Adidas Metalbone CTRL 3.4 Padel Racket vs Babolat Air Viper Woman Padel Racket — Padel Rackets Comparison UK 2026

Two completely different rackets serving different players. The Metalbone CTRL 3.4 at £270-330 is a tour-grade weapon — diamond shape, high balance, EVA Hard Performance core, 18K carbon fibre, 360-375g. The Babolat Air Viper Woman at £130 is a more accessible women-specific design.

The honest read:

• The Metalbone CTRL is unforgiving on off-centre hits — that's the trade-off for its surgical precision. Hard EVA combined with 18K carbon means every contact gets transmitted to your arm.
• High balance plus diamond shape is brutal in long sessions if your fitness or technique isn't there.
• The Air Viper Woman trades raw power for manageability — easier to swing, more forgiving, friendlier to developing players.
• £140-200 price gap is enormous and fundamental to this comparison.
• 18K carbon on the Metalbone is genuinely premium and durable.

If you're an advanced player who can use what the Metalbone CTRL offers — competing seriously, finishing points, with developed technique — it earns its tag. For everyone else, including most intermediate women players, the Air Viper Woman at £130 is the sensible buy. Don't pay tour prices for tour kit you can't honour.