Softee Freedom

Technologies

Pros

• ✓That 38mm diamond profile paired with a head-heavy balance stacks the mass up top: your smash and vibora come off the racket faster than any round-shaped, same-weight racket can match The 12K carbon face gives a crisp, no-flex response on contact, which translates into cut bandejas that hold their line even when you catch the ball off-centre toward the tip The Black EVA core, a high-performance EVA rubber, soaks up a good chunk of vibration on your heaviest swings without going soft — the feel stays firm without turning harsh on a smash by 3 The 355-375g weight range gives you room to pick your setup: at 355g you get a touch more agility at the net for fast volleys; at 375g it turns into a hammer for players chasing dead weight on the smash

Cons

• ✗That head-heavy balance means you've got to load your arm early on defence: on a rushed wall exit or a deep lob over your shoulder, the head's weight catches up and you arrive with the racket lagging behind The smooth face limits how much bite you get on cut shots and kick serves; you'll need to generate the slice through wrist technique, because the surface won't grip the ball for you The diamond's sweet spot sits high and stays narrow: miss the centre toward the heart of the racket and the ball dies on you, leaving an uncomfortable sensation That 355-375g minimum weight is demanding over long matches; your elbow and shoulder will feel the inertia if your physical conditioning and stroke technique aren't already dialed in

The Softee Freedom targets advanced players with consolidated technique who want more performance without yet moving to a pure competition racket. Its diamond shape moves the sweet spot to the top of the face, giving more leverage and power at the cost of some tolerance. The high balance adds weight to the swing and pushes the racket toward an offensive profile. Its 355-375g weight range places it in the medium-weight group, the most common among amateur players.

Softee Freedom Review: The 38mm Diamond Racket Built Purely for Smashing Power

The Softee Freedom belongs to the Softee Padel 2022 collection, designed and manufactured in Spain, and it doesn't hide its intentions: diamond shape, head-heavy balance, 38mm profile, 12K carbon face over a Black EVA core, and a 355-375g weight range. This is a power racket for the advanced player — there's no middle ground here.

That combination — high mass, a loaded head, and medium-high density rubber — defines a racket that gives back plenty to players who hit with clean technique, and punishes anyone who's late to the ball.

Softee Freedom Specs at a Glance

What Does a 12K Carbon Face Over a Black EVA Core Actually Do?

The 100% carbon build with a 12K weave on the face is all about stiffness. A 12K weave uses thicker braided fibre bundles, which produces a hitting surface that barely flexes on impact and returns energy fast, without the delayed trampoline effect you get from softer, more flexible faces.

The high-performance EVA rubber core — Black EVA — is the counterbalance. Softee positions it as a rubber that delivers strong ball exit with a soft touch while cutting down vibration on your hardest shots. On court, that means a padel racket that feels firm in hand but doesn't send a sharp jolt up your elbow when you connect on a flat, full-power smash.

The 38mm frame rounds out the package: it's the maximum profile allowed under the rules, and it adds structural rigidity through the sides, which helps sustain power on shots that land near the frame.

How It Performs on Every Shot

Smash and vibora. This is where the racket earns its keep. The head-heavy balance in a diamond shape puts the mass above the geometric centre, and that multiplies the whip of your arm. The smash by 3 comes off with a tight trajectory; the vibora, helped by the 12K face, keeps a fast, flat ball exit.

Bandeja. With the weight up top, you need to follow through more on the shot, but it rewards you with a heavy bandeja that stays low off the bounce. The smooth face means the cut is entirely on you: the surface won't grip the ball, so any spin comes down to wrist angle and swing path.

Volley. For block volleys, it works well because the mass does the job for you. In fast net exchanges, though, the 355-375g weight and head-heavy balance cost you reaction time compared to lighter, round-shaped rackets.

Defence and wall exits. This is the weak point. With a loaded head, any ball that catches you off guard behind you, or a rushed wall exit, leaves you with the racket trailing behind. It demands early preparation and sharp anticipation.

What Level of Player Is the Softee Freedom Made For?

This is a racket for advanced players with solid, consolidated stroke technique and the physical conditioning to swing 355-375 grams for a full match. It's not a progression racket: the diamond's sweet spot is high and narrow, and off-centre hits toward the heart of the racket lose noticeable pace. An intermediate player will see more errors than winners.

The ideal profile is a backhand smasher who closes out points at the net in two or three shots. As a doubles partner, it pairs well with a steadier right-side player running a control racket, who can sustain the rally while the Freedom waits for the high ball.

Freedom 12K vs. the Range's 24K Upgrade

Softee later released a Softee Freedom 24K variant with an upgraded carbon face, which positions this Freedom as the entry-level model in the family. The weave upgrade on the face affects stiffness and feel, but both share the same underlying philosophy: diamond shape, head-heavy balance, and a power-first approach.

If you're after the most accessible way into that concept within the range, this is your starting point.

Three Things to Know Before You Buy

1. **Choose your weight wisely.** The 355g version gives you more room to maneuver at net; the 375g version turns your smash into a weapon but costs you on defence. That 20-gram difference matters more than you'd expect on a head-heavy racket.
2. **The smooth surface changes how you generate spin.** If you're coming from a textured-face racket, you'll need to compensate with more swing path and more wrist on cut shots and kick lobs.
3. **This isn't a racket built for comfort.** It's built to hit hard. Ball exit is solid thanks to the Black EVA, but it won't bail out a lazy swing.

Verdict: Honest Power, No Defensive Compromises

The Softee Freedom delivers exactly what it promises. The 12K carbon face and 38mm frame produce a fast, crisp response, and the Black EVA core cushions just enough to spare your arm from excessive punishment on your biggest swings.

What it won't do is forgive you. The head-heavy balance demands you arrive on time, the narrow sweet spot demands centred contact, and the weight demands physical conditioning. Meet those three conditions, and this is a racket that turns high balls into points.

If your game leans more toward defending and building points than finishing them, this isn't your racket — look for a round-shaped model with a low-to-medium balance instead. But if your backhand is your weapon and the high ball is your moment, the Freedom gives you the tool to make it count.