Lok Carb-On Hype 2024

Technologies

Pros

• ✓The C6 Carbon face over a rigid EVA core gives you a crisp, dry response on the smash: the ball comes off flat with minimal contact time, perfect for closing points at net without needing to guide the shot The 3D Spin Lines paired with the rough finish really bite into the ball on the vibora and the cut bandeja, generating kick that jumps off the side wall The Dynamic Holes System, with progressive 10mm and 11mm holes, offsets some of the core's stiffness so the racket doesn't die on balls you need to drive from the back The stepped Gradual Face filters out a good chunk of the vibration from hard impacts, which you'll appreciate in long matches given how stiff this rubber and 38mm frame are The Asymmetric Heart and head-heavy balance stack mass up top: on the flat smash you feel the head drop onto the ball on its own rather than having to force the wrist

Cons

• ✗That head-heavy balance, tipping up to 375g, demands early preparation off the back wall; arrive a beat late and the head lags, leaving you to contact the ball with an open face The rigid EVA is unforgiving on mishits: miss the sweet spot — fairly small on this pure diamond shape — and the ball comes out shallow with a harsh feel It's not the most forgiving racket on block volleys or drop shots either: the core barely flexes, so cushioning pace is hard, and the top-heavy weight cuts into net maneuverability For anyone with a sensitive wrist or elbow, the combination of hard rubber, 38mm frame and high weight isn't a smart pick, even with the Gradual Face doing its filtering work

Lok Carb-On Hype Review: Inside Franco Dal Bianco's Rock-Hard Diamond Racket

The Lok Carb-On Hype 2024 is Franco Dal Bianco's signature model, and its spec sheet leaves no room for ambiguity: diamond shape, head-heavy balance, a 6K carbon face with a rough three-plane finish, a rigid EVA core, and a 38mm profile in a 360-375g weight range. Everything points the same direction: power from the net.

Lok didn't build a transition racket here. This is a padel racket for advanced and competitive players, made for someone who already closes points with their arm and doesn't need the racket to do the pushing for them.

Lok Carb-On Hype Specs at a Glance

What Do the Gradual Face and Dynamic Holes System Actually Do?

The Gradual Face is a stepped hitting surface: the C6 Carbon face isn't a single flat plane but three planes working together as a progressive structure. Its real job is cutting down vibration on impact, and paired with a rigid EVA core, that's not a cosmetic detail — it's what keeps this racket playable through a full two-hour match.

The Dynamic Holes System spreads 10mm and 11mm holes progressively across the face. The zone with the larger perforation gains a bit of local flex and improves ball exit, which on such a stiff rubber would otherwise be the obvious weak point.

The Asymmetric Heart ties it all together: a non-symmetrical bridge that reshapes how force transfers from the handle to the head. Combined with the Carbon Reinforcement around the frame, the result is a chassis that barely twists on the flat smash.

How the Lok Carb-On Hype Actually Plays on Court

The smash is where this racket earns its keep. Contact time is razor-short, the ball comes out flat, and it feels like a dry, crisp strike rather than the springy rebound of a softer rubber. There's no following through needed — just clean contact.

On the vibora, the rough texture and 3D Spin Lines combine to really grip the ball. The cut bites, the ball leaves with kick and jumps off the side wall. The cut bandeja responds just as well, though it demands you set your shoulder earlier than usual since the mass sits up top.

The backhand is where the defense shows. With that head-heavy balance and up to 375g on the scale, getting off the back wall forces you to decide early. Arrive a touch late and the head lags, sending the ball out high or short. The recovery lob needs arm, not wrist.

The block volley isn't its strong suit either. The rigid EVA barely flexes, so cushioning a fast ball comes down almost entirely to your hand. And the sweet spot, narrow as you'd expect on a pure diamond shape, punishes low or off-center contact — you lose depth immediately.

Who Should Actually Play the Carb-On Hype?

Short answer: an advanced or competitive player with solid technique and centered contact, playing forehand or backhand with a net-first mindset, looking for a racket that turns arm speed straight into ball speed with no filter. This isn't a racket for improving control, and it's not for someone who spends most points defending.

Three player profiles it suits well:

1. The net hitter who closes points with power and already has the timing down for the smash.
2. The player with a good wrist for cutting who wants to max out the vibora's kick.
3. Anyone after a thick-profile, 38mm diamond with the stiffness of a hard EVA core that still filters some vibration.

As a doubles partner, it works best alongside a more control-oriented player running a round or teardrop racket — someone who can sustain the rally while this Lok finishes off the high ball.

Verdict: Honest Power That Comes With a Price

This Lok does exactly what it promises and doesn't hide the cost. It delivers real power and aggressive bite on the cut; in return it demands technique, timing and a healthy back. The stiff rubber, 38mm frame and high weight aren't a kind combination for sensitive elbows or wrists, and while the Gradual Face dials down vibration, it doesn't erase it.

If you're torn between this and something more forgiving, the test is simple: if your mistakes come from arriving late to the wall or hitting off-center, this racket will magnify them. If they come from the racket not giving back the power you put in, the Carb-On Hype is your answer.

There's a newer generation of this model, the Lok Carb-On Hype Gen 2 2026, with a different core and structure. Don't mix up specs between the two — everything covered here refers to the 2024 version.