Adidas Metalbone HRD+ 3.4 2025

Technologies

Pros

• ✓The aluminised 16K carbon face delivers explosive stiffness that translates directly into flat smashes with high ball exit speed — particularly on the diagonal smash and loaded bandeja. The Weight & Balance System lets you add up to 11.2g of redistributable ballast between the handle and the head, a level of balance customisation that is genuinely unusual among competition-level rackets. The High Memory core responds with a dry, decisive rebound on cut volleys and bandejas, giving up no energy even at maximum swing speed. The combination of Power Groove and Octagonal Structure on the frame reduces torsion on off-centre impacts, keeping the racket stable on smashes from forced angles. The Spin Blade face texture adds extra bite on the vibora and sliced lob, generating spin without requiring any change in stroke mechanics.

Cons

• ✗The head-heavy balance and hard face demand very precise timing when defending off the glass — arriving late to the ball is penalised with noticeable vibration and loss of directional control. The hard profile does not absorb: in long rallies under pressure, the 16K face returns the ball with so much energy that unforced errors increase for players with technically inconsistent groundstrokes. With the ballast maxed out (~371g), the racket loads the forearm in demanding three-set matches; the customisation system requires pre-match calibration before competing.

The Adidas Metalbone HRD+ 3.4 2025 is designed for competition or pro-level players who prioritise performance and precision over comfort. 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. The hard build favours explosive shots, especially bandeja and smash, but demands more technique. With a weight of 345-360g, it sits among the lighter rackets on the market: easier to swing and less stressful on the elbow.

Ale Galán's 2025 weapon of choice: the Adidas Metalbone HRD+ 3.4

The Adidas Metalbone HRD+ 3.4 is Ale Galán's competition racket for the 2025 season. A 38mm diamond shape, 345–360g base weight, aluminised 16K carbon face and High Memory core: a pure attacking setup that leaves no doubt about its intentions.

Aluminised 16K carbon and High Memory: the material pairing that defines the HRD+ 3.4

The aluminised 16K carbon face hardens the striking surface by weaving aluminium into the carbon layers. At 16,000 filaments per tow, the weave is denser and less deformable than a standard 12K, and you feel that difference on contact: the energy you put in converts directly into ball exit speed, with no perceptible dampening. The ball does not dwell on the face — it launches.

The High Memory core — the densest EVA in the Adidas catalogue — closes the equation. Minimal deformation under impact, high energy restitution: the response is dry, direct and predictable when the strike is clean. Together, the 16K carbon face and High Memory core form the most aggressive material pairing in the Metalbone range.

How the Metalbone HRD+ 3.4 performs across the court

Smash and bandeja: where it dominates without compromise

The head-heavy balance adds rotational inertia to the downward swing. The diagonal smash and loaded bandeja generate high ball exit speed with minimal energy loss. The Spin Blade texture on the face decal — a dedicated surface treatment for spin generation — adds extra bite on the vibora and sliced lob without requiring any change in swing mechanics.

At the net: demands position, rewards precision

The perimeter Power Groove and the frame's Octagonal Structure maintain rigidity during rapid volley exchanges. But the head-heavy balance demands that you are set before contact: defensive block volleys at pace are perfectly manageable; soft placement volleys require more touch than the racket naturally invites.

Back court and defence: the price of attack

This is where the HRD+ 3.4 makes explicit concessions. The hard face and High Memory core do not absorb — they return the ball with energy even when that is not the tactical goal. Defending off the glass demands a technically clean stroke to redirect with control. Players who build points patiently from the back court will find this racket pushes when they want to hold back.

Weight & Balance System, Power Groove and Octagonal Structure: the frame engineering

The most distinctive feature of the HRD+ 3.4 is not the face or the core — it is the Weight & Balance System. A system of integrated bolts and washers lets you add up to 11.2g of redistributable ballast between the handle and the head. On the 345–360g base weight, that takes the ceiling to approximately 371g. Shifting that weight from head to handle changes the balance profile without changing rackets: more weight in the head amplifies smash inertia; more weight in the handle restores maneuverability on defence.

Power Groove is the perimeter rail running around the frame that increases longitudinal stiffness and reduces torsion on off-centre impacts. Octagonal Structure complements this with an octagonal frame cross-section that acts as a geometric anchor for the carbon face, resisting torsion through shape rather than purely through material hardness. Low Poly applies a polyhedral design to the core and frame to further improve torsion resistance through internal geometry.

The result is a structurally rigid package that amplifies energy on every clean impact.

Who should play the HRD+ 3.4 — and who should not

The HRD+ 3.4 works if: - You play at advanced or competition level and the smash, bandeja and vibora are your regular finishing shots - Your swing is technically consistent and you arrive at impact with time and position - You want to customise the balance for different match conditions without switching rackets - Your preferred position is the net and you need a racket that will not give under full-speed smashes

It works against you if: - You construct points from the back court and need the racket to absorb and redirect comfortably under pressure - Your fitness does not sustain your timing deep into a three-set match — head-heavy balance under fatigue translates directly into imprecision and extra forearm load - You use the glass wall as an active tactical tool: the hard face is unforgiving on late arrivals off the wall - You are still developing your smash technique: this racket amplifies what you already have, it will not teach you what is missing

Adidas Metalbone HRD+ 3.4 2025 verdict

The HRD+ 3.4 is the most aggressive Metalbone in the 2025 Adidas line-up. The aluminised 16K carbon face and High Memory core turn every clean contact into a real threat from the net and overhead; the Weight & Balance System adds a level of balance customisation that is unusual in this segment. The main drawback: its hardness profile punishes shots under pressure, where unfiltered ball exit can quickly become unforced errors. A racket for players who already know when and how to finish.

How much does the Adidas Metalbone HRD+ 3.4 weigh with the ballast system maxed out?

The Metalbone HRD+ 3.4 base range is 345–360g. With the Weight & Balance System at its maximum setting, up to 11.2g of redistributable ballast can be added, bringing total weight to approximately 371g. The distribution between head and handle is adjustable without additional tools, allowing you to shift the balance point to suit each match.

What does HRD+ mean in the Adidas Metalbone HRD+ 3.4 2025?

The HRD+ designation identifies the material configuration: aluminised 16K carbon face, high-density High Memory core and the integrated Weight & Balance System. It is the version that concentrates the highest ball exit speed materials and the greatest balance customisation within Ale Galán's 2025 Metalbone line.