Siux Electra ST3 Special Edition Stupa

Technologies

Pros

• ✓The 15K Textreme carbon face in its 20×40 layout feeds back precise information on every strike: smashes hit down the line and cut bandejas land with more pace and bite than you'd get off a lower-filament-density face. At 355g on the light end of the range, with a 38mm aramid-reinforced frame, the medium balance never loads up the wrist; the volley swing at net stays sharp and quick even through long rallies. The Sandy finish cranks up the spin on the cut vibora and on short lob kicks: the ball skids and bounces tighter than it would off a smooth face, forcing opponents into awkward court positions. The hybrid shape widens the sweet spot compared to a pure diamond without giving up smash presence: it forgives slightly off-centre hits far better than a high-balance diamond would.

Cons

• ✗EVA Hard bites back on defence when you're caught out of position: contact high on the face or with an incomplete swing transmits straight through to the elbow more than a mid-density core would. True to hybrid-shape-plus-dense-core rackets, the sweet spot runs smaller than on a round-shape racket; in grinding matches where focus starts to slip, that inconsistency shows up fast. The stiff Textreme layup returns the ball in a fairly mechanical way on soft bandejas or defensive lobs — players who lean on touch and feel will find this face colder than other carbon options.

Siux Electra ST3 Special Edition Stupa: what 20×40 Textreme carbon and EVA Hard actually deliver on court

15K Textreme carbon laid up in a 20×40 pattern, an EVA Hard core, a 38mm frame profile and Franco Stupaczuk's own signature — the Siux Electra ST3 Special Edition Stupa 2025 doesn't leave much room for guesswork about what it's built for. Weighing in between 355 and 375g with a medium balance, this is a hybrid-shape padel racket aimed squarely at advanced players who want genuine all-round performance, not the watered-down versatility you find further down the range.

Textreme fabric, in this 20×40 configuration, spreads carbon filaments more evenly than conventional plain-weave or twill layups. The payoff is a stiffer face for the weight: Siux can keep the racket down at 355g without sacrificing hitting firmness. On court that means a crisp, well-defined contact with minimal face flex on impact — your arm gets instant feedback on exactly where you struck the ball and how clean the connection was.

Why the EVA Hard core is the real character of the Electra ST3 SE

Siux's EVA Hard is one of the densest foams in the brand's lineup. Paired with a high-balance shape, that density can be a handful to control — thin margin for error and brutal feedback on defensive shots. Here, with the balance sitting mid-range, EVA Hard works more like a reactive trampoline at the net: it snaps the volley back with pace without needing a big swing, and it holds firm on flat smashes from an attacking position.

The 38mm frame — built from aramid-reinforced 3K carbon — keeps the face stable on off-centre contact and passively soaks up some of the vibration a core this dense would otherwise send through. Across back-to-back matches, that structural damping is what separates players managing elbow issues from those who aren't.

What does the Sandy finish add to this racket's Textreme carbon face?

The Sandy finish on the Textreme 20×40 face raises the friction at ball contact, which amplifies spin on any shot hit with an open face. On the cut vibora from the corner, the ball comes off with noticeably sharper sideways spin than you'd get from a smooth or semi-smooth surface. On the kick serve into a short lob, the resulting bounce sits tighter and low, making the transition tougher for whoever's on the other side.

Put Sandy texture together with 20×40 Textreme carbon and you get a racket that's particularly dangerous at the net: the stiff face seals pace into the shot, and the texture adds the spin component that makes it harder to read and intercept.

Textreme power on the smash, Sandy bite on the vibora: how it plays shot by shot

Smash and bandeja: Textreme transmits impact directly. On down-the-line smashes, the face doesn't give an inch; the ball comes off the glass low and fast. On the cut bandeja with an open face, the Sandy texture helps generate extra rotation. The catch: mis-timed technique or a loose wrist at the last moment gets punished — the stiffness doesn't forgive, and your arm pays for it.

First volley and net play: at 355-360g with medium balance, the head doesn't drop on fast body volleys. EVA Hard punches the ball back with real pop; this isn't a racket that just cushions the ball — it needs the player to commit at least a little to every shot.

Defence from the back: this is where the racket's honest limitation shows. The sweet spot on a hybrid with EVA Hard runs compact; get to a ball late and catch it high on the face and your arm absorbs all the vibration. Anyone who defends a lot from a compromised position will want a friendlier core.

Siux Electra ST3 Special Edition Stupa vs. other Siux rackets

Within Siux's range, the Siux Electra Stupa Pro ST4 2025 is the direct evolution of this line. Players chasing more control with less technical demand should look at the Siux Astra Control 2026 or the Siux Trilogy Control Pro 4 2024, both offering a friendlier core and a bigger sweet spot. For an even more powerful, pure-attack profile, the Siux Electra Elite 6 2026 pushes a step further up the competitive scale.

Player profile: who this racket is for, and who should skip it

A good fit if you: - Play at an advanced or competitive level with clean technique across the board - Already play with EVA Hard rackets and want an even stiffer, more defined face - Generate plenty of spin from the bandeja, the vibora or the short lob - Value fast, precise feedback over a generous sweet spot

Not the right choice if you: - Have a history of tennis elbow or a sensitive elbow without a cushioned racket beforehand - Are a beginner or intermediate still building a consistent swing - Defend a lot from the back court and need wide margin for error - Prioritise touch and feel over a mechanical response on placement shots

Verdict

The Siux Electra ST3 Special Edition Stupa 2025 is a versatile competition racket that makes no secret of its intentions: 20×40 Textreme carbon, EVA Hard and a Sandy finish are built for a technically solid player who wants precise feedback and spin on attack. Its biggest strength is shot definition under pressure; its biggest drawback is that off-centre hits or late defensive contact sting more than they would on a friendlier-core racket. For players who already handle stiff rackets and want the extra edge of Textreme carbon carrying the signature of one of the Premier Padel tour's biggest names, this special edition delivers.

What carbon does the Siux Electra ST3 Special Edition Stupa use?

The face is built from 15K carbon using Textreme fabric in a 20×40 configuration. Textreme spreads the filaments evenly, producing a stiffer, lighter face per unit of area than a conventional weave at the same K rating. The Sandy texture on top adds friction to maximise spin on shots hit with an open face.

Is this racket suitable for a 4th-category player?

Technically, yes, but the EVA Hard core and 15K Textreme carbon demand a consistent swing to unlock their benefits. A 4th-category player with years on court who's still refining technique can make it work; someone still developing their drive or basic bandeja will get more predictable ball response — and less elbow strain — from a softer-core racket.