Vibor-a Taipan Liquid Edition 2023

Pros

• ✓Pairing 12K carbon faces with a soft EVA core gives a crisp, direct feel on contact without punishing your elbow, which you'll appreciate through long sessions of cut bandejas. The sandy, 3D-textured surface really bites into the ball: cross-court viboras and sliced smashes come off with a lower, livelier bounce than you'd expect from such a versatile shape. The medium balance in a teardrop shape keeps it quick through reaction volleys and grip changes at the net, without the head-heavy inertia of a top-loaded teardrop. A centred, generous sweet spot for its shape forgives slightly off-centre contact on defensive wall exits, where a more demanding teardrop would already be sending vibration up your arm. The 360-375g weight range lets you dial in either an agile setup for solid defence or a heavier build that adds extra punch on flat smashes.

Cons

• ✗Players chasing a one-shot point-ender will miss some top-end power: the soft EVA core soaks up part of the energy the 12K carbon would otherwise return. The sandy texture loses bite with use; once the surface polishes down, the cutting effect on the vibora drops noticeably. Being an all-rounder means it doesn't excel at any single shot: anyone playing a fixed backhand looking for raw power will find more specialised rackets out there. The 38mm frame and medium balance demand technique: on the smash off the back wall the racket helps you along, but it won't bail out a late setup.

The Vibor-a Taipan Liquid Edition 2023 targets advanced players with consolidated technique who want more performance without yet moving to a pure competition racket. Its teardrop shape shifts the sweet spot slightly upwards, striking a balance between control and power. The medium balance keeps a balanced behaviour between baseline shots and volleys. Its 360-375g weight range places it in the medium-weight group, the most common among amateur players.

Vibor-a Taipan Liquid Edition 2023 review: 12K carbon meets EVA Soft in a teardrop shape

12K carbon and a soft EVA core: the Vibor-a Taipan Liquid Edition 2023 pulls two materials in opposite directions inside a teardrop body, with a 38mm frame and a weight range of 360 to 375 grams.

The matte finish with sandy texture and 3D relief rounds off a racket built for fast, aggressive padel — while still keeping the ball under control once the point drags on.

What does 12K carbon over an EVA Soft core actually give you?

12K carbon cloth is stiff and reacts fast: contact time shortens, the ball exits sooner, and the feedback reaching your hand is very direct. That crisp touch is exactly what lets you drop a bandeja a foot from the back glass without guessing.

The catch with a face like that on its own is harshness — it beats up your arm. The EVA Soft underneath acts as a shock absorber: it soaks up part of the impact, stretches the contact time by a fraction, and smooths out the vibration on the way back.

The result is a padel racket that feels firm on the strike but easy on the hand. It also explains why this isn't a racket built for maximum power: some of the energy the 12K would otherwise return gets swallowed by the rubber.

Teardrop shape, medium balance, 38mm frame: where's the sweet spot?

Teardrop shapes usually pack mass into the upper-mid face, but here the balance is medium rather than head-heavy. That shifts the sweet spot toward the geometric centre and makes it more forgiving than you'd expect for the shape.

On court that shows up in two ways. First, the racket turns over quickly — you get to reaction volleys and mid-air grip switches without fighting the swingweight. Second, the flat smash asks for more arm than a head-heavy teardrop would.

The 38mm frame adds lateral stiffness and keeps the face stable on off-centre hits, which really shows on rushed wall exits, when you strike with your body out of position.

Power racket or control racket?

It's a genuine all-rounder, not an extreme in either direction. The Vibor-a Taipan Liquid Edition 2023 delivers high but contained power thanks to the soft core, with control edging slightly ahead and solid, if not explosive, ball exit. It's built for attacking and building points, not for living off the winner.

Shot by shot: where it shines and where it falls short

• **Bandeja and vibora:** its best terrain. The sandy, 3D-textured surface really grips the ball and lets you genuinely slice it; the cross-court vibora comes off with a low bounce that stays lively after it hits the ground.
• **Smash by the back wall (remate por 3) and kick smash:** works if you set up early. The medium balance forces you to add arm speed, but in return you get precision to hunt the angle instead of hoping for the best.
• **Flat smash:** this is where the ceiling shows. It adds pace, but it won't blow the point open against a well-positioned opponent.
• **Defence and wall exits:** comfortable. The EVA Soft and the centred sweet spot forgive late contact and make the deep lob easier to produce.
• **Volleys:** crisp, predictable response, with solid blocking on the counter-attack volley thanks to the frame's stiffness.

Taipan Liquid Edition 2023 specs

Who is this racket for?

Players with solid technique who work both sides of the court. The ideal profile is an advanced player who attacks off the bandeja and vibora, mixes up heights, and doesn't rely on a single go-to smash.

It also suits a progressing intermediate-to-advanced player after a demanding but not punishing racket: the soft core and centred sweet spot give you margin while you're still refining your contact.

As a doubles pairing, it works well alongside a partner running a more powerful, specialised racket, since this Vibor-a option is built for construction and closes points through placement and spin rather than brute force.

Who won't love it: the pure ball-basher who judges a racket purely on flat smash output. There, the EVA Soft noticeably eats into the pace.

Verdict: real balance, with a clear power ceiling

The Vibor-a Taipan Liquid Edition 2023 delivers on what its construction promises: a rigid face for precision, a soft rubber for comfort, and a sandy surface that amplifies spin on cut shots.

Its two honest limits are a lower power ceiling than stiffer rackets and the gradual wear of that texture, which loses bite the more court time it clocks up.

If you want a manageable teardrop racket that lets you play fast and vary height and spin throughout the match, this one fits the bill. If your game plan is smashing your way to the win, look at a racket with a harder core.