Adipower Ctrl 3.2

Technologies

Pros

• ✓Dual eXoskeleton, with double-height carbon ribs running through core and frame, keeps the hitting surface rock-steady on cut bandejas and blocked volleys against heavy balls, with no perceptible twist The round shape places the sweet spot dead centre and forgives far more than a diamond-shaped PRO racket: on rushed wall exits the ball keeps its direction The Carbon Aluminized 15K face and Spin Blade give real bite on the ball: the vibora and the cut smash into the back glass come out with visible spin, not just pace 460 cm² of hitting surface over a 45.5 cm length give you margin on blocks and low volleys, where a narrower-faced racket punishes millimetre errors Medium-low balance at 360-375 g: the racket whips through net exchanges fast and lets you correct a backhand off the back wall on the fly

Cons

• ✗The EVA High Memory rubber paired with the 15K face is genuinely stiff: in cold conditions or with a new ball and no rhythm, ball exit is hard work and you have to put your arm into it The medium-low balance takes away swing weight on the smash by 3 and the flat smash; if you want to close points on raw power, you'll have to generate it yourself This isn't a racket for delicate arms: the dry, direct response of the 38 mm frame plus hard core combo transmits vibration whenever the ball hits off-centre On deep defensive lobs the setup demands clean technique; a late take-back means a short ball that hands the net straight to your opponents

adidas adipower ctrl 3.2: the round-shaped PRO racket that puts precision before pace

The adipower ctrl 3.2 is the control-oriented read within adidas's PRO range: round shape, Carbon Aluminized 15K face, EVA High Memory core, 38 mm frame, and a weight of 360-375 g with a medium-low balance. On paper it looks like a contradiction — a rubber usually associated with power packed into a chassis built for direction — and on court it works precisely because of that tension.

Why does a PRO padel racket go round-shaped?

adidas chose the round shape deliberately, to widen the sweet spot compared with the diamond-shaped models in the same family. With 460 cm² of hitting surface spread over 45.5 cm of length, the effective centre sits right where the arm instinctively looks for it — the geometric middle of the racket.

That changes the nature of mishits. On a diamond racket, half a centimetre off-centre is a dead ball; here there's still usable response, even if the feel through your hand tells you it wasn't a clean strike.

That doesn't make it an easy racket. It's a demanding racket that simply refused to punish the player twice.

Dual eXoskeleton and Spin Blade: what each technology brings

Dual eXoskeleton builds in double-height carbon ribs through both the core and the frame. In practice that means structural rigidity: the hitting surface doesn't twist when you block an opponent's vibora at mid-height or when a heavy ball comes into your backhand volley.

Spin Blade works on the face surface, adding texture to boost ball rotation. Combined with the rough finish of the aluminized carbon, the effect is tangible on the cut smash into the back glass and on the vibora, where the ball bites and drops earlier.

The Smart Holes Curve pattern organises the perforations across the face, and Structural Reinforcement ties everything together by beefing up the chassis's highest-stress zones.

The 15K + EVA High Memory combo: how it actually feels

The Carbon Aluminized 15K face delivers a dry, direct response with no perceptible flex. Underneath, the EVA High Memory rubber snaps back into shape fast after impact, which translates into instant energy return but a very short contact time.

That short contact time is exactly where the precision comes from. The ball leaves the face sooner, with less room for your hand to steer it off-line — which is why the racket directs a bandeja to the side glass so cleanly.

The flip side is honest: it's tough to get going. Without match rhythm, with a new ball and in the cold, you need to put arm into it to get depth on the ball.

adidas adipower ctrl 3.2 specs

Shot by shot: where it shines and where it leaves you exposed

Bandeja and vibora. This is home turf. The medium-low balance lets you take the racket back late and still arrive with a stable face; the textured surface adds the spin that pins the ball into the corner.

Smash by 3 and flat smash. Here the racket asks you to work. There's no head-heavy mass doing the job for you, so acceleration has to come from your shoulder and wrist. A player who smashes well makes the most of it; a player waiting for the racket to smash for them won't.

Wall exits. The widened sweet spot from the round shape rescues shots that other PRO rackets turn into short balls. With the ball hugging the glass, direction holds up.

Volleys. The rigid 38 mm chassis blocks without giving an inch. A blocked volley against a fast ball comes back deep with minimal swing.

Defence and lobs. Demands clean technique. Your take-back has to be on time, because the racket won't compensate with its own pop — a late-prepared lob comes up short.

Who is this padel racket built for?

The adipower ctrl 3.2 suits the advanced player who constructs the point: someone who hits tight down-the-lines, mixes bandeja and vibora to hold the net, and only accelerates when the ball sits above the tape.

The direct answer: it's a control racket with a firm feel, round shape and medium-low balance, built for advanced players with settled technique who prioritise precision and spin over raw power, and who generate their own racket-head speed rather than leaning on the material.

As a doubles pairing, it works well alongside a partner running a more aggressive-profile racket: this adidas model holds the net and places the ball, while the other side finishes points.

Anyone chasing easy ball exit, an arm-friendly feel, or a racket that forgives sloppy timing should look at softer rubbers and even lower balances instead.

Verdict: control with fine print

The adipower ctrl 3.2 delivers on its name. Dual eXoskeleton gives it the rigidity a directional racket needs, Spin Blade adds the spin that separates a returned ball from a winner, and the round shape stops being PRO from meaning being unplayable.

What it won't do is give you anything for free. The stiff rubber and medium-low balance combine into a package that demands physicality and clean technique on every single shot.

If your game is built on placement, cutting the ball and waiting for the high one, this racket will back you up. If your plan is to end points with a flat smash from the back of the court, there are more generous chassis out there for that job.