Set Tala

Technologies

Pros

• ✓The 18K carbon faces send the ball back with a crisp, dry response and no cushioning in between — you feel it on the smash de tres and on the vibora, where the ball leaves the face faster than you expect. The 3D Glossy Finish bites hard: topspin with real kick and sliced, chopped shots come off with genuine rotation from the first match, no need to break in the surface first. The Black Eva Soft Ultra core offsets the head-heavy balance and lets the ball climb on its own in defensive lobs, so you're not stuck generating all the pace yourself. With 360-365 g concentrated up top, the head drops naturally into the flat smash — a relaxed wrist still gets full acceleration without straining the shoulder.

Cons

• ✗That head-heavy balance on a diamond shape punishes you off the back wall: arrive a fraction late and the head lags behind, dumping the ball into the net. The sweet spot is tight and sits high on the face, so off-centre volley blocks lose a lot of pop and fall short. Mass up top paired with 18K faces sends vibration into the elbow on mishits — not a racket to reach for if you've had tennis elbow issues. Without a stable, well-timed smash technique, that raw power turns into long balls off the opponent's back glass rather than won points.

The Set Tala targets advanced players with consolidated technique who want more performance without yet moving to a pure competition racket. Its diamond shape moves the sweet spot to the top of the face, giving more leverage and power at the cost of some tolerance. The high balance adds weight to the swing and pushes the racket toward an offensive profile. Its 360-365g weight range places it in the medium-weight group, the most common among amateur players.

The Set Tala pairs 18K carbon faces, 360-365 g of weight and a flexible BICARBON Chassis on a diamond shape with a high balance. Within Set's range — the Spanish brand's 2023-2025 collection — this is the most aggressive racket in the catalogue, the one that makes no secret of being built to close out points at the net.

Why the 18K carbon on the Set Tala isn't just for show

18K carbon is a dense-weave fabric: the face barely flexes on impact, giving back a short, dry response with none of that softer give you get from a more forgiving surface.

That weave sits on a BICARBON Chassis designed as a flexible structure. The frame absorbs some torsion on off-centre hits while the face stays stiff exactly where you strike it — which is why the Set Tala doesn't feel quite as harsh as its spec sheet suggests.

The 3D Glossy Finish adds real texture to that surface. It's among the most pronounced grip textures on the market right now, and it shows in the bite: topspin grabs the ball and sliced shots hold on just enough for the vibora to come off with real revs from match one. Rounding out the build is the Ultra Grip handle.

Black Eva Soft Ultra: the rubber that keeps the Tala from playing like a brick

The core is a soft EVA, the Black Eva Soft Ultra, and it's the technical call that makes everything else playable. The rubber compresses, the ball stays on the face a fraction longer, and it leaves with height of its own.

That's why ball exit is notably good for a racket with this balance — you don't have to supply all the pace yourself, which pays off on defensive lobs from three metres behind the line.

The honest caveat: soft EVA paired with an 18K face doesn't translate into a plush feel. The overall sensation is firm, medium-to-high in stiffness, much closer to a clean, dry strike than a cushioned one.

How does the Set Tala play shot by shot?

Smash de tres and flat smash. This padel racket's home turf. The head-heavy mass lets the head drop on its own and the 18K transmits impact with zero loss; get the timing right and the ball goes out for three without needing to muscle the grip.

Vibora and bandeja. The vibora is where shape and texture combine best — it comes out with sharp bite and a low bounce. The bandeja demands early prep, since the top-heavy balance slows how quickly the racket sets up; given time, though, it drops the ball with ease.

Volleys. The sweet spot isn't generous. Centred volleys come out deep with real bite, but off-centre blocks — the reflex volley at hip height after a rival smash — bleed power and fall short.

Defence and off-the-back-wall shots. Here's where the toll is paid. The lob works thanks to the soft EVA, but a rushed exit off the back wall demands you get the arm out front early: arrive late and the head lags, and the response dies in the net.

What level of player is the Set Tala built for?

The Set Tala is built for advanced players with a developed arm and stable smash technique. Its diamond shape, high balance and 360-365 g demand early preparation and centred contact. In return, it delivers power a round-shaped racket simply can't match. This isn't a beginner or transitional model.

Set Tala specs at a glance

Where this racket will cost you

Two things worth knowing before you buy.

First is maneuverability. With weight concentrated up top, quick net exchanges and hip-height counters run half a beat behind compared with a neutral-balance racket.

Second is vibration. 18K faces plus top-heavy mass transmit plenty into the forearm on off-centre contact. It shows up by the third set of a tight match, and anyone with a history of elbow trouble should test it before buying.

Player profile and ideal partner

1. An advanced player who attacks from the net and looks to finish with a smash de tres or vibora rather than grind out the rally.
2. A backhand built around topspin: the 3D surface returns spin in an obvious, tangible way.
3. Ideal partner: someone who can sustain the long rally with a more maneuverable racket, leaving the Tala to play finisher on whichever side closes out the point.
4. Profile to avoid: a blocking, positional player, or anyone still building their smash technique.

Verdict: advanced-level power that costs you at the wrist

The Set Tala delivers exactly what its build promises. The 18K faces give a crisp, dry response, the BICARBON Chassis smooths out torsion, and the Black Eva Soft Ultra keeps the racket from demanding a gym-honed arm to move the ball.

In return, it demands technique: a tight sweet spot, limited maneuverability and little tolerance for off-centre hits. It's a smart buy if your game already lives up at net and you're chasing more firepower; it's a poor one if what you actually need is control on defence and forgiveness on your misses.