Adidas RX Series Light 2026

Technologies

Pros

• ✓The Soft Performance EVA core delivers a remarkably generous ball exit: block a rival's vibora without a hard grip and the ball still clears the net with plenty of height to climb back up At 345-360 g and round-shaped, net play is where it really earns its keep: you get to cross-court volleys with the racket already set even when the point speeds up The wide sweet spot of the round shape forgives off-centre contact off the back wall, exactly where intermediate players tend to catch the tip and lose the ball The Structural Power carbon insert at the core adds stiffness right where the racket would otherwise flex most, so the soft feel of the core never turns into a dead-rubber sensation on your bandeja The Lineal Smart Holes and smooth finish keep behaviour predictable: the ball goes where you aim it, with none of the unpredictable side-spin that's hard to read

Cons

• ✗The flat smash from position 3 falls short: with a soft core and light weight you need real arm technique to put a winner away, the racket won't hand you extra metres From a mid-to-high level upwards, blocking a well-struck vibora starts to buckle: it lacks the stiffness to send back heavily loaded balls without losing depth The 38 mm frame and low weight mean heavy balls to the back get pushed on the racket; in deep defence it's hard work to produce the deep lob you need to reset position Its even balance doesn't give baseline hitters the inertia they're after: this is a touch-and-place racket, not a punishing one

The Adidas RX Series Light 2026 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.

Adidas RX Series Light 2026 review: the 345-360 g round racket that plays the net for you

The Adidas RX Series Light 2026 is built around a simple, unusual idea: strip out weight without letting the racket feel like cardboard. Round shape, even balance, 38 mm frame, Soft Performance EVA core and a Structural Power carbon insert at the core. Fibreglass face with a smooth finish and Smart Holes Lineal drilling. Put those ingredients together and the result is predictable in the best way: a padel racket that forgives a lot and demands little.

Adidas RX Series Light 2026 specs at a glance

Who is the Adidas RX Series Light 2026 actually for?

This one's for the intermediate player who's on court several times a week and cares more about not missing than about ending the point in one shot. The 345-360 g weight with even balance eases the load on elbow and shoulder, and the sweet spot of the round shape covers a generous chunk of the hitting surface. Anyone looking to punish from the back of the court will find it comes up short.

Fibreglass and soft EVA: why the ball exit feels so effortless

The pairing of a fibreglass face with the Soft Performance EVA core is directly responsible for this racket's standout trait: the ball leaves with barely any effort. The hitting surface flexes, absorbs and gives it back. On court, that means a volley block hit without a tight grip still clears the net with enough height for your partner to get back into position.

That same softness is also what caps the ceiling. A core that absorbs energy also returns less of it when the contact is already powerful. That's why the flat smash isn't this racket's shot: it dampens part of what you put into it instead of amplifying it.

The Structural Power carbon insert at the core fixes the most annoying trait of soft, light rackets. Without that localised stiffness, the throat would flex on a bandeja and the feel would be dead rubber. With it, the cut shot comes off with a defined touch: you can feel exactly where you made contact.

Structural Reinforcement works along the same lines across the frame structure, and the Smart Holes Lineal organise the drilling pattern. The smooth finish rounds things off: less bite on the ball, but also less unpredictable spin you can't explain. The ball goes where you point it.

Shot by shot: where it shines and where it falls short

Volleys. Its best territory by far. At 345-360 g you get to cross-court volleys with the racket already set even when the rally speeds up. The block volley is almost automatic.

Bandeja. Comes out clean and controlled. It's not a heavy bandeja that buries your opponent against the back wall, but it's repeatable: the wide sweet spot lets you hit hundreds of them without ever feeling off-centre.

Vibora. Here the smooth finish and soft EVA work against you. You can execute the shot, but the lateral kick you want to open the court toward the glass never quite fully arrives.

Smash from position 3. The most honest section of this review: you need your own technique and arm speed. The racket adds no extra metres. If your game revolves around closing points with the smash, this isn't your model.

Off the back wall. Where the round shape earns its keep most. Intermediate players tend to catch the tip of the racket when the ball crowds them, and here the wide sweet spot rescues balls another racket would send straight into the frame.

Deep defence. With a 38 mm frame and low weight, a heavy ball to the back pushes the racket around. The deep lob is still there, but it takes your whole body committing to it, not just the arm.

Player profile: who should buy it, who shouldn't

1. **Good fit** for players who train often and want precision and confidence over raw power.
2. **Good fit** for anyone dealing with elbow niggles who needs a racket that filters vibration without becoming unmanageable.
3. **Good fit** for the agile-defender profile: retrieve, place, and wait for the opponent's error.
4. **Not a fit** if your game plan is to move in, smash, and close the point in two shots.
5. **Not a fit** if you're already comfortable returning heavily loaded viboras: you'll notice the racket giving up depth.

As a doubles partner, it works best alongside someone who takes on the finishing role. This Adidas model builds the point; it doesn't end it.

Verdict: a precision tool, not a weapon

The Adidas RX Series Light 2026 does exactly what it promises, and does it well. Outstanding ball exit, high maneuverability, and enough error tolerance to get through long matches without your arm paying the price. The carbon at the core stops the light weight from turning into a soft, imprecise feel.

Its ceiling is clear, and it's worth accepting before you buy: this isn't a racket built for hitting hard. Once match intensity rises and the balls start coming in loaded, the lack of stiffness costs you depth. If your short-term goal is adding power to your game, you'll outgrow this model within a season. If what you're after is playing more comfortably, missing less, and controlling the point, it delivers in spades.

A note of honesty: the available information on this racket shows some variation in the exact positioning of level and balance. What happens on court, though, is unambiguous: control, lightness, and forgiveness.