach.