Adidas Match 3.2 2023

Technologies

Pros

• ✓The Soft Performance EVA core practically returns the ball on its own during defensive lobs and blocking volleys — you don't need arm speed to dig it out from the back of the court The fibreglass face flexes on contact and soaks up vibration, which you'll feel on mistimed wall exits and off-frame hits The teardrop shape with mid balance spreads the sweet spot over a wide area, so off-centre backhand volleys still hold their line Structural Reinforcement adds stability to the 38 mm frame, so the racket doesn't twist in your hand when a bandeja lands slightly off-axis At 360-375 g with mid balance, you can close the swing in time during fast net exchanges without loading up the shoulder over long matches

Cons

• ✗The soft core eats up energy on the flat smash — if you're relying on power to close points from the back, the ball comes out with little weight behind it The smooth fibreglass face limits spin: the vibora and pinchada come out without the bite you'd get from a rougher surface The muted feel gives little feedback on contact, and a mid-to-high level player will miss crisp precision at the point of impact At 375 g toward the top of the range with a soft core, the racket feels a touch flat on demanding serves and returns

Adidas Match 3.2 2023 Review: The Forgiving Teardrop Racket for Beginners

The Adidas Match 3.2 2023 is a beginner padel racket weighing 360-375 g, built with a fibreglass face, a Soft Performance EVA core and a 38 mm profile. Its teardrop shape with mid balance and the frame's Structural Reinforcement define exactly what it's for: getting the ball back over the net with the least effort possible.

This isn't a racket built to reward power hitters. It's built to keep the point alive on your side of the net.

What level of player is the Adidas Match 3.2 built for?

Beginners, no question. The soft core, flexible face and generous sweet spot are designed for players who don't yet consistently strike the ball dead centre and need the racket to make up the difference.

Here's the honest read: the worse you're hitting the ball, the more this padel racket helps you. The better you get, the less it has to offer.

Fibreglass and soft EVA: why this combo gives you an easy ball exit

Fibreglass is a flexible material. On impact it deforms more than a carbon face, stores that deformation, and releases it as ball exit. On court, that translates directly: on a defensive lob from the back, body out of position, no real base under you, the ball still clears the net.

The Soft Performance EVA core points the same direction. A soft core takes longer to compress and decompress, which extends dwell time and softens what reaches your arm. In practice: less vibration on mishits, less strain on the elbow through your first seasons on court.

The trade-off for that softness is a lack of crisp response. On the flat smash, some of the energy you put in gets absorbed by the core deforming instead of converting into ball speed. The Match 3.2 doesn't hit — it carries.

What Structural Reinforcement actually does on this 38 mm frame

A 38 mm profile built from flexible materials has a known weak spot: torsion. When contact happens away from the central axis, the frame tends to twist in your hand and the ball flies off-target.

That's where the frame's Structural Reinforcement comes in. Its job isn't to add power — it's to add stability. You feel it most on the bandeja: catch the ball slightly toward the tip or the throat, and the face still holds its plane, sending the ball where you meant it to go, down the side wall.

It's a defensive technology, geared toward cutting unforced errors rather than adding performance.

Shot-by-shot breakdown

• **Wall exit:** its best terrain. The soft core and flexible face get the ball back even when you're rushed and hitting with no leg support.
• **Blocking volley:** comfortable and stable. The mid balance lets you set the face in time without relying on wrist snap.
• **Bandeja:** solid and forgiving. Comes out with reasonable height and depth, though without the aggressive bite you'd get from a rough surface.
• **Vibora and pinchada:** this is where it falls short. The smooth face grips the ball poorly, so sidespin is limited.
• **Flat smash:** the weak point. It lacks the crisp pop you need to close out points or go for a winning smash.
• **Defensive lob:** very easy to produce. Clears deep without needing arm speed.

Who this racket actually suits

This Adidas model fits players with under two seasons of experience, who still miss the sweet spot regularly and value keeping the ball in play over trying to finish points.

It also works well for anyone coming from another racket sport who wants to protect their elbow while they build their technique: 360-375 g with mid balance is easy to handle, and the muted feel cuts down on joint impact.

As a doubles partner, it pairs well with someone running a more attacking racket, since the Match 3.2 is happier building the point than putting it away.

Skip it if you're already smashing with intent, want real spin on your shots, or care about a crisp feel that tells you exactly where you made contact. At that level, this racket runs out of road and starts to feel flat.

Verdict: a learning tool, not a performance racket

The Adidas Match 3.2 2023 does exactly what it promises: it lowers the barrier to entry. Generous ball exit, a wide sweet spot, a soft feel, and a 38 mm frame kept honest by Structural Reinforcement.

What it won't do is grow with you past the beginner stage. Once your ball-striking settles down and you start chasing smash power and spin, you'll hit the ceiling of the fibreglass face and soft core sooner than you'd like.

As a first racket, it delivers exactly what it should, no gimmicks. As a mid-term racket to grow into, it comes with an expiry date.