Prince Rocket Black Tattoo

Technologies

Pros

• ✓The EVA Balance core soaks up vibration for a cushioned, arm-friendly feel through long matches, especially on blocked volleys against balls with real pace The round shape and medium balance keep the sweet spot right in the geometric centre: miss a bandeja by 3 cm high or low and the response barely changes The 38 mm frame with V-Core construction delivers a comfortable ball exit from defensive positions, so you're not forced to speed up your arm swing to get the ball out of the back court The sandy face with ESF Spin bites well on sliced shots and on the kick serve, letting you open up angles with spin without needing to generate extreme racket speed The Pro EVO hole pattern and the 335-355 g weight range let you pick a livelier build or a slightly more solid one depending on the player's hand

Cons

• ✗Medium balance on a round shape caps the flat smash by 3: the racket goes along for the ride but adds no extra mass on impact, so all the racket speed has to come from the arm EVA Balance isn't an explosive rubber; on a tight vibora down the glass you'll get less ball exit than with the harder cores found in advanced-segment models The sandy face loses grit with heavy use on outdoor courts, and with it some of the bite that defines it on sliced shots An advanced player with a long, flowing swing may find it comes up short on reach when trying to close out points from mid-court

The Prince Rocket Black Tattoo 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 335-355g, it sits among the lighter rackets on the market: easier to swing and less stressful on the elbow.

Prince Rocket Black Tattoo Review: The 38 mm Round Racket Built Around the Sweet Spot

The Prince Rocket Black Tattoo is a round-shape padel racket weighing 335-355 g, built with a 3K carbon face (Carbon Tech), an EVA Balance core and a 38 mm frame, part of the Prince 2023/2024 lineup. Four technologies define it: Pro EVO in the hole pattern, ESF Spin on the textured surface, V-Core in the internal build, and Carbon Tech on the hitting face.

This isn't a racket chasing power headlines. It's a consistency tool for the intermediate player who wants to miss less and place more.

Who Should Play With the Prince Rocket Black Tattoo?

It's built for the intermediate, all-round player, and it holds up well for those pushing into intermediate-advanced territory. The mix of round shape, medium balance and EVA Balance core makes for a forgiving racket: the sweet spot is wide and off-centre hits don't cost you much.

If you're playing two or three times a week, rotating position on court, and your priority is not giving away cheap points, this padel racket fits the bill. If your game leans on closing points with a flat smash from the back, you'll find it limiting.

Spec Sheet

Carbon Tech Meets EVA Balance: Why Touch Comes First

3K carbon is a more open weave than 12K or 18K. On court that means a softer face, more flex on contact, and a more progressive response. The ball stays on the strings a fraction longer, and that's exactly what creates the sensation of control.

The EVA Balance core pulls in the same direction. It's a medium-density foam that filters out vibration and stops that harsh kickback hitting your forearm. Over an hour and a half against opponents hitting with real weight, the difference versus a hard EVA core shows up in your wrist and elbow.

The V-Core construction and 38 mm frame round out the package. A 38 mm profile offers more usable hitting surface than a 36 mm one, and on a round-shape racket that stretches the effective striking zone even further.

Shot-by-Shot: Where It Shines and Where It Falls Short

Ball exit off the back wall. This is where it's at its best. The medium balance lets you turn the racket late, and the EVA Balance core clears the ball without demanding a long swing. You can defend a low backhand with a firm wrist and still get enough height to recover the net.

Bandeja. Very comfortable. The round shape forgives off-centre contact, and the sandy face with ESF Spin bites just enough to slice the ball and send it into the side glass with a low bounce. It's a shot this racket delivers over and over without losing anything.

Vibora. Solid, if unspectacular. The spin comes from the texture, but ball exit is moderate: if you're after a vibora that dies on the side bounce, you'll need to generate it with arm speed rather than expect the core to hand it to you.

Smash by 3. This is where the limits show. Without added weight up top or a firmer core, the flat smash comes out at a decent clip but without the extra punch that finishes points against opponents who defend well. It performs better going for the high bounce than for outright pace.

Volleys. Reliable. Blocking fast volleys is comfortable thanks to the core's cushioning, and the manoeuvrability lets you place drop volleys with precision.

What Does ESF Spin Add Over a Smooth Face?

ESF Spin is the sandy texturing on the surface. It boosts friction between face and ball, which translates into more revs on sliced and topspin shots. In practice you'll feel it in three spots: the sliced bandeja, the kick serve, and spin-heavy lobs that die deep.

The honest caveat: every sandy face loses grit over time, faster on outdoor courts with sand and dust around. The extra bite you get in month one isn't the same you'll have in month six.

Player Profile and Ideal Partner

This Prince model suits the player who holds down the backhand side and builds the point: it works well because the ball exit off the wall is comfortable and the wide sweet spot cuts down unforced errors in defence.

It also suits a drive-side player still refining their technique who doesn't want a racket that punishes every off-centre hit. As a pairing, it works well alongside a partner running a more aggressive racket who takes care of closing points at the net.

I wouldn't recommend it to a player who's already finishing points consistently from the net and wants a racket that adds that extra yard of pace. There, the medium balance and EVA Balance core work against you.

Verdict

The Prince Rocket Black Tattoo delivers exactly what it promises: a forgiving 38 mm round racket with a cushioned feel and good bite on spin shots. Its strength is reliability, not a power ceiling.

The 335-355 g weight range gives you room to choose: go lighter for a racket that's very manoeuvrable in defence, or heavier for more solidity on impact. Pick based on your swing speed, not on the weight you're used to with a different shape.

It's a sensible buy for consolidating an intermediate level. If your game already demands more ball exit on the vibora and the smash, look elsewhere.