Givova Propulse

Pros

• ✓Diamond shape plus a head-heavy balance piles inertia into the head, so the bandeja by 3 and the flat smash come off the strings with an acceleration mid-balance rackets simply can't match, the EVA 17 core barely deforms on impact so the ball exits fast with none of that trampoline float, letting the cut bandeja and vibora hold whatever line you put on them, the 12K carbon face stays firm on volley blocks so fast balls don't open the face up and the return comes back at the same pace it arrived, and the sweet spot sitting high up rewards contact above the head, exactly where a natural finisher looks to strike the smash

Cons

• ✗That head-heavy balance means you have to prep earlier on defense — on a wall exit with the ball hugging the glass, the head-heavy feel slows you down and you arrive a beat late; pair that with the EVA 17 core and rigid face and the sweet spot runs small, off-center hits toward the frame come out dead and send vibration straight into your elbow; it's not a racket that generates pace on its own — without real arm speed behind it, lobs fall short and defensive balls die in the net; and as a limited-run Pro-tier model, tracking down stock or replacement grips and protectors can get tricky

Diamond shape, head-heavy balance, 12K carbon face and an EVA 17 core: the Givova Propulse doesn't hide what it's built for. This is a power padel racket for advanced players, with a narrowed hitting surface up top and mass pushed toward the head.

That geometry shifts the sweet spot into the upper part of the face, right where a net player makes contact on the smash. Everything else about this racket answers to that one decision.

EVA 17 core and 12K carbon face: why the Propulse feels so crisp

The EVA 17 core is a hard rubber. It barely compresses on contact, so it gives the energy back fast, without the elastic bounce that stretches out contact time on softer rackets.

The upshot: the ball exits flat and quick, but you have to supply the pace yourself. This rubber doesn't forgive a lazy arm, doesn't pad out a defensive shot, and won't bail out a mis-hit lob.

The 12K carbon face backs that up. It's a stiff weave that keeps the surface stable on impact, and that shows most on volley blocks: the racket doesn't give under fast balls, and the shot comes back at the same speed it arrived.

Givova markets the EVA 17 as a control rubber, but in practice this plays like a pure power stick — the "control" here is about how precisely you can place a crisp, flat shot, not about a forgiving, comfortable response.

How does the Givova Propulse perform on the smash?

This is where the racket earns its keep. The mass stacked in the head builds inertia through the acceleration phase, and that high sweet spot lines up with the natural contact point for the bandeja by 3 and the flat smash.

The kick comes out deep when you make contact above your head with your body lined up. The cut bandeja and the vibora hold whatever trajectory you set them on, without the drift you get from softer rubber.

The trade-off shows up in the low game. On a wall exit with the ball tight against the glass, the head-heavy weight forces you to prep earlier than usual; arrive a fraction late and the face opens up, sending the ball short.

Givova Propulse: full spec sheet

Is the Givova Propulse hard to handle?

Yes. It stacks the three traits that demand the most from a player: diamond shape, head-heavy balance and a hard rubber core. The result is an unforgiving racket with a small sweet spot and limited maneuverability, one that only performs at a high level when the player brings clean technique and consistent arm speed to match.

That demand shows up as concrete errors when the level isn't there yet:

1. Off-center hits toward the lower frame that come out dead and send vibration up the forearm.
2. Low-arm defensive shots that fall short of reaching the back of the court.
3. Reflex volleys where the head arrives late to the contact point.

Stiff materials and elbow strain: what you're signing up for

A 12K carbon face over an EVA 17 core doesn't filter much. Whatever vibration the core fails to absorb travels straight into your arm, so with this material combo you'll want a healthy elbow and settled technique before you even consider this racket.

That's not a manufacturing flaw — it's the direct cost of the design brief. Any build chasing fast ball exit pays that toll in comfort.

Who is this Givova model actually for?

For the advanced net player who finishes points up high and already plays with stiff rackets — someone who smashes by 3 regularly, uses the vibora as an attacking shot, and isn't expecting the racket to hand them extra depth on defense.

As a pair, it works well as the closer's racket, paired with a partner running a more balanced frame who can hold up the long rallies and back-court exchanges.

It makes little sense for intermediate players still dialing in their contact point, or for anyone who plays mostly from the back and needs the racket's help getting the ball off the glass.

Verdict on the Givova Propulse

This is a coherent racket. Every design call — diamond shape, head-heavy balance, EVA 17, 12K carbon — pulls in the same direction, which is refreshing next to models that chase all-round versatility and end up with no real identity.

The model sits in Givova's Pro range and has very limited distribution, which makes units harder to find and leaves after-sales support shakier than with brands running a wider retail network. Worth weighing before you buy.

If you're after a racket that forgives mistakes, this isn't it. But if you want one that turns your arm speed into ball speed, and you're ready to live with a small sweet spot and a demanding defensive game, the Propulse delivers exactly what its shape promises.