Fz Forza X-power

Pros

• ✓The soft EVA core soaks up heavy wall-exit balls and sends them back high and deep with barely any arm input, even when you're rushed on the bounce; the round shape with centred weight builds a wide, even sweet spot so shots landing two fingers off-centre still go in — crucial for volleys and bandejas; at 355-375g with a mid balance the head doesn't drop, so the racket whips through fast net exchanges; and the 50% carbon face keeps that soft touch from going mushy, holding up on blocked volleys when you're pinned at your feet.

Cons

• ✗The power ceiling is low: with soft EVA and only half-carbon in the face, the flat smash by 3 loses pace and you're forced to play angles rather than trust the pop; the smooth face grips the ball poorly, so the vibora comes out more like an accelerated bandeja than a shot with real kick; touch feedback is muted, responding much the same across the whole face, making it hard to tell a clean strike from a mediocre one; and at the top end of the range, 375g starts to tell in long matches if your forearm isn't conditioned, especially through repeated bandejas.

The FZ Forza X-Power is a round-head starter padel racket with a hybrid carbon/fibreglass face, a soft EVA core and a weight range of 355 to 375 grams. Mid balance, smooth face, and zero concessions to power hitters — every design choice here is built around comfort on contact.

50/50 carbon and fibreglass: what this padel racket gains (and gives up)

The face blends both materials in equal measure, and that ratio explains almost everything you feel in your hand. The fibreglass flexes on impact, stretching out the split-second the ball stays glued to the face and delivering a plush, cushioned feel.

Carbon, making up the other half, stops that touch from turning mushy. It's what holds the block volley together when you're pinned at your feet and only have time to get the racket in front of the ball.

Underneath sits a soft EVA core. That soft rubber is what lets the ball leave the face with minimal arm speed and keeps most of the vibration in the frame instead of travelling up to your elbow. For a player still swinging with the arm more than the body, that's injury prevention, not a luxury.

The trade-off shows up at the ceiling: soft rubber gives energy back progressively, never sharply, and that costs you on the finishing shot.

What level of player is the FZ Forza X-Power built for?

This one's aimed at beginners and entry-level players hitting the court once or twice a week. The mix of round shape, mid balance, soft EVA and 355-375g weight prioritises sweet spot and ball exit over smash power, so anyone already closing out points from the back of the court will find the power lacking.

X-Power spec sheet

Shot by shot: where the X-Power shines and where it falls short

• **Wall exit:** the racket's standout strength. The soft rubber absorbs a heavy-bouncing ball and sends it back high and deep; the defensive lob comes out clean even when you're late on the ball.
• **Volley:** the mid balance keeps the head from dropping. Quick reflexes and stable blocks when the ball comes in hot.
• **Bandeja:** comfortable and controllable thanks to the round shape, but flat. The smooth surface doesn't grip much, so a cut bandeja that dies after the bounce needs to be worked with the wrist rather than left to the material.
• **Vibora:** the shot that suffers most. Without surface texture or a head-heavy balance, the sidespin is modest at best.
• **Smash by 3:** works if you play the angle and use the glass height. The flat smash loses pace compared to rackets with a denser core.

The sweet spot is this FZ Forza's real selling point

A round racket with mass spread evenly around the handle axis produces a wide, uniform hitting zone. On court, that means off-centre contact doesn't sail long or die in the net, and a two-centimetre mishit no longer costs you the point.

That forgiveness is what gets you through a two-hour match while your technique is still a work in progress. The flip side is that a mid-to-high level player will read it as a lack of feedback, since the racket responds much the same across almost the entire face.

Player profile and ideal partner

This suits players with six months to two years of court time who prioritise getting the ball in over finishing points, and who thrive on long rallies and lobs.

It also works well for anyone coming back from an elbow or shoulder niggle: soft EVA paired with fibreglass is the go-to formula for cutting down impact on the joint.

As a doubles partner, it's happiest on the backhand side, holding rallies together and lifting defensive shots, paired with a forehand partner who takes on the finishing. If you're the one closing out points, this racket will make you work the same ball three times over.

Within the weight range, go for 355g if you're often late to the volley or lack forearm strength; lean toward 375g if you want the racket to hold steady against firm shots to the body.

Verdict: forgives plenty, punishes little

The X-Power delivers exactly what its build promises: comfort, a generous sweet spot and above-average ball exit, in exchange for a capped power ceiling and muted touch feedback.

It's a sensible buy as a first or second racket, and a poor one if your on-court problem isn't getting the ball in anymore but closing out points. In that case, the logical next step is a teardrop shape with denser rubber, not another soft round.

Its shelf life as a main racket usually runs one to two seasons — the day you start rotating your body into the smash and hunting the exit by 3, you'll feel its limits.