Bullpadel Vertex 03 CTR

Technologies

Pros

• ✓The sandpaper-like finish grips just enough to close the face on the vibora and add lateral spin without the ball running long past the baseline The low balance and round shape let you arrive with the racket already set for the wall exit and deep lob, even when your opponent steals two metres on you The Multieva core alternates layers of different density: it holds firm on the blocked volley and cushions the return on defensive balls without turning harsh on the elbow The Air Channel stiffens the 38 mm frame without adding grams, and you feel it in the quick setup for the bandeja when you arrive right under the ball The CustomWeight system lets you add weight and raise the balance if you're missing inertia on the smash, without switching rackets

Cons

• ✗Ball exit is contained: if you don't follow through on the shot, the smash de 3 and flat smash fall short and your opponent counterattacks from the back The 365-375 g demands a trained arm; in long, fast defensive rallies the weight takes its toll before the low balance can compensate The Multieva responds firm, and on a cold court the first set needs more arm than usual until the material warms up The sandy surface that gives you grip for spin polishes down with use, and the extra bite you get in the first weeks gradually fades

The Bullpadel Vertex 03 CTR targets advanced players with consolidated technique who want more performance without yet moving to a pure competition racket. Its round shape concentrates the sweet spot in the center of the face, increasing tolerance and favouring control. With a low balance, it gains maneuverability and quick response at the net. Its 365-375g weight range places it in the medium-weight group, the most common among amateur players.

The only round shape in the Vertex 03 line is the Bullpadel Vertex 03 CTR: Xtend Carbon 12K face, dual-density Multieva core, 38 mm frame and 365-375 g spread over a low balance. It's the shell of an attack-focused range, reprogrammed to play the long ball.

What sets the Vertex 03 CTR apart within its own line?

The CTR tag isn't decorative. This padel racket shifts mass toward the handle and opens up the hitting plane, with the declared goal of sustaining the point rather than closing it out on the first smash.

The sandy surface finish points the same way: grit built to grip for lift and cut, not to flatten out. This is a construction racket, and everything about how it plays follows from that.

Xtend Carbon 12K over Multieva: firmness without punishing the arm

The 12K carbon face gives a defined response, with little lag between impact and ball exit. It's a surface that reads well — you know instantly whether you've caught the ball dead centre or off the frame.

Underneath, the Multieva core alternates foam layers of different density. The harder layers hold the shot when you press a volley or block a fast ball; the softer ones cushion the return and keep the feel from turning sharp on defence.

Don't mistake dual density for soft rubber, though: the overall response is firm. What the mixed hardness delivers is staying power through long matches without loading up your forearm.

Air Channel, Vibradrive, Hesacore and CustomWeight: what each one brings

1. **Air Channel** — an aerodynamic channel built into the 38 mm frame. Adds structural stiffness without adding weight and helps cut through the air on the bandeja setup.
2. **Vibradrive** — vibration filtering. Most noticeable on off-centre hits near the sweet spot, exactly where stiff structures usually give themselves away.
3. **Hesacore** — a hexagonal grip that spreads pressure across the whole palm instead of concentrating it in the fingers. Less grip force needed for the same control.
4. **CustomWeight** — a weighting system to raise the balance. On a model that's low-balance out of the box, it's the back door for anyone wanting a bit more inertia up top.

Shot-by-shot behaviour: where it shines and where it asks more of you

On the bandeja and vibora, this is where the Bullpadel Vertex 03 CTR earns its shape. It comes through the swing fast, meets the ball cleanly, and the sandy grit lets you close the face to send the vibora crosscourt without it drifting long.

On defence and the wall exit, the low balance buys you time. You get to the ball with the racket already set even when the lob has pushed you two metres back, and the counter lob comes out with direction instead of a prayer.

The smash de 3 is there, but you have to build it. Ball exit is contained — this model doesn't hand you depth for free, so kick and flat smashes depend on your setup and following through fully. Anyone coming from a racket that pushes the ball on its own will see short balls in the first hour.

On volleys, it offers one of the cleanest responses in the round-shape category: firm blocking, plenty of feedback in the hand, and the ability to change direction at the last instant, backed by a sweet spot that's reasonably forgiving for how tight margins usually are on a control racket.

What level is the Bullpadel Vertex 03 CTR built for?

It's built for the advanced player who constructs the point: solid bandeja and vibora technique, the judgment to prioritise placement over pace, and the ability to generate their own power. In the hands of an intermediate with a slower arm, the 365-375 g becomes dead weight in fast defensive exchanges, and the promised control never shows up.

Vertex 03 CTR spec sheet

Ideal partner and the trade-offs you'll pay

It fits well on the side that holds down the court: the player who lobs, who sends up the globo when needed, and who keeps everything above the net waiting for the opponent's error. If your partner brings the finishing smash, this Bullpadel option rounds out the pairing without overlap.

The trade-offs are clear. First is power on unsupported balls — when you're rushed and can't follow through, the ball dies short. Second is the weight, which shows no mercy in a third set. Third is wear on the sandy grit, which is exactly what sustains the spin on the vibora.

Verdict: real control, not control in name only

Plenty of rackets get sold as "control" when what they actually offer is simply less power. The Bullpadel Vertex 03 CTR offers something different: feedback in the hand, manoeuvrability to arrive already set, and a surface that lets you genuinely impart spin.

In return, it asks for a player who knows what to do with that precision. If your game relies on waiting for the racket to do the smash's work, this model will frustrate you. If your game relies on not missing and placing the ball where your opponent can't reach it, this is exactly the tool you were looking for — and with the CustomWeight ballast you can nudge it a little closer to attack without betraying its character.