Adidas Granite CTRL 2.0 2024

Pros

• ✓Soft Performance EVA rubber gives you a wonderfully generous ball exit on blocks and change-of-pace volleys — you barely need to follow through for the ball to clear the net with height The fiberglass face soaks up vibration far better than a rigid carbon face, and over a long three-set match your elbow and shoulder feel the difference on every repeated bandeja Mid balance and 360-375g add up to a racket that's quick through the air at net — you get to the low volley and the counter-vibora in time without dragging the head The rough surface bites into the ball nicely on lifted lobs and cut dropshots, where spin makes up for what's missing in ball speed The sweet spot sits right where you'd expect it: off the back wall and on returns, the bounce is slow and predictable, which makes it easier to place the ball rather than improvise

Cons

• ✗Power is limited: the flat smash off a 3-meter lob comes out light, so you need solid technique and coordination to close out points overhead instead of waiting for your opponent's mistake The round shape concentrates the sweet spot around the geometric center and is less forgiving toward the tip than a teardrop shape — exactly where a lot of players make contact on the bandeja The soft, medium-density core loses consistency on very crisp, dry shots — a hard hitter may find it overly cushioned and lacking pop The 38mm frame and control-oriented profile leave it short for advanced players looking for a racket that lets them finish points on power alone

Fiberglass face, a soft rubber core and a 38mm profile: the Adidas Granite CTRL 2.0 2024 gives up raw power in favor of a round-shaped padel racket built around precision and comfort. At 360-375g with mid balance, a Soft Performance EVA core and a rough-textured surface, every piece of engineering here points the same way: control over ball speed.

This is a control racket in the truest sense. The bounce is slow, the contact point lands exactly where you expect it, and your arm won't be sending you a bill after three sets.

Who should actually be playing with the Adidas Granite CTRL 2.0?

It's built for intermediate players who value placement over power, with enough forgiveness for beginners who already strike the ball on-center. The round shape, mid balance and soft core make blocking and volleying easy, but you'll need to bring your own technique to generate pace — this racket won't hit winners for you.

Fiberglass and Soft Performance EVA: what each layer brings to the table

The fiberglass face is more flexible and less stiff than the high-end carbon faces built for pure pop. It flexes a touch more on contact, holds the ball a fraction of a second longer, and gives back a cushioned response — none of that harsh "thwack" that beats up your joints.

Underneath, the Soft Performance EVA core sits on the soft side of medium density. That combination explains the racket's standout trait: ball exit. On a defensive block you barely need to guide the shot for the ball to clear the net with height — a real gift if you play a lot of points from the back of the court.

The 38mm frame ties it all together. It's a classic control profile that stabilizes the hitting plane on volleys and cuts down on twisting when contact drifts slightly off-center.

And the rough surface handles the spin department: on lifted lobs and cut dropshots, the face grips the ball and makes up for some of what the racket doesn't offer in exit speed.

Granite CTRL 2.0 specs at a glance

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

Net play is where this adidas model feels most at home. The mid balance and 360-375g weight let you whip the racket through quickly and get to the low volley or the crossed reflex volley in time. The block volley comes out deep almost on its own, while the attacking volley needs your body behind it rather than relying on the racket to do the pushing.

The bandeja holds up well as long as you stay centered. The 38mm profile keeps the face stable through the cut, and the rough texture helps the ball die against the side wall. Something similar happens with the vibora: the spin is there, the pace isn't.

The smash is its weak point. The flat kill off a 3-meter lob comes out without the weight needed to close the point against a solid defender, and the kick smash demands a lot of wrist and shoulder technique to get the ball to jump over the net. Anyone who likes to finish points on raw power will get frustrated.

On defense, though, it all comes together:

1. **Off the back wall**: the slow bounce gives you time to set your body and send the ball back clean.
2. **Lob**: the rough surface and soft rubber let you lift the ball deep without overhitting it.
3. **Counter-dropshot**: the cushioned feel makes it easy to gauge the short ball with a relaxed arm.

Is it an elbow-friendly padel racket?

Yes. The fiberglass face paired with the Soft Performance EVA rubber filters out a good chunk of impact vibration, making it a sensible pick for players dealing with elbow or shoulder discomfort, or for anyone stacking multiple matches a week.

That comfort comes with a trade-off: hard hitters looking for an explosive response will find it overly muted.

The sweet spot nuance worth knowing about

The usual talk around round-shaped rackets is that they have a wide hitting zone. That's true — the sweet spot is centered and generous within that zone — but the round shape is less forgiving toward the tip than an equivalent teardrop shape.

On court, that means: if your bandeja tends to make contact above the ideal plane, you'll notice a drop in control and feel. Hit it centered, though, and the Granite CTRL 2.0 responds with remarkable consistency.

Player profile and ideal partner

The natural fit for this padel racket is the intermediate, technical player who builds the point patiently: deep lobs, bandejas to hold the net, volleys at the feet, and waiting for the opponent's error.

As a pairing, it works well next to a partner with a more aggressive racket who takes on the finishing shots: one player sustains and places, the other closes it out.

It's not the right call for a heavy-hitting backhand player looking for a racket to do the work for them, nor for advanced players who need power in reserve when it's time to close out a point.

What you gain and what you give up

You get a comfortable, maneuverable racket with a generous ball exit and soft feel, a manageable 360-375g weight, and a 38mm profile that stabilizes your volleys. What you give up is power: closing out points overhead will come down to your technique, not the racket.

If your priority is comfortable play, precise placement, and holding up through long matches without punishing your arm, the Adidas Granite CTRL 2.0 2024 delivers exactly what it promises. If you're chasing ball speed on the smash, look toward a stiffer profile with a harder rubber instead.