Joma Game Junior Negro/Verde 2025

Pros

• ✓The Black EVA Soft core compresses on impact and cushions off-center hits, which matters most when a junior still isn't finding the sweet spot on fast volleys At 330-350 grams with a head-light balance the racket almost positions itself at the net during blocks, leaving room to correct the wrist mid-swing when the ball arrives sooner than expected The round shape pushes the sweet spot toward the geometric center and cuts down on twist, so off-center hits near the frame still come off the wall with direction The fiberglass face flexes and gives generous ball exit, so a defensive lob reaches the back wall without relying on arm strength The 36mm profile keeps just enough stiffness without hardening the feel, avoiding the harsh, jarring contact that makes beginners flinch at the ball

Cons

• ✗The flat smash falls short: between the fiberglass face and the soft EVA the ball gets absorbed, bounces high, and the opponent picks it off comfortably from the back The smooth surface barely bites the ball, so the vibora and cut shots come out with noticeably less spin than a player with developed technique would expect The head-light balance means the smash needs a lot of follow-through from the back court; without weight up top it's hard to close out the point in one shot A junior who's already finishing at net and hunting pace will outgrow this racket within a few months: it's built to support learning, not competition

Joma Game Junior 2025 review: fiberglass, 36mm and 330 grams for a kid's first season on court

The Joma Game Junior 2025 (reference 401588.116) is a round beginner padel racket with a fiberglass face, Black EVA Soft core and 36mm frame, weighing 330 to 350 grams with a head-light balance. Every spec on the sheet points the same direction: letting a kid hit a hundred balls in a row without the forearm paying for it.

There's no pro signature attached, and it doesn't sit in a competition lineup. This is learning gear, and that's the standard it should be judged against.

What level is the Joma Game Junior 2025 actually built for?

For junior players in their first seasons: weekly lessons, long rallies, matches where the goal is simply keeping the ball in play, not closing out points. The control-oriented build, round shape and head-light balance are the classic beginner combo, and this padel racket doesn't try to hide it.

A kid who already smashes with intent and finishes with vibora will find it limiting. The ball comes off the strings, sure, but without much sting.

Fiberglass over Black EVA Soft: what that pairing does to the ball

Fiberglass flexes far more than any carbon weave. On contact the face gives, releases energy progressively, and forgives shots that don't land dead center. On court that means the ball still comes off the frame even when a player arrives late and swings with a lagging arm.

The Black EVA Soft core doubles down on that idea. A softer EVA compresses more, extends contact time, and dulls the vibration spike that would otherwise travel up the handle. That's the difference between finishing a full session and stopping after thirty minutes with a sore elbow.

The 36mm frame rounds out the package: a contained profile, stiff enough that the racket doesn't feel dead, without hardening the overall feel.

Where's the sweet spot, and why is it so forgiving?

On a round-shaped, head-light racket, the sweet spot sits at the geometric center of the face, closer to the hand than on a teardrop or diamond shape. That produces two concrete effects.

First, it widens the usable hitting zone: shots landing two or three fingers off-center still come off with direction and depth. Second, it cuts down on twist — the racket doesn't rotate in the hand when the ball catches the edge, which happens constantly with players who haven't yet learned to judge bounce height.

Shot by shot: where it shines and where it falls short

• **Ball exit off the back wall:** its strongest suit. The flexible face and soft EVA lift the ball easily, and a defensive lob reaches the back glass without needing arm power.
• **Volleys and blocking:** the 330-350 gram weight and head-light balance let you get the racket into position in time during quick net exchanges.
• **Bandeja:** solid, with a high ball exit. It helps you hold the net rather than win the point outright — exactly what a junior needs at this stage.
• **Vibora:** limited. The smooth surface grips the ball poorly, so cut shots come out with less spin than the swing promises.
• **Flat smash and kick serve:** the weak link. With no weight up top and this much cushioning, the ball bounces high and sits up for the opponent.

How much does the Joma Game Junior weigh, and why does that number matter so much?

It weighs between 330 and 350 grams, well below an average adult padel racket. For a 9 to 13-year-old that gap isn't cosmetic — it decides whether they can complete a proper overhead bandeja motion or end up hitting with the elbow leading.

And that detail is what separates sound technique from a bad habit that takes years to fix later. An overly heavy racket forces a kid to compensate with the rest of the body, and those compensations set in fast.

Player profile: who gets the most out of it

It suits the junior still building their shots: prioritizing placement over pace, playing long rallies, and still missing more from mishits than from a lack of power. It also works for anyone coming back from an elbow or wrist niggle who needs a soft touch for a few weeks.

As a doubles partner's racket, it pairs well with someone who takes on the smashing duties. This Joma model sustains the rally — it isn't built to end it.

Verdict: it delivers exactly what it promises, no more, no less

The Joma Game Junior 2025 does the one job it's asked to do well — teaching centered contact, easy ball exit, and going easy on young joints. Its combination of fiberglass, Black EVA Soft and a 36mm frame delivers a soft touch and a wide sweet spot, in exchange for giving up power and bite.

If the player is already closing out points, they'll outgrow this racket within a season. If they're still learning to read the wall and place a bandeja, it's the kind of tool that speeds up the process instead of holding it back.