Starvie Icarus 22

Pros

• ✓The soft EVA core, a low-density rubber with fast rebound, sends the ball back almost on its own on block volleys, no need to punch the shot for the ball to land deep The round shape centres the sweet spot and makes it huge, so it forgives off-centre hits when you're stretching for a wall exit or a lob glued to the back glass The rough surface bites into the ball on cut bandejas and defensive lifted shots, where the spin helps kill the bounce and buys you the time power can't 38mm frame and mid balance keep the racket whipping through the hand on reaction volleys at mid-court, without punishing your elbow over long matches The 350-385g weight range lets you pick a lighter build for handling or a heavier one for blocking hard-hit balls without switching models

Cons

• ✗Power is capped: on a flat smash for the third, the racket won't manufacture depth for you, and if you're stretched the smash dies at mid-court The mid balance doesn't stack mass in the head, so anyone who lives off a víbora looking for quick exit pace will miss inertia on contact The soft EVA cushions part of the impact and takes away crisp response: on comfortable high balls it's harder to feel the bite a hard rubber gives you The grain on the rough surface wears down with court hours, and the spin, one of its biggest selling points, drops off noticeably before anything else does

The Starvie Icarus 22 suits intermediate players who already have a technical base and want to progress without jumping to a too-demanding paddle. Its round shape concentrates the sweet spot in the center of the face, increasing tolerance and favouring control. The medium balance keeps a balanced behaviour between baseline shots and volleys. Its 350-385g weight range places it in the medium-weight group, the most common among amateur players.

The Starvie Icarus 22 landed in 2022 with a goal that's far from flashy but genuinely useful: get intermediate players to stop fighting their gear. Round shape, glass fibre face, soft EVA core and a 38mm frame, all inside a 350-385g weight range.

This isn't a headline-grabbing racket. It's a racket that gets the ball out.

Glass fibre over soft EVA: what really drives the Icarus 22

The glass fibre face is an elastic weave. It flexes on contact and returns a good chunk of that energy as it releases the ball, stretching contact time on the face by a few milliseconds.

Underneath sits the soft EVA core: a low-density rubber with fast rebound. Its job here isn't to bank raw power, it's to make the shot easier to execute. The material does part of the work your arm would otherwise have to put in on a stiffer racket.

That pairing explains the most recognisable feel of this padel racket: the ball leaves the face before you feel like you've pushed it. On block volleys, three-quarter court defence and returning serve, the ball comes back with depth without needing extra acceleration.

The 38mm frame rounds out the picture. It's a slim profile that trims inertia and keeps the racket turning fast in your hand, something you notice in quick net exchanges.

The rough surface isn't just cosmetic. The grain grips the ball on cut bandejas and lifted lobs, two shots that keep an intermediate's game afloat when raw power isn't enough to close out the point.

Starvie Icarus 22 specs

Who is the Starvie Icarus 22 actually for?

The Starvie Icarus 22 targets intermediate players looking to sharpen their game without relying on perfect timing every time. The round shape sits the sweet spot dead centre and keeps it huge, the soft EVA cushions the impact, and the mid balance spreads the weight evenly: together they forgive mistimed hits and off-centre contact.

Put another way: this is a racket that corrects, not one that punishes. Advanced players who really hit the ball will find a ceiling on the smash; those still building their bandeja and volley will find plenty of room to grow.

Bandeja, víbora and wall exits: where it shines and where it holds back

• **Bandeja and cut smash:** the model's strongest suit. The grain on the face holds the cut and the soft rubber lets you caress the ball without fear of overhitting.
• **Wall exit:** this is where the Icarus 22 wins points. The wide face combined with instant ball exit turns what would be a short return on a stiffer racket into a deep ball.
• **Volley:** the 38mm frame and mid balance give you maneuverability; it lacks a bit of crisp bite to stick the low volley at your opponent's feet.
• **Smash for the third and flat smash:** the limit. The racket doesn't generate power on its own and the balance doesn't stack mass in the head, so the shot depends almost entirely on your technique and setup.
• **Víbora:** doable, but without the sharp snap a stiffer face gives. The sidespin does come off well thanks to the rough texture.

How much power does a round racket with soft EVA really give you?

Less than the deep-ball feel suggests, and it's worth being upfront about that. The soft EVA with fast rebound delivers a generous ball exit at medium intensity, which is where roughly 80% of an intermediate match is actually played.

Crank up the pace and the material taps out before your arm does: the rubber absorbs energy instead of firing it back. That's why this all-round option from Starvie leans toward control and consistency rather than the killer shot.

If your game revolves around closing points with a smash for the third, this isn't your racket. If it's about not missing, moving your opponents around and waiting for the short ball, it fits perfectly.

Player profile and verdict on the Icarus 22

The natural user is a 2.5-3.5 intermediate playing two or three times a week, someone who already tells a bandeja from a víbora and needs a racket that doesn't charge them for every mistimed hit. It also suits players coming back from elbow or wrist issues: the soft rubber and 38mm frame filter out a lot of vibration.

Within the 350-385g range, the rule of thumb is simple: under 365g you gain hand speed at net; over that, you gain stability for blocking hard-hit balls in defence.

As a pairing, it works best alongside a more attacking partner who takes on the finishing smashes. The Icarus 22 sustains the point, sets up the lob and returns everything that comes off the back wall; the firepower is better supplied from the other side of the court.

The honest part is the ceiling. Once your game matures and you start hunting the point with raw power, you'll feel the racket's limits. Until then, few tools make learning the shots that actually matter this easy.