Black Crown Piton Premium 2024

Technologies

Pros

• ✓The round shape and medium balance keep the sweet spot right in the centre of the face, so blocked volleys and cut bandejas come off clean even when you're rushed off your feet The SandSpin surface bites the ball just enough to slice bandejas and viboras with real spin, without the aggressive grip that chews through felt in a couple of matches The EVA Power Soft Memory core snaps back into shape fast between shots: in long baseline rallies the response doesn't go soft or lose direction come the third set With the 38 mm frame and 2TB Carbon faces, blocking at the net feels rock-solid and the racket doesn't twist in your hand when a smash comes at your hip The 355-370 g weight range lets you go lighter for fast-wristed players or load up for anyone chasing extra inertia on the smash by 3

Cons

• ✗Ball exit is on the muted side: if you don't accelerate through the swing, lobs from behind the service line fall short and you end up defending a couple of metres deeper than you'd like The 3K carbon over a medium-density core transmits a fair bit on off-centre hits; on balls stuck to the back glass the impact can feel sharp on the elbow if you've gone for a heavier build This isn't a racket that hands you smashes: a flat overhead needs solid shoulder mechanics, because the power comes from your head speed, not the material itself On dead-ball wall exits you have to go and get the ball with your body; the medium balance doesn't give you the whip that diamond-shaped frames offer

The Black Crown Piton Premium 2024 targets advanced players with consolidated technique who want more performance without yet moving to a pure competition racket. 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. Its 355-370g weight range places it in the medium-weight group, the most common among amateur players.

The Black Crown Piton Premium 2024 rests on three concrete decisions: a round shape, 3K carbon faces with 2TB Carbon technology, and a medium-density EVA core dubbed Power Soft Memory, all built into a 38 mm frame weighing 355 to 370 grams. It's not the most explosive racket in the Piton 2024 line-up — that title goes to the Black Crown Piton Attack 15 Power — but it's the one chasing the balance between hitting hard and staying in control.

Who should be playing with the Piton Premium 2024?

This is built for the advanced player with technique already in place. The mix of contained ball exit and high control means the racket gives back exactly what you put in: clean stroke, and the ball goes where you want it; mistimed or arm-only, and it dies mid-court. It's a padel racket that rewards mechanics, not muscle.

That rules it out for beginners or anyone playing twice a month. In the hands of a mid-to-low level player, the 38 mm profile and medium core translate into a harsh feel without the power payoff that would justify the effort.

2TB Carbon and Power Soft Memory: what each layer brings

The 3K carbon on the faces has a relatively open weave compared to tighter carbon layouts. That gives it a response with slightly more dwell time on impact: the ball sits on the face for a fraction of a second longer before leaving, and that's where you gain direction control on volleys and bandejas.

The Power Soft Memory core is what keeps that carbon from feeling harsh. By snapping back into shape quickly after every impact, it keeps the response consistent throughout the match instead of softening up in the third set — which is exactly when lower-quality EVA starts giving back short balls for no obvious reason.

SandSpin does its work on the surface: a sandy-type roughness, enough to grip the ball on slice shots without the face chewing through felt. And Piton Glass reinforces the overall structure so the 38 mm frame holds its rigidity where it counts.

Shot by shot: where the Piton Premium shines and where it leaves you exposed

At the net is where the Piton Premium shows its best side. The medium balance lets you block mid-height volleys without the head dropping, and when they aim at your hip the racket doesn't twist. The cut bandeja comes out flat with real height control, exactly what you'd want from a round-shape frame.

The vibora works well if you commit to a full wrist snap. SandSpin grips just enough for the sidespin to show up in the bounce, though don't expect the savage kick you'd get from more abrasive surfaces.

The smash by 3 is a shot you have to earn. The power is there, but it comes from the head speed you generate — the racket doesn't multiply it, it transmits it. A player with good shoulder mechanics closes points; one who muscles it with the arm will watch the ball come back.

On defence is where the real limitation shows up. Ball exit runs on the contained side, so lobs from behind the service line need a long follow-through. On dead-ball wall exits you need to go get the ball with your body, because the medium balance won't hand you a free whip.

How to pick your weight: 355 or 370 grams

That 15-gram window changes the racket's character quite a bit:

1. **355-360 g** — for fast-wristed players who prioritise net reactions and the counter-attacking game. Less inertia on the smash, higher hitting frequency.
2. **362-366 g** — the middle ground, in line with the model's all-round approach.
3. **367-370 g** — for players wanting inertia on the smash and stability when blocking, accepting more load on the elbow from a core that already transmits.

Where the Piton Premium sits in the Piton 2024 line-up

Within the 2024 Piton family, this is the most accessible and easiest to handle, sitting alongside the Black Crown Piton Attack 15 Power — pitched as the power variant — and the Black Crown Piton Air 12k. The Premium sits in the middle: players looking to close points on raw power should look at the Attack; those who want to build the point and decide it with placement belong here.

Verdict: technique before muscle

The Black Crown Piton Premium 2024 is a racket for the technical player who hits with precision and knows how to generate their own racket speed. Its wide sweet spot and stable behaviour at the net make it dependable over long matches, and the Power Soft Memory core keeps the feel consistent as your arm starts to tire.

What it isn't: a racket that forgives poor preparation or hands you free metres on defence. If your game relies on the racket doing the work from the back of the court, this model will frustrate you.

It pairs well with a more aggressive partner: the Piton Premium builds the point, places the ball and holds the rally while your partner finishes it off. On the backhand side, paired with a player who works the lob and change of pace, is where its control really pays off.