Nox Nerbo By Antomi Ramos 2022

Technologies

Pros

• ✓EVA HR3 Hard barely deforms on contact and gives the energy straight back: the flat smash comes out crisp with a very tight trajectory when you strike it centred and out in front of the body. The coarse silica sand texture really bites into the ball on the kick serve and on cut drop shots, with extra grip that translates into fine placement rather than flashy spin. 12K carbon spreads vibration better than you'd expect from such a rigid core, and on the block volley the response is instant, without the lag you get from softer, more flexible faces. The DCS (Dynamic Composite Structure) frame keeps things solid on hits toward the tip, exactly the spot where a head-heavy diamond shape tends to twist on emergency shots. The head-heavy balance piles mass up top and multiplies swing inertia on the smash: with the same motion, the ball comes out noticeably faster than with a neutral weight distribution.

Cons

• ✗The sweet spot is small and sits high on the face: anything struck below centre comes out dead and forces you to adjust your contact height. Ball exit with the HR3 Hard rubber is demanding when cold. Until the rubber warms up, unsupported baseline shots fall short and the court eats you alive. At the top end of the weight range, 355 grams with a head-heavy balance takes a toll on the wrist during long defensive rallies, where you're constantly forced to lift the ball. This isn't a padel racket: it's a solid beach tennis paddle, unstrung, so don't expect wall-exit behaviour or bandeja feel.

NOX hit the sand in 2022 with the NOX Nerbo by Antomi Ramos 2022: 12K carbon face, EVA HR3 Hard rubber core, diamond shape, head-heavy balance, DCS (Dynamic Composite Structure) frame, and a weight range of 335 to 355 grams.

This is a premium, advanced-level paddle with a very defined character from the first hit: stiff, demanding, and seriously fast when contact lands where it should.

Antomi Ramos and NOX's first sand-specific line

NOX signed Antomi Ramos, world number 3 in beach tennis, to develop its first dedicated sand collection. The Nerbo is the flagship of that range, built for players with already-polished technique.

Worth saying upfront: this is not a padel racket. It's a solid beach tennis paddle, unstrung and without a conventional frame profile, designed for striking an unpressurised ball.

That reframes the whole review. There's no wall to read here, no bandeja to set up: it's all volley, flat smash, kick serve and drop shot, played almost entirely out in front of the body.

What does EVA HR3 Hard rubber bring versus a softer core?

HR3 Hard is a high-density rubber that barely deforms on impact: it returns energy immediately instead of storing and releasing it. The result is a crisp strike, a flat trajectory, and pinpoint depth control — in exchange for demanding that your arm supplies the pace.

That's the trade-off with this paddle. The NOX Nerbo by Antomi Ramos 2022 won't hand you free metres: it gives you precision and a very high ceiling for power if you're the one accelerating the racket.

Within Antomi Ramos's own line there's an alternative with softer rubber and a more forgiving ball exit; the Nerbo is deliberately the hard option, built for placement and punishment rather than ease of use.

12K carbon and coarse silica sand: where the spin comes from

The 12K weave groups bundles of twelve thousand filaments per thread. Compared to a finer weave, it adds stiffness with a bit more body, and that nuance shows in how it filters vibration from such a hard rubber core.

Over that face, the rough surface with coarse silica sand does the grip work. It's no cosmetic texture: it bites into the ball on the kick and lets you cut drop shots with confidence so they die close to the net.

The DCS frame rounds things out by keeping the face solid on hits toward the tip, the most vulnerable zone on any head-heavy diamond shape.

NOX Nerbo by Antomi Ramos 2022 specs

Who is this paddle really for?

For advanced or competitive players with refined technique and a fast arm. The combination of diamond shape, head-heavy balance and HR3 Hard rubber shrinks the sweet spot's margin for error, so it only pays off for hands that hit centred consistently. An intermediate player will lose power and pick up elbow discomfort instead.

The profile that fits best:

1. Players who finish points from above with the flat smash rather than building long rallies.
2. Players who stand forward, cut a lot of balls, and need grip for the drop shot.
3. Players already coming from stiff paddles who don't expect the gear to supply the pace.
4. Players who find the sweet spot even on forced shots.

If your game lives on deep defence and digging out low balls, this NOX option will demand more than it gives back.

Where it shines and where it punishes you on court

It shines on the smash. Weight concentrated up top generates inertia that accelerates the ball without forcing the swing, and the hard rubber keeps the trajectory flat instead of ballooning it.

It also shines on the block volley: the response is instant and depth control is very reliable. Placing it short and crosscourt feels natural.

It punishes low balls and off-centre contact. Below the centre of the face the ball comes out dead, and ball exit is tough when cold, until the rubber reaches temperature.

It punishes extended defence. Lifting lob after lob at 355 grams with a head-heavy balance takes its toll on the wrist and shoulder; you need to prepare early or you're always a beat late.

Verdict: plenty of pop, thin margin for error

The NOX Nerbo by Antomi Ramos 2022 is premium gear with a clear read: control and placement built on a rigid foundation that only unlocks its potential with a clean strike.

The 12K carbon and silica sand give it real bite, and the DCS keeps the face solid where other diamond-shaped paddles flex. In exchange, the small sweet spot and demanding ball exit put it out of reach for anyone still shaping their swing.

If you want a more forgiving entry point into sand, the same line offers options with softer rubber. If your technique is already there and you want a paddle that won't hold you back, this one delivers.