Siux Viking IV 2023

Technologies

Pros

• ✓The Soft EVA core paired with a fibreglass face produces seriously high ball exit: on defensive lobs from the back of the court you barely need to push, the racket lifts the ball almost by itself The teardrop shape with mid balance keeps weight close to the hand, letting you adjust mid-swing on quick volleys and rushed bandejas without ever feeling like the racket is arriving late A wide, forgiving sweet spot: shots struck slightly off-centre still fly true, which matters most while you're still dialling in your timing The carbon Bitube reinforcement along the frame's edges protects the area that takes the most punishment from scraping the ground on low balls and dropshots Smooth face and soft rubber that cushion the impact: long match sessions without your elbow and shoulder absorbing the vibration typical of stiffer rackets

Cons

• ✗This isn't a racket for smashing winners: the Soft EVA absorbs too much on a flat smash, so the ball comes off slower than the power you're putting in The smooth face barely grips the ball, so cut viboras and kick serves come out with noticeably less spin than you'd get from a rough-textured face At up to 375g toward the top of its weight range, anyone after a genuinely light racket for long matches should check the spec before buying The soft, forgiving profile runs out of steam once your level rises and you start demanding heavy, deep balls at the net

Siux Viking IV 2023 Review: The Soft Teardrop Racket That Returns the Ball For You

Siux's Viking line has always played in accessible territory, and the Siux Viking IV 2023 takes that to the extreme: teardrop shape, fibreglass face with a smooth finish, low-density Soft EVA core, carbon Bitube reinforcement along the frame edges, and a weight range of 355 to 375 grams. It's a padel racket built around one simple idea: get the ball out without forcing your arm.

Siux Viking IV 2023 Specs

What Do Fibreglass and Soft EVA Actually Bring to This Racket?

The combination isn't random. Fibreglass is a more elastic material than carbon: the face flexes on impact, stores energy and gives it back. On court, that means the ball comes off fast even when contact wasn't perfectly clean.

The low-density Soft EVA core pushes in the same direction. A soft core deforms more, extends contact time and forgives mishits. The trade-off shows up on the flat smash: some of the energy you put in gets absorbed by the core instead of returning to the ball.

Bitube is the detail that lifts this racket above a basic teardrop model. These are carbon reinforcements placed along the frame's edges, the zone that takes the brunt of scraping the ground on dropshots and low balls, and typically the first point of failure on rackets in this segment.

How It Performs Shot by Shot

Defence and off-the-back-wall play. This is where it shines. The soft setup pops the lob up with minimal arm swing, and on balls coming tight off the glass, all you need to do is guide it through. There's no need to generate racket head speed yourself.

Volleys. The mid balance keeps weight close to the hand, so the racket reacts quickly during fast net exchanges. Block volleys feel comfortable; aggressive volleys hunting for the winner ask for more than the core can give.

Bandeja. The teardrop shape combined with mid balance favours maneuverability: you can correct your swing when a lob has snuck past you. The bandeja comes out controlled and deep, though without the bite a textured surface would add.

Smash and vibora. Time for some honesty here. On a flat smash from the back, the Soft EVA cushions the impact and the ball doesn't come off with the pace the swing deserves. The smooth face doesn't help generate spin either, so cut viboras and kick serves lose revolutions compared to a textured-face racket.

Who Is the Siux Viking IV Actually For?

This is a racket for players taking their first steps in padel, or intermediate players who want to keep progressing without punishing their arm. The wide sweet spot and high tolerance for mishits are exactly what someone who isn't yet centring every ball needs.

Three player profiles it suits:

1. **The improving player** stepping up from a round racket who wants a bit more bite without sacrificing comfort.
2. **The long-match player** who values not walking off court with a sore elbow after two hours.
3. **The defensive player** who builds points around lobs and waits for the opponent's error, rather than someone looking to close points with the smash.

As part of a pair, it works well alongside a partner who takes on the finishing role. This racket gives you consistency and depth; your partner closes out the point.

What the Viking IV Gets Right — and Where It Falls Short

It nails three specific things: getting the ball out with minimal effort, forgiving off-centre hits, and absorbing vibration. That combination fits perfectly with an all-round racket designed to support the learning curve.

It falls short once your level climbs. There comes a point where you start demanding heavy, deep balls from the net, and the Soft EVA simply can't deliver. The same goes for spin: without texture on the face, the cut is noticeably less pronounced than you'd like.

The 355-375g weight range deserves a look before buying. The top end is on the heavier side, and if you're coming from a lighter racket, you'll feel the difference over long matches.

Verdict: Comfort Over Power

The Siux Viking IV 2023 doesn't try to be a power racket, and it doesn't pretend to be one. It's a teardrop built to make playing easier: elastic fibreglass, soft rubber, a generous sweet spot, and a frame protected by Bitube exactly where it takes the most abuse.

If you're after a racket that helps you keep the ball in play while you sharpen your technique, without wrecking your arm, this one fits the bill. But if you already smash with intent and need the racket to give back what you put into it, you'll outgrow this model within a matter of months.