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

This is one of those comparisons where the price tells you almost everything. The Adidas Metalbone CTRL 3.4 at £270-330 is a tour-level diamond with 18K carbon fibre and Smart Holes technology. It plays as fast as anything on the market and gives elite players surgical control of full-power smashes.

The Babolat Technical Viper at £140 is a strong intermediate diamond with a Black EVA core and standard carbon surface. Same weight bracket, same shape category, very different ceiling.

Key realities:

• The Metalbone is unforgiving on off-centre hits. If you can't middle the ball under pressure, this racket will expose every flaw in your bajada.
• The Viper is easier to play badly with and still get a result back. That matters at club level.

Unless you're playing at a high regional or national standard, the Viper does the job. Spending an extra £160-plus on the Metalbone only pays off if your technique is up to the bar.