Akkeron Black Excelsior Pro 25

Technologies

Pros

• ✓The rough K12 IMPACT face bites into the ball on víboras and cut bandejas from first contact, so the spin kicks in early and the ball dies before the back glass without you needing to overhit; a low-mid balance at 355-375g keeps the mass close to your hand, letting you close the face late off the wrist and reset fast in tight net exchanges; the EV20 Soft core soaks up high wall exits — where a hard rubber would jar the elbow with a dry rebound, this racket holds the ball and sends the recovery lob out deep with minimal effort; the sweet spot is unusually wide for a teardrop shape, so slightly low, central hits still come out with direction during baseline rallies; and the Power Boosting Layer plus Graphene Inside keep the touch consistent under heavy use, with a claimed 30% durability gain over an unreinforced carbon face.

Cons

• ✗This isn't the racket for a hitter who wants the smash to fire itself: with the mass concentrated near the grip, you have to supply the acceleration and body weight yourself; ball exit is honest rather than explosive, so scrambling defense and baseline lobs demand you follow through the shot more than a hard-rubber teardrop would; the face's roughness is a consumable — the grip that defines its víbora today will smooth out with court hours, taking some of that bite with it; and the 355-375g range works against anyone coming from lighter rackets, with the high finishing volley losing a touch of snap by the third set.

The Akkeron Black Excelsior Pro 25 joins the KVR25 line with a rough K12 IMPACT 12K carbon face, an EV20 Soft core and a 355-375g weight range in a teardrop shape with low-mid balance. It's an unusual mix: heavier weight, mass sitting close to the hand, and a soft rubber underneath.

That combination is what defines its personality. This padel racket isn't chasing the raw power ceiling of a diamond shape — it's built for stable, highly directable hitting where spin matters more than ball speed.

K12 IMPACT meets EV20 Soft: what each layer brings

The 12K carbon face acts like a firm skin over a rubber that gives. The weave returns a controlled, predictable response; the EV20 Soft core stretches out contact time, and that extra split-second is what lets you steer the shot instead of just reacting to it.

On top sits the Power Boosting Layer, a pressed final layer that tightens the whole build so a soft rubber doesn't turn spongy at the center of the face. It's what stops the racket from feeling flat when you actually lean into a shot.

Graphene Inside handles durability and structural lightness, with a claimed 30% boost in lifespan. SPMEP, FACETENSE and Rubber Force Premium round out the construction package.

The surface is unmistakably rough, and that's no cosmetic detail — it's the engine behind this racket's whole spin game.

How does the Akkeron Black Excelsior Pro 25 play, shot by shot?

Víbora and bandeja are its standout shots. The rough texture grips the ball from first contact, and the low-mid balance lets you close the face late, off the wrist, without dragging extra weight through the swing. The bandeja comes out cut and dropping before the back glass, even when you're stretching to reach the lob.

The smash takes work. Power is there, but it's not free: with mass concentrated near the grip, you need to accelerate and put your body into it to get real pace on the winning smash. Players coming from rackets that smash themselves will notice the difference.

Wall exits are where the EV20 Soft core shines. On high balls tight to the glass, the rubber absorbs the impact instead of kicking it back into your elbow, and the recovery lob comes out deep without forcing anything.

At the net, the low-mounted weight lets you reposition quickly. Blocking volleys are easy to control; the aggressive finishing volley falls slightly short of what a high-balance teardrop would deliver.

In defense from the back, the extended sweet spot forgives off-center contact better than the shape suggests — hits toward the racket's core still come out with direction.

Akkeron Excelsior Pro 25: the specs

Who is this racket really for?

Straight answer: the advanced, all-around player who generates their own spin and prioritizes placement over raw ball speed. If your game revolves around deep bandejas, cross-court víboras and patiently waiting for the high ball, the Excelsior Pro 25 fits. If you're expecting the racket to generate the power for you, it won't.

In doubles it performs best on the backhand side, where bandeja work and height control decide the point. The forehand player can use it too, provided their game leans on accelerating with spin rather than the flat smash.

It also demands solid technique. The 355-375g weight combined with soft rubber calls for clean contact — anyone hitting purely with the arm, without leg drive, will end up pushing short balls into the middle of the court.

Where this Akkeron model falls short

Ball exit is honest, not explosive. Under pressure in defense you have to follow through the shot more than you would with a hard-rubber teardrop, and that costs you in leg fatigue by the end of the match.

The rough texture is also a wear item. The bite that defines its víbora today will smooth out over hours on court, taking part of that special spin effect with it.

And the weight range isn't kind to players coming from lighter rackets — you need to show up physically ready for long matches.

Verdict: control with margin, not a cannon

The Akkeron Black Excelsior Pro 25 trades away some raw power for something rarer in a teardrop shape: predictability. A wide sweet spot, soft touch courtesy of the EV20 Soft core, and genuine bite on the ball — with the trade-off that you have to earn the smash yourself.

For the advanced, spin-based player who wants a racket that won't punish their elbow over a three-match tournament day, this one adds up. For the pure hitter who lives off the smash, there are twitchier, more head-heavy rackets that will get more out of their game.