Prince Rocket

Technologies

Pros

• ✓The EVA BALANCE core sits at a medium density that shines on volley blocks and placed bandejas: the ball comes off controlled without you having to brake your arm; the textured ESF Spin face bites into the ball noticeably on viboras and cut dropshots, where sidespin is the difference between wrong-footing your opponent and gifting them the net; the round shape with medium balance and a 340-355 g weight range spins through quickly on defence and lets you correct your swing on low wall exits without feeling rushed; the wide sweet spot typical of round-shaped rackets forgives off-centre hits high on the face, which you'll appreciate ninety minutes into a match when your timing starts to slip; and the Pro EVO hole pattern paired with the 38mm frame delivers an even response across the whole face, without the dead zones you get on narrower profiles

Cons

• ✗This isn't a racket for smashing your way through points or hunting a flat winning smash: the contained ball exit means you have to generate your own pace, and on overhead smashes it feels short next to a diamond-shaped racket; the EVA BALANCE's firmness wants real arm speed behind it, so at a slower rhythm — think long defensive lobs — the ball falls short and you end up covering more court than you'd like; the 340-355 g range is on the heavier side for anyone after a light, pure-defence racket, and your forearm will notice it across a multi-match day; and being built for the demanding player, it doesn't forgive sloppy technique — without early preparation and a clean strike, the core's dry feel translates straight into lost depth

The Prince Rocket 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. With a weight of 340-355g, it sits among the lighter rackets on the market: easier to swing and less stressful on the elbow.

Prince Rocket Review: The Round-Shaped 38mm Racket Built for Balance, Not Brute Force

The Prince Rocket pairs a 3K carbon face with ESF Spin texture, an EVA BALANCE core, a 38mm frame and a 340-355 g weight range in a round shape with medium balance. This is a padel racket aimed at the demanding adult player, not a beginner's tool.

The clue is in the core's name: EVA BALANCE. Prince didn't call it "soft" or "hard" for nothing — the rubber sits deliberately in the middle ground, dialling back the power compared to earlier generations in the Rocket line.

Prince Rocket Specs at a Glance

Who Should Actually Play With the Prince Rocket?

This one's for the advanced player with technique already dialled in. The combination of medium-density EVA and a 3K carbon face demands arm speed to unlock its performance — feed it no rhythm, and the ball won't do the work for you. In return, the round shape with medium balance hands you a wide sweet spot and a predictable response shot after shot.

That's the real ceiling of this racket. It's not a beginner's racket dressed up as premium, nor is it a diamond-shaped hammer for pure power players — it sits squarely in the camp of the player who builds the point.

What Each Material Brings to Your Game

The 3K carbon face uses an open weave, more flexible than the 12K or 18K weaves found on smash-oriented rackets. On court, that translates to a less dry impact — the ball stays on the face a fraction longer, giving you feedback on exactly where you struck it.

The EVA BALANCE core works in the same register. It has enough body to stop your volley block from collapsing, but it won't hammer your elbow through the first set. On a cut bandeja it gives back a clean, controlled response, without the springy rebound that throws off your shot height.

The 38mm frame is wider than usual and spreads stiffness evenly across the structure. Add V-Core and Power Flex Fiber technology working through the frame, and the feel stays consistent — no obvious dead spots in the lower half of the face.

ESF Spin and Pro EVO: How the Texture Translates Into Real Spin

The sandy ESF Spin surface, combined with the Pro EVO hole pattern, is engineered to boost ball grip. On court, it shows up most in two shots:

1. **Vibora**: the sidespin bites harder, sending the ball out with extra rotation that kicks away toward the back glass.
2. **Dropshot and cut lob**: the added grip lets you check the ball's pace with less risk of it running long.
3. **Cut serve**: the texture helps the ball die near the side wall instead of sitting up.

Like any textured surface, it wears down — after two or three months of heavy play the bite softens and you'll need to adjust your technique.

Where the Rocket Shines and Where It Falls Short on Court

It shines in constructed net play. Volley blocks, transition bandejas, cross-court viboras — this is where the Prince Rocket gives you seriously reliable directional control. The wide sweet spot of the round shape forgives off-centre contact, which is a real asset on quick volleys when your positioning isn't perfectly side-on.

On defence, the medium balance and the round shape's quick spin help on low wall exits and last-second adjustments. You can correct the racket face angle with your wrist without feeling like you're dragging dead weight.

It falls short on the smash. Contained ball exit means the flat smash and the kill shot rely almost entirely on your own technique and arm speed — the racket won't add extra metres for you. Anyone looking to close out points with a smash will feel it's missing that final push a more reactive rubber gives in a teardrop or diamond shape.

It also struggles on the long defensive lob at a slower tempo. If you're under pressure and need depth without much backswing, you'll have to work harder than you would with a faster-exit racket.

Player Profile and Ideal Partner

This suits the backhand-side player who builds from the back, sustains the rally, and comes to net once the point is set up. If your game plan is patience and placement to force the error, this Prince model fits right in.

As a doubles partner, it pairs well with a forehand player running a more aggressive racket: you hold the rally and control the ball height, they finish points. If both players run pure-control rackets, points drag on and you'll need to be in serious physical shape.

The 340-355 g range isn't light. Anyone coming from a racket under 355 g at the lower end should demo this one first — by the third hour on court, that weight adds up.

Final Verdict on the Prince Rocket

This racket delivers exactly what it promises: control, a generous sweet spot, and real spin thanks to the ESF Spin surface. The EVA BALANCE core does its job of tempering power without turning into a hard, pure-competition rubber.

What it isn't: a power player's racket. If your game is built around smashing and closing points in two shots, this Prince model's ball exit will frustrate you. If your game is built around placement, cutting the ball, and waiting for the opponent's error, you've got a precise tool in your hand.

There's also the Prince Rocket Tattoo, which shares the EVA Balance core and the Pro EVO, ESF Spin and V-Core technologies, also aimed at the demanding player — a solid alternative within the same family if you're after a different finish.

Practical tip: demo it fresh-armed, then again when your arm is tired. It's in that second scenario that a control racket with a 38mm frame and medium rubber really shows whether it's the one for you.