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Buy the Metalbone HRD if you're competing seriously; otherwise the Viper Air for arm-friendly attacking play at £160.
An interesting £120 gap between two attacking diamonds with different priorities. The Adidas Metalbone HRD at £280 is Ale Galan's signature - the HRD core is the harder version, the diamond shape pushes balance high, and the carbon face is built for genuine pro-tour power. It's punishing on framers and brilliant on clean contact.
The Babolat Viper Air at £160 takes the Viper attacking DNA and trims weight via the Air construction. You still get the carbon face and the high-balance attacking shape, but the lighter swing weight makes it a touch more usable defensively and easier on the arm over a long match.
If you're a serious 4.0+ player chasing every gram of attacking bite and you happily pay for pro-tier frames, the Metalbone HRD at £280 delivers. If you're 3.5-4.0, want diamond-shape aggression, but value being able to swing comfortably for two hours without arm fatigue, the Viper Air at £160 is the smarter buy and saves £120.
Hand-written editorial — not auto-generated. By Gary, RacketRise.
| Product | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Padel Rackets | Padel Rackets |
| Sport | Padel | Padel |
| Skill Level | Advanced | Intermediate |
| Weight | 365-380g | 355-370g |
| Shape | Diamond | Diamond |
| Balance | High | Medium |
| Core | Hard EVA | — |
| Surface | Carbon fibre | Carbon fibre |
| Thickness | 38mm | 38mm |
| Pros |
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| Cons |
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The main differences are: Weight: Adidas Metalbone has 365-380g vs 355-370g. Balance: Adidas Metalbone has High vs Medium. Overall, the Adidas Metalbone HRD Padel Racket is best for advanced players while the Babolat Viper Air Padel Racket suits intermediate players.
Neither is specifically designed for beginners — the Adidas Metalbone HRD Padel Racket suits advanced players and the Babolat Viper Air Padel Racket suits intermediate players. Beginners may find both challenging.
The Adidas Metalbone HRD Padel Racket (£280) costs more than the Babolat Viper Air Padel Racket (£160). Whether the premium is worth it depends on your skill level — if you are advanced players, the extra investment in the Adidas Metalbone HRD Padel Racket can pay off.