STARVIE DRAX+ 2027

Technologies

Pros

• ✓It's genuinely easy to handle thanks to the mid balance and 352-368g weight range: at the net during volley exchanges and on low defensive shots, you get into position quicker than with head-heavier rackets The 12K Carbon Hyper face gives you very detailed feedback on where you've struck the ball, so you can dose globos, dropshots and bandejas down the line with more precision The rough finish with Spin Boost Tech bites into the ball on viboras and cut shots, producing low exits that are tough to return off the back glass Shock Shield in the frame and Z-Shock in the handle dampen vibration on off-centre hits, which your elbow will thank you for late in a long match

Cons

• ✗Ball exit is moderate: on defensive shots from the back and late wall exits you need to guide the shot with your arm to clear the net on the globo The sweet spot isn't among the widest out there: catch it near the frame on low volleys and you lose precision, with the ball falling short On the flat smash it's built to place rather than finish outright; players who close out points with a smash by 3 will miss the extra drive of a high-balance diamond racket

12K carbon, 352-368g, a teardrop shape and a 38mm frame: that's the StarVie Drax+ 2027 in a nutshell, an all-court padel racket for the intermediate player who wants control without giving up power. The M-Eva Balance core and eight in-house technologies round out a racket built to deliver feel before brute force.

On court, you notice straight away how easy it moves — and just as quickly that it doesn't give anything away for free: power only comes when you work for it, not off a springy rebound.

StarVie Drax+ 2027 specs at a glance

The combination holds together from top to bottom. A teardrop shape, mid balance and medium-density EVA in a tight weight range add up to a racket built for playing lots of different shots within the same point, not for specialising in just one.

12K Carbon Hyper and M-Eva Balance: feel first, catapult second

The 12K Carbon Hyper is a 12,000-filament weave with a more open pattern than usual, and that detail changes the feel completely. The face relays exactly where contact happened, so you know instantly whether you've caught it clean or clipped the frame.

That feedback is what lets you adjust on the very next shot. On a defensive bandeja or a globo, feeling the ball matters more than a couple of extra km/h.

The M-Eva Balance keeps everything in check. It's neither a soft core that trampolines the ball back on its own, nor a dense block that demands a full arm swing every time. The touch is firm without feeling stiff, with enough pop when you accelerate and plenty of control when you just want to block.

The rough finish, reinforced with Spin Boost Tech, is the third piece of the puzzle. It's among the grippiest surfaces in its class, and you feel it most when cutting the ball: the vibora comes off with real spin, and the bandeja drops heavy after the bounce.

Shock Shield, Z-Shock and Hepta Bridge: how it handles vibration

The Drax+ doesn't leave comfort entirely to the core. Shock Shield is a technical rubber built into the frame that absorbs part of the impact before it reaches the handle. Z-Shock acts as a second anti-vibration barrier in the grip.

The payoff shows up most on off-centre hits, which are frequent at intermediate level. A volley caught low on the face arrives at the wrist noticeably dampened.

Hepta Bridge works on structural rigidity, Reactive Holes shapes the face's perforation pattern, and Airflow Design aims to cut through the air with less resistance on the swing. All of it backs up what you already feel in hand: a fast, stable racket with controlled touch.

How does the StarVie Drax+ 2027 perform on bandeja, vibora and smash?

It shines brightest at the net. With mid balance and a max weight of 368g, you beat your opponent to the ball in volley exchanges and place it with a short, compact arm action.

• **Bandeja:** one of the racket's strongest suits. Control and the rough finish let you play it deep down the line or short off the side glass with plenty of margin.
• **Vibora:** aggressive thanks to the rough surface. It comes off with spin and a low bounce, though it demands a clean technique to avoid dumping it into the net.
• **Smash:** solid on the placed smash and a well-set flat smash. To finish the point by 3, it lacks the head-heavy momentum of a high-balance racket.
• **Defence and wall exits:** this is where its demanding side shows. Moderate ball exit means you have to guide the globo and can't afford to be late.
• **Low volleys:** precise when you catch it clean. The sweet spot isn't huge and punishes contact near the frame.

Who is the StarVie Drax+ 2027 built for?

It's designed for the intermediate player with solid technique, who already has the bandeja down and wants to start working spin into their game. The teardrop shape, mid balance and high control make it versatile on both sides, as long as the player puts in the arm work on defensive shots.

It suits a backhand-side player especially well — someone who builds the point from the net and leaves the finishing smash to their partner. Paired with a harder-hitting partner on the other side, the Drax+ works great as a point-construction racket.

It's not the best pick for a beginner still looking for a racket that gives them depth on defence without much effort. Nor for the player who closes out almost every point from above.

What the Drax+ won't give you for free

Let's be clear: this is a control racket with decent power, not a power racket in disguise. Anyone coming from a high-balance diamond shape will miss that finishing punch.

The medium sweet spot and moderate ball exit come at a cost in long matches. When fatigue shortens your swing, defensive shots fall short, and opponents pounce on it from the net.

Verdict: three things to know before buying

1. **Pick it if** your game runs through the net, you want a very manageable racket, and you value feeling every impact thanks to the 12K carbon face.
2. **Think twice if** you defend a lot from the back or still need a racket that helps you get deep globos out without much effort.
3. **Skip it if** your way of winning points is the smash by 3: here you get precision and spin, not raw power.

The StarVie Drax+ 2027 is an honest racket. It rewards the player who builds the point, cuts the ball, and knows how to wait for the right moment — and in return, it demands solid technique on defensive shots.