Starvie Astrum Soft

Technologies

Pros

• ✓The sweet spot is massive: the round shape plus Full Plane Effect means an off-center ball in a defensive volley still comes out with direction instead of dying into the net The low-density Soft 30 rubber stretches out contact time, giving you ball exit on deep lobs and tight wall exits without having to rush your swing The Noene Inside in the handle soaks up to 96% of negative impact energy — a genuine option if you're carrying elbow or shoulder niggles The star-shaped texture is molded in, not applied as a coating, so the bite you get on chiquitas and viboras with cut holds up over far more hours on court Medium balance with a 38 mm frame: it whips around fast at the net for stringing together volleys, yet stays steady when you need to block a heavy ball

Cons

• ✗With Soft 30 rubber and a medium balance, a flat smash down the line needs arm behind it — the racket helps, but it won't hand you that last bit of pace a stiffer profile gives Players coming from harder rubbers will notice the softer, spongier feel on blocked volleys against a fast smash, missing that crisp, immediate feedback you get from a firmer response The weight range runs from 350 to 385 g, and that changes the racket completely: at the top end, your arm pays for it from the third set onward

The Starvie Astrum Soft 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. Its 350-385g weight range places it in the medium-weight group, the most common among amateur players.

Round-shaped, built around Soft 30 rubber and a double layer of 15K aluminized carbon, the StarVie Astrum Soft is designed to send the ball out on its own. A 38 mm frame, a 350-385 g weight range and a face treated with Full Plane Effect all point to an intermediate player who wants control and comfort without fighting the racket on every ball.

Double 15K aluminized carbon over soft rubber: what it feels like in hand

15K carbon uses a thicker weave, less stiff than fine-gauge layups, and here it's mounted in a double layer with an aluminized treatment. The direct result is a face that flexes progressively instead of firing the ball straight back.

That flex, combined with the low-density EVA Soft 30 core, stretches out contact time. The payoff is a ball that climbs and carries deep with minimal effort, plus noticeably less return vibration than you'd get from a stiffer profile.

Star Balance keeps the mass distribution centered rather than loading up the head. That's why this padel racket still maneuvers quickly at close range despite carrying a 38 mm frame, which is what gives it lateral stiffness when contact drifts toward the edges.

Is the StarVie Astrum Soft a control racket or a power racket?

It's an all-court racket with a clear lean toward control. The round shape and medium balance keep the sweet spot concentrated in the geometric center of the face, prioritizing precision and ball exit over raw pace. It hits fine, but power has to be built through your swing and technique, not handed to you.

Shot by shot: where it shines and where it comes up short

Bandeja and vibora. This is where it's at its best. The soft touch lets you slice the ball without fear of it running long, and the star-shaped texture grips just enough for the vibora to bounce and pull opponents off the court. Expect more bite than raw speed on the vibora.

Smash. A flat smash down the line works if you've got the arm and the timing. The rubber compresses and rebounds, but it won't give you the final punch a denser EVA core produces. For kick smashes and tighter angles, though, the surface grip makes up for a good chunk of that lost pop.

Defense and wall exits. This is its real strength. Balls glued to the glass, lobs from the back and mid-height counters come out deep with barely any effort. Even when you're rushed and catch the ball low on the face, it still clears the net with room to spare.

Volley. Comfortable on directional volleys and touch shots dropped short. It loses a bit of bite on blocked volleys against a fast smash, where the spongier feel takes away some of the feedback on what just happened.

Noene Inside: why this racket shows up on elbow-friendly recommendation lists

Noene Inside sits in the handle and absorbs up to 96% of negative impact energy. That's not a minor marketing line — combined with the soft rubber and the flex of the 15K carbon, the full damping chain noticeably cuts down what reaches your wrist, elbow and shoulder.

For players grinding through three or four matches a week, or coming back from tennis elbow, that combination weighs more in the buying decision than any gain in raw power.

StarVie Astrum Soft specs

Who should actually buy this StarVie racket?

It suits the intermediate player who's already comfortable with the bandeja and wants reliability over fireworks. It also fits veteran players who need ball exit without forcing the arm, and anyone on a fast court who'd rather control the point than speed it up.

As a doubles pairing, it works best alongside a partner who takes on the finishing role — this racket performs better building the point, covering the middle and waiting for the short ball than closing out points from the back.

If you already hit naturally hard and want a racket that gives pace back, this soft profile is going to leave you wanting more on the smash.

Verdict: comfort and forgiveness over firepower

The StarVie Astrum Soft delivers exactly what its name promises. The double-layer 15K aluminized carbon paired with Soft 30 produces a forgiving, comfortable racket with a sweet spot that's hard to miss, and Noene Inside turns it into a serious tool for players managing arm issues.

The trade-off is top-end power: anyone looking to close out points with a flat, vertical smash will find themselves asking for more than it gives. If your game runs through lobs, bandejas, viboras and patience, the equation works in your favor.

Choose your weight carefully within the 350-385 g range: the lighter end buys you maneuverability at the net, the heavier end buys stability against a heavy ball.