Dunlop Inferno Carbon Extreme Nh

Technologies

Pros

• ✓The EVA Pro core paired with the 3K carbon face delivers a dry, direct response that translates into smash winners and vibora shots where the ball exits flat and knifes through the air rather than floating The frame's Booster Grooves are built for attacking play: on a flat smash struck from the centre, ball exit is noticeably more aggressive than on an equivalent round-shaped racket The rough carbon face bites into the ball on cut bandejas and topspin viboras, letting you generate spin off the racket face instead of relying purely on wrist action The high, diamond-shaped balance stacks mass toward the head and cranks up inertia on the smash: hit it hard and you get back more distance than you put in The V-Holes let the racket cut through the air more cleanly, which pays off when you're loading up a high bandeja or snapping the wrist through a vibora

Cons

• ✗The sweet spot is narrow and sits high on the face: catch the ball off-centre on a defensive volley and it dies on impact with noticeable vibration through the frame At 365-370g with a head-heavy balance, a rushed wall exit or a quick block volley at net will catch you out unless you've prepped your arm early EVA Pro shows no mercy: ball exit is short on anything hit without prior pace, so defensive lobs need to be pushed through with the body, not bailed out by the racket The 38mm frame and the overall stiffness take a toll on elbow and shoulder over long sessions if your smash technique isn't already dialled in

Dunlop Inferno Carbon Extreme NH Review: The 365-370g Diamond Racket That Only Rewards Players Who Can Hit

The Dunlop Inferno Carbon Extreme NH pairs a 3K carbon face with an EVA Pro core, a 38mm frame and a high, diamond-shaped balance, tipping the scales at 365-370 grams with a rough-textured hitting surface. Five specs, one clear story: this is an attacking padel racket for advanced players, with zero concessions to anyone chasing comfort.

Inferno is the longest-running name in the brand's padel racket lineup, and this Carbon Extreme version pushes it to its most aggressive reading yet: power comes first, control is whatever the player's technique brings to the table — the racket won't do it for you.

Dunlop Inferno Carbon Extreme NH Specs

What Do the 3K Carbon Face and EVA Pro Core Actually Do on Court?

3K carbon is an open-weave fabric, relatively flexible as far as carbon goes. On a softer racket it would cushion the impact; here, laid over EVA Pro, it does the opposite — it transmits feedback straight to your arm with almost no dampening.

The result is a dry, sharp strike. The ball doesn't sit on the face — it's gone almost the instant it lands. That's a huge asset on the flat smash and the vibora, where you want the ball exiting low and fast, but it's a liability on the block volley, where there's no material forgiveness to help you place the shot.

The 38mm frame adds structural rigidity to the package. Less flex through the frame means less energy lost on contact — nearly everything you put into your arm swing comes back as ball speed.

The Booster Grooves run along the frame and are specifically engineered to boost power on attacking shots. They work along the same axis as the diamond shape rather than offsetting it.

The V-Holes — V-shaped perforations — are designed to improve ball grip and reduce air resistance as the racket swings through. It's the one design nod toward maneuverability, and it shows up more when you're setting up a high bandeja than when you're scrambling on defence.

The Tri-Bar rounds out the frame's structural build, reinforcing the zone that takes the most stress on a diamond shape with mass stacked up top.

What Level Is the Dunlop Inferno Carbon Extreme NH Built For?

This padel racket is built for advanced players with an established attacking game. The head-heavy balance, the density of the EVA Pro core, and the tight sweet spot all demand smash technique that's already locked in, along with sharp ball-reading. An intermediate player will lose more points to mishits than they'll gain from the extra power.

Shot by Shot: Where It Shines and Where It Leaves You Exposed

Smash and flat overheads. This is home turf. The diamond's high mass builds inertia and the Booster Grooves push in the same direction. Hit it clean and centred, and the ball leaves at speeds few round-shaped rackets can match.

Vibora. The combination of rough surface and stiff face lets you bite into the ball with lateral spin without the racket face opening up on you. The grip from the texture is real, not just marketing.

Bandeja. This is where the first bill comes due. The head-heavy weight forces earlier preparation than most players are used to. Get set in time and the bandeja comes out cut and deep; get caught late and it falls short.

Wall exits. The clear weak point. Ball exit is short — the racket doesn't give energy back on its own, so on balls hugging the glass you need to drive through with your body and commit to a full arm swing to find the lob.

Volleys. It performs well on the aggressive attacking volley, the kind that closes out points. On the defensive block volley, the lack of cushioning bites back — anything off-centre dies on contact.

Who Should Actually Be Playing With This Dunlop

1. **Backhand or forehand players who close points with the smash.** If you win points from above the net, this racket acts as a direct multiplier.
2. **Players with trained arm strength and technique.** 365-370 grams with mass up top isn't negotiable — your shoulder pays the price for any gap in technique.
3. **Net-rushers with an aggressive game plan.** This racket is built to finish points, not to grind out long rallies from the back of the court.

The ideal doubles partner brings a more controlled, maneuverable racket to anchor the defence while this Dunlop closes points from above. Pair two hard diamonds together and any deep ball becomes a shared problem.

Verdict: Power With No Safety Net

The Inferno Carbon Extreme NH delivers exactly what it promises, and it doesn't hide the cost. You get top-tier power and genuine bite for working spin, but in exchange it demands early preparation, centred contact, and an arm that can take the EVA Pro's stiffness session after session.

If lack of pace is your on-court problem, this racket solves it. If missed defensive shots or struggling on wall exits are your problem, it'll make them worse. That's the trade-off — better to accept it before you buy than after your first three-setter.