Royal Padel R Control X

Technologies

Pros

• ✓The 3D texture on the face grabs the ball on the cut: bandejas drop low and tight to the glass, and viboras get real kick towards the back wall, no wrist-forcing required Low balance and weight concentrated in the handle: the racket arrives on time on the wall exit and lets you adjust your grip late without losing the centre of the hitting plane The soft polyethylene core extends contact time and gives a cushioned touch that really shows on deep lobs and dropshots, while also being kind on elbow and shoulder The 16K 3D Hexcel Twill Aeronautical carbon also reinforces the sidewall and frame, exactly the area that usually takes the first hit from floor scuffs and wall knocks A wide, forgiving sweet spot: blocked volleys at the feet and off-centre defensive shots come out clean instead of dying against the frame

Cons

• ✗The flat smash relies almost entirely on your own arm: without head-heavy balance it won't add extra metres, so you need real racket-head speed to close points on power alone The soft rubber takes some snap out of fast mid-court exchanges: the ball sits on the face a fraction longer and the counter-attack comes out less explosive than with a harder core At 355-365g this is still a serious weight; players coming from lighter rackets will feel arm fatigue late in matches, even if the low balance masks it well It's rated for advanced players, and the demand isn't in ball exit but in having the arm strength to generate the power the racket won't supply for you

Round-shaped, 355-365g and low balance: the Royal Padel R Control X puts 16K 3D Hexcel Twill Aeronautical carbon to work for touch rather than raw power. A 38mm frame, soft polyethylene core and a face covered in 3D texture that exists for one purpose only: to bite the ball.

What it inherits from the Royal Padel M27 2022 — and what it fixes

This racket is built as an evolution of the Royal Padel M27 2022, and the real change isn't in the mould but in how the carbon is distributed. The 3D Hexcel Twill Aeronautical reinforcement doesn't stop at the face: it runs through the sidewall and frame too.

That peripheral reinforcement tackles the classic weak point of soft competition padel rackets, which tend to open up at the edges — floor scuffs, wall contact — long before they lose touch on the hitting surface.

16K carbon over a soft core: two materials pulling in opposite directions

The soft polyethylene core extends contact time. The ball stays on the face a fraction longer, and that extra split-second is what lets you steer a lob deep or open up a dropshot without the material kicking the ball back too early.

The 16K carbon does the opposite job: it puts stiffness back into the surface so that touch doesn't tip over into dead softness. That's why full-blooded shots still come back with a crisp response even though the rubber itself is soft.

Add it up and you get a padel racket with a cushioned feel and a capped power ceiling. It rewards acceleration, but it won't hand you extra metres on the flat smash — those metres are on you.

Is the Royal Padel R Control X a racket for hitting hard?

Not really. With a round shape, low balance and soft polyethylene core, this model prioritises placement over raw impact. It closes plenty of points with vibora and smash by three, but its power ceiling sits below that of a rigid diamond-shaped attacking racket.

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

• **Bandeja and vibora.** This is where the 3D texture earns its keep: the heavily textured surface grips the ball on the cut, producing bandejas that stay low and tight to the glass, plus viboras with genuine kick towards the back wall.
• **Defence and wall exits.** The low balance stops the head from dropping; you can adjust your grip late and still block a deep lob with the ball nicely centred.
• **Volleys.** A wide sweet spot with plenty of forgiveness off-centre: blocked volleys at the feet come out clean even when you're rushed for time.
• **Flat smash.** The clear limit. Without head-heavy balance and with soft rubber, you need genuine racket-head speed to close out points on power; the smash by three and cut smash suit it far better than the flat, full-power version.

Royal Padel R Control X: full specs

Who is this racket for?

Advanced and competitive players, with one honest caveat: 355-365g is still a serious weight, but with it concentrated in the handle, the racket swings noticeably lighter than the number on the scale suggests.

That makes it a solid fit for lighter-framed players who need a generous sweet spot to cover off-centre contact without punishing the elbow and shoulder match after match.

Player profiles it suits:

1. Backhand-side players who build points with lobs and bandejas and finish at the net through placement rather than force.
2. Fast-armed forehand players who prefer to generate their own racket-head speed and want a racket that won't spray the long ball.
3. Anyone moving on from a hard racket who wants touch without giving up structure in the frame.

As a doubles pairing, it works well alongside a partner running a more aggressive racket who takes on the flat smash duties, while this Royal Padel keeps the rally under control and dictates the point.

Verdict: control with structure, not a power racket

The Royal Padel R Control X does exactly what its name promises: maneuverability, sweet spot and spin. The 16K carbon spread across face, sidewall and frame gives it the consistency soft rackets usually lack, and the 3D texture turns every cut shot into a problem for your opponent.

What you won't get is free power. If your game leans on the flat smash or you want the racket to do the work for you, this isn't the shape for you. But if your edge comes from variety — height, spin, changes of pace — you'll notice the difference from the first set.