Dunlop Nemesis Control

Technologies

Pros

• ✓The wide sweet spot of the 12K face forgives off-centre balls on wall exits, where a round racket with a harder core would send the ball back with no direction The low balance and 38 mm frame get the racket into position in time for reflex volleys and tight net blocks, even at 380 grams The EVA Soft PRO TOUCH core cushions impact on cut bandejas and lets you touch deep balls without your elbow paying the price over a full session The rough surface bites into the ball well on vibora and kick smashes, with grip that really shows up on lifted defensive balls The Power Grooves and Custom Holes spread out the stiffness of a 12K face that, left raw, would feel a lot drier on contact

Cons

• ✗The low balance takes away inertia exactly where you need it most: on the smash by 3 and the flat smash you have to bring a lot of arm to close out the point At 360-380 grams with weight distributed towards the handle, the racket feels heavy in hand without giving back power in proportion to the effort over long matches Ball exit is contained: if your game relies on the racket doing the pushing on deep defence, you'll need to set up the shot earlier here The soft feel of the EVA Soft takes away feedback on very fine cut volleys; anyone coming from harder rubbers will miss that crisp, responsive touch

Dunlop places the Nemesis Control LTD at the most conservative end of its range: round shape, low balance, a 12K carbon face reinforced with a 3K Braided layer and an EVA Soft PRO TOUCH core inside a 38 mm frame, weighing in at 360 to 380 grams.

This is a pure precision padel racket, with one of the widest sweet spots you can ask for from a round shape, and an explicit trade-off: no free power.

Why the Nemesis Control LTD's 12K carbon hits softer than you'd expect

A 12K weave on the face usually means stiffness and a dry, sharp impact. Here, two construction choices tame that character.

The first is the EVA Soft PRO TOUCH core, which absorbs a good chunk of the impact and extends contact time with the ball. The second is the work done on the face itself: the Power Grooves and Custom Holes break up the 12K's uniform stiffness and spread the flex across a larger surface area.

The result is a racket that sounds clean on contact but doesn't send the shock back into your forearm. The 3K Braided layer adds structural consistency to the whole build, and the package is rounded off with Quattro, DPS and the Ultra Gryp grip.

The rough surface is the other piece of the puzzle: it grips the ball just enough that slice and topspin show up in the flight without needing to overswing.

What do the Custom Holes and Power Grooves actually do for your bandeja and volley?

Both systems chase the same goal: widening the usable zone on the face. The Custom Holes vary the drilling pattern unevenly across zones, while the Power Grooves cut channels that modulate flex. On bandejas and volleys, that translates into balls that come off on the same trajectory even when contact drifts off-centre.

This is exactly where this padel racket wins points:

• **Cut bandeja**: the EVA Soft's prolonged contact lets you open the face and place the ball on the side glass with plenty of margin.
• **Block volley**: the low balance speeds up your preparation, so the racket arrives already turned when your opponent attacks your feet.
• **Wall exit**: the wide sweet spot bails you out on balls that get stuck on your body and come off low.
• **Vibora**: the surface roughness does the spin work that the balance doesn't provide in racket speed.

Shot by shot: where this Dunlop shines and where it costs you

At the net, the Nemesis Control LTD works like a placement tool. The round shape and rear-weighted balance keep your swing short and repeatable, letting the racket hold up through fast exchanges without ever arriving late.

Around the smash zone, the story flips. The low balance strips away the inertia a flat smash needs to close out the point, and the soft core soaks up energy that other rackets would give back. The smash by 3 still lands — but because the player put it there, not because the racket helped.

Something similar happens on deep defence with ball exit: it's solid, not generous. Lobs need a full, committed swing to get them deep, especially with the 380-gram version.

Dunlop Nemesis Control LTD: full specs

Who is the Dunlop Nemesis Control LTD really for?

It's built for advanced players who build their game around precision and wearing the opponent down, not the winning shot. The wide sweet spot makes it forgiving, but the low balance and contained ball exit demand solid technique to generate your own racket speed.

The player it suits best is the backhand-side grinder who holds the rally, sets up the bandeja towards the side wall, and waits for the error. It also suits anyone coming back from an elbow or shoulder injury who wants a touch that doesn't punish them, without dropping down a level of control.

As a doubles pairing, it works well alongside someone who does take on the smash: this racket builds the point, the other one finishes it.

Verdict: precision to spare, power on request

The Nemesis Control LTD does exactly what its name promises. It offers one of the most consistent setups you'll find in a round shape with a soft core, and it does so at a contained price point for what the 12K construction delivers.

The trade-off is clear, and it's worth accepting before you buy: this isn't a racket that will bail out your smashes or paper over an off day with your arm. Anyone looking to close points on raw power should look at a diamond shape or, at the very least, a teardrop with a more forward balance.

For everyone else, this Dunlop delivers precision, error tolerance and a friendly touch that holds up across three sets.