Kelme Shark

Technologies

Pros

• ✓The Xtra Soft Black EVA core soaks up impact on centred shots and cuts down the vibration that reaches your arm — a real plus if your elbow's been talking to you after long matches Pair that soft foam with the 3K carbon face and you get fast ball exit without needing a full-blooded swing: bandejas and viboras come out with depth even when you can't complete the motion The teardrop shape and mid-high balance pile mass into the hitting zone, which means smashes land with real weight behind them without sacrificing net control entirely The 38 mm frame and Flexible Chassis system give the frame a flex that forgives off-centre contact better than you'd expect from an attack-oriented teardrop racket UltraGrip keeps your hand locked in place on wrist-heavy shots (vibora, cut smash) where a grip that shifts even slightly ruins your exit angle

Cons

• ✗At 350-380 g, this racket carries weight; in fast volley-to-volley exchanges your arm feels it past the hour-and-a-half mark and your reactions start lagging The smooth 3K carbon face limits spin: if your game leans on heavily lifted balls or a sharply cut chiquita, you'll notice the ball bites less than you'd like That mid-high balance means you need to set up early on defence; on low, rushed exits off the back glass the head-heavy feel makes it hard to get the face open in time The sweet spot isn't especially generous for the frame size — hits toward the throat or the tip clearly lose ball exit compared to dead centre

Kelme Shark Review: A 3K Carbon Teardrop Padel Racket With Soft EVA Punch

The Kelme Shark is a teardrop-shaped padel racket built with a 3K carbon face, an Xtra Soft Black EVA core and a 38 mm profile, weighing in at 350-380 g with a 45.5 cm length. On paper it's an unusual pairing for the market: attacking geometry matched with the softest foam in Kelme's lineup.

That combination shapes everything it does on court. This isn't one of those unforgiving teardrop rackets that demands serious arm speed to get the ball moving — this one does the pushing for you.

What Does the Xtra Soft Black EVA Core Bring to an Attacking Racket?

A soft core inside a 38 mm frame pulls off two things at once. It holds the ball on the face a touch longer, boosting ball exit without forcing you to swing harder, and it soaks up a good chunk of the vibration a 3K carbon face would otherwise send straight into your arm.

That's exactly why this racket gets recommended to players nursing elbow or forearm niggles: the feel on contact is cushioned rather than harsh. The trade-off is less feedback on delicate touch shots — the racket responds well, but it doesn't tell you much.

The 3K carbon on the face is a wide-weave fibre, more elastic and less rigid than 12K or 18K layups. Here it works with the soft core rather than against it, reinforcing the surface without stiffening it up, which feeds that fast, deep ball exit the racket is known for.

The Flexible Chassis ties it all together. Controlled frame flex widens your margin for error on shots that don't hit dead centre — something you notice more than expected on a mid-high balance teardrop like this.

Kelme Shark Specs

Shot by Shot: How the Shark Plays

Smash. This is where the teardrop shape and mid-high balance earn their keep. Mass stacked up top drives naturally into the ball, and the 38 mm frame adds just enough stiffness to stop the soft core from eating into your power. It comes off heavy, with enough height to blow the ball clean out of the court.

Bandeja and vibora. Genuinely comfortable here. Ball exit is fast without demanding a full swing, which lets you play long bandejas even when you're rushed for time. On the vibora, UltraGrip stops your hand shifting mid-wrist-snap, keeping your exit angle honest.

Volleys. Good depth for minimal effort, but the weight shows up. In quick net exchanges — two or three volleys back to back at pace — the Shark reacts a beat slower than a 355 g racket with a lower balance would.

Back-wall exits and defence. This is where it's most demanding. The mid-high balance means you have to set up and commit early; get caught out on a low ball tight to the glass and the head-heavy feel makes it tough to open the face in time. The soft core does help on the defensive lob, which floats deep without needing much force.

Spin. The smooth face is honest about what it offers: depth and pace, not bite. Heavy topspin and sharply cut chiquitas underperform compared to what you'd get from a rough or textured face.

Who Is This Padel Racket Really For?

The Kelme Shark suits an advanced player, or an intermediate with solid technique already in place who's ready to lean into an attacking game. Three things need to be true for it to be the right pick:

1. **Your swing needs to already be grooved.** The racket forgives off-centre contact, but not poor setup on defence.
2. **Your arm needs the cushioning.** This is the single strongest reason to pick it over a standard medium-foam teardrop.
3. **You play from the backhand side or an attacking position.** The mid-high balance and heavier weight range shine more when closing out points than grinding through long rallies.

It's a tough ask for a beginner, both in weight and geometry — anyone starting out will feel it in the arm before they feel the benefits.

As for pairing up: it works well alongside a drive-side partner on a more manoeuvrable racket, since the Shark handles the power and finishing while the partner controls the rhythm at net.

Verdict: An Unusual Teardrop That Trades Spin for Comfort

Kelme's approach here is coherent. Take an attacking shape, drop in the softest foam in the range, and add a flexible chassis to widen the margin for error. What comes out is an all-round racket that hits hard without the usual harshness of an attacking frame.

What you give up: manoeuvrability in fast exchanges, spin on that smooth face, and a sweet spot that's a little tight toward the throat.

If maximum control and easy back-wall exits are your priority, there are lower-balance rackets that will serve you better. But if you want to hit with depth, play the long bandeja without forcing it, and walk off court with your elbow intact, this Kelme delivers exactly that.