Kuikma PR Open Rojo

Pros

• ✓The Full Eva Concept, a continuous foam piece coated in fibreglass, spreads impact across almost the entire face: balls struck near the frame still come back with direction instead of dying in the net The low balance and 313-327 g weight mean the racket arrives on time for reaction volleys and hip-height blocks, where a heavier racket forces you to set up half a second earlier The fibreglass flexes on contact and returns generous ball exit: on defensive lobs from the back you don't need to muscle depth with your arm, the material does it for you The soft feel cushions the hit and cuts vibration off the back wall, the shot that punishes your elbow most when you're not perfectly set

Cons

• ✗With power kept in check, closing out a flat smash is hard: the ball comes back deep if it isn't backed by solid arm technique, and the point drags on The smooth surface limits cut/slice on bandeja and vibora; the ball comes out flatter and bounces higher than an opponent reading the wall needs to attack The light weight and low balance show up on block volleys against heavy balls: the racket twists in your hand if the grip isn't firm The soft foam core loses consistency faster than a dense EVA rubber under daily play, and ball exit fades along with it

The Kuikma PR Open Rojo is built for beginner players looking for an easy-to-handle, forgiving racket. Its round shape concentrates the sweet spot in the center of the face, increasing tolerance and favouring control. With a low balance, it gains maneuverability and quick response at the net. With a weight of 313-327g, it sits among the lighter rackets on the market: easier to swing and less stressful on the elbow.

Kuikma PR Open Rojo review: the foam racket that turns off-centre hits into playable balls

Some rackets teach, others punish. The Kuikma PR Open Rojo belongs firmly in the first camp by design: round shape, low balance, fibreglass face, and a single-piece foam core — the so-called Full Eva Concept — at a weight of 313 to 327 grams. Every one of those choices points to the same goal: keeping the ball alive even when the strike isn't perfect.

Who is the Kuikma PR Open Rojo actually for?

Beginners, full stop, no ambiguity. This is a control-oriented padel racket with restrained power, built for players still grooving their bandeja and who miss the centre of the face often. The design prioritises forgiveness and comfort over pop, and that trade-off defines everything it gives and everything it doesn't.

Single-piece foam and fibreglass: what it actually changes in your hand

The build starts with a continuous block of EVA foam coated with composite fibre on the surface. That's not a spec-sheet footnote: a single piece with no internal layers transmits impact more evenly, and that's where this racket's wide sweet spot comes from.

The fibreglass face supplies the other half of the equation. It's a material that flexes more than carbon and gives energy back as ball exit rather than as a sharp, punchy response. The result is a soft, almost cushioned feel that dampens vibration through the forearm.

The cost of that flex is power. The face gives on impact and some of the energy dissipates into deformation instead of ball speed. If you're looking to close out points with a flat smash from mid-court, you won't find it here.

Kuikma PR Open Rojo specs

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

Defence and off-the-back-wall play. This is its home turf. The wide sweet spot and soft touch let you handle awkward balls tight to the glass without the impact feeling like a hammer blow. The lob comes out deep with little arm effort, exactly what a beginner needs to survive from the back.

Volley. The low balance keeps mass close to the hand, so the racket whips through fast. In quick net exchanges you get to body-height crosscourt balls in time. The flip side shows up against heavy balls: with no weight in the head, blocking requires a firm wrist or the face opens up.

Bandeja and vibora. The round shape helps hold direction, but the smooth surface doesn't bite the ball. Slice comes out less sharp and the bounce sits higher, so the bandeja works as a transition shot to reclaim the net rather than a weapon to pin an opponent down.

Smash from the back (remate por 3). Here the low balance and moderate power work against you. There's not enough mass behind the hit to lift the ball with the speed a remate por 3 demands. It's a reachable shot, but through technique, not thanks to the racket.

Three reasons to buy it and one reason to skip it

1. **Real tolerance for off-centre hits.** The continuous foam core and round shape keep the ball in play even when contact drifts toward the frame.
2. **Arm-friendly weight.** At 313 to 327 grams with a soft core, it eases the load on elbow and shoulder through long learning sessions.
3. **Instant maneuverability.** The low balance needs no early prep; the racket is where it needs to be without you having to anticipate the swing.

And the reason to skip it: if you're already closing points with the smash and want bite on your vibora, this model runs out of pop and grip on the ball. The ceiling arrives sooner than you'd think.

Verdict: a learning tool, not a stepping-stone racket

The Kuikma PR Open Rojo does one specific job well: getting you through your first months on court without punishing mistakes or your arm. The single-piece foam and fibreglass face build a forgiving, easy-exit racket, honest about the fact that its power is limited and its smooth surface won't generate spin.

The ideal player here is a beginner who values a soft feel, a big sweet spot, and light weight. As a doubles partner, it works best alongside someone who takes on the smash and the finishing shots, while this Kuikma holds the back court, sends deep lobs, and keeps the point alive.

Once the smash starts landing consistently and you want more bite on the bandeja, it'll be time to move up to a racket with denser rubber and more grip on contact. Until then, it delivers exactly what it promises, no excuses needed.