adidas padel rackets are now in stock in Australia at Australian Padel Shop — the three 2026 Metalbones, the Drive 2026, and the balls, overgrips, protection tape and bags that go with them. This guide covers who actually makes adidas padel gear, how the Metalbone family is organised, the verified specification of every racket we stock, what the independent testers found, and which one suits which player — with live prices on the products below.
The short version
| Who makes it | All For Padel (Spain) designs and makes padel equipment under an adidas licence. In Australia it is distributed by Everything Padel, the official adidas padel licensee for Australia and New Zealand, which is where our stock comes from. |
|---|---|
| The rackets | Metalbone 2026 (Ale Galán's diamond), Metalbone HRD+ 2026 (the same racket with a hard core — the one Galán actually plays), Metalbone CTRL 2026 (the round control version), and the Drive 2026 in black or blue for beginners. |
| What the Metalbones share | 38mm profile, Carbon Aluminized 16K face, 485cm² hitting area, 345–360g, an octagonal frame with the Power Groove rail, the long Extra Power Grip handle, and the Weight & Balance System — up to 11.2g of screws you fit yourself. |
| Price in Australia | $169 (Drive) to $659 (Metalbone, HRD+). We match the Australian distributor's own retail price on every adidas product, with the RRP shown on each page — the Metalbone CTRL is currently $499 against its $659 RRP. |
| Best for | Advanced attackers (HRD+), club attackers who want a tuneable diamond (Metalbone 2026), control players who want a premium round frame (CTRL), and anyone buying a first racket who wants the three stripes on it (Drive). |
| Not for | Anyone who needs a light racket under 340g, a beginner who wants the most forgiving frame on the market (the Metalbones are not that), or a player with a sensitive elbow looking at the HRD+. |
Who actually makes adidas padel rackets
This surprises people: adidas does not make padel rackets. All For Padel, a Spanish company, holds the adidas licence for padel and designs, builds and markets the rackets, bags, balls and accessories under the adidas name, with adidas's own tennis and football business nowhere in the loop. That is why adidas padel has its own technologies, its own naming and its own generational cadence (3.3 in 2024, 3.4 in 2025, and a “2026” collection now) rather than borrowing anything from adidas tennis, and why you will not find the rackets on adidas.com.au — the Australian site sells apparel only.
In Australia the range comes through Everything Padel, which describes itself as the official licensee and authorised distributor of adidas padel and pickleball for Australia and New Zealand and ships from western Sydney. We buy from them directly and hold their retail price, which is the same policy we use for Hirostar (via padelracket.com.au) and Tecnifibre: on a distributor-supplied brand we match, we do not undercut.
The brand's face is Ale Galán, the Spaniard who has spent long stretches of the past five years as world number one and has played the Metalbone through every generation. His current partner on the Premier Padel tour is Federico Chingotto. The three Metalbones we stock carry his signature; he competes with the HRD+.
How the Metalbone family is organised
adidas make a wide Metalbone range in Europe — Carbon, Team, Team Light, Pro EDT and others — and Everything Padel lists most of it. We have chosen to stock the three frames that share the full-specification mould, because they are the ones Australian players ask for by name, plus the Drive as the entry point. The three Metalbones are the same racket in three cores and two shapes:
| Metalbone 2026 | Metalbone HRD+ 2026 | Metalbone CTRL 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shape | Diamond | Diamond | Round |
| Balance | Head-heavy | Head-heavy (about 27cm measured) | Even (about 26cm measured) |
| Core | EVA Soft Performance (low density) | EVA High Memory (high density, hard) | EVA Soft Performance (low density) |
| Face | Carbon Aluminized 16K | Carbon Aluminized 16K | Carbon Aluminized 16K |
| Weight | 345–360g + up to 11.2g | 345–360g + up to 11.2g | 345–360g + up to 11.2g |
| Sweet spot | High, compact | High, narrow | Centred, larger |
| Padel.how score | 64/100 | 70/100 | 71/100 |
| Level | Advanced | Advanced only | Intermediate to advanced |
| Who it is for | Club attackers who want a tuneable diamond | Advanced attackers with a fast, clean overhead | Control players, right-siders, tennis converts |
| Price | $659 | $659 | $499 (RRP $659) |
Every adidas racket we stock, with the verified specs
Specifications below are from All For Padel's official product pages and Everything Padel's listings, checked on 24 September 2026, and are repeated on each product page with a spec-checked date. Weights are the manufacturer's range without the optional screws. The independent scores are quoted from the named tester and are their opinion; we have not court-tested these frames ourselves.
Metalbone 2026 — the attacking diamond
The Metalbone 2026 is the racket most people picture when they think of adidas padel: the octagonal frame, the Power Groove rail down the profile, the screws in the head. Diamond shape, head-heavy balance, a Carbon Aluminized 16K face over the EVA Soft Performance core — the softer of the two Metalbone rubbers, which is the detail that decides who it suits.
Padel.how scored it 64/100 in January 2026 — power ceiling 9, control 7, spin 7, stability 7, net play 7, sweet spot 6, manoeuvrability 6, comfort 5, power on demand 5 — and their reading is the one to take seriously: a stiff attack frame for advanced players who generate their own racket-head speed, with a high, compact sweet spot, no free power at slow swing speeds and a fatigue risk for sensitive elbows. Padelful's panel is kinder (8.7 overall; power 9.1, control 8.7, rebound 9.4) and praises heavy volleys and an easy smash, with the same caveats about off-centre contact and defence. Racketdoktor, who hit the Metalbone and the HRD+ back to back, found the standard version has the larger sweet spot, the better feel and more trampoline of the two. Tennis Warehouse's playtesters said it only really came alive once they had dialled the weights in. Budget an hour experimenting with the screws.
The 2026 spec sheet is identical to the 2025 Metalbone 3.4 — same mould, face, core and technologies. adidas treat 2026 as a refinement with a new finish and codes; retailers who have hit both describe a slightly quieter, more stable response off-centre. Coming from a 3.3 or older is a bigger step: the 3.4 generation added the Power Groove, the Low Poly frame and the longer handle.
Metalbone HRD+ 2026 — Galán's racket
The HRD+ is the same racket with one change: the EVA High Memory core, adidas's high-density rubber. That single change makes it the hardest-feeling racket in the family and the one Ale Galán competes with. Padel.how scored it 70/100 (updated September 2026): power ceiling 10, control 9, spin 9, stability 7, net play 7, comfort 6, sweet spot 6, power on demand 6, defence 5, manoeuvrability 5. Their verdict is blunt — advanced players only: no free power, a narrow high sweet spot, below-average comfort and damping, fatigue over long sessions — and in exchange the most direct, precise smash in the adidas range. Padelful rate it 8.7 (power 9.9, control 9.4) and call the smash and volleys explosive; Racketdoktor found the drier response gives more control but a smaller sweet spot and less help at low swing speeds, and noted it comes into its own in heat, which is worth knowing on a Queensland summer court.
Metalbone or HRD+? They look identical and the choice is simply the rubber. If you hit hard and clean and want the racket to stay quiet and precise under a full swing, the HRD+. If you want some help from the frame, a bigger sweet spot and a more forgiving feel, the standard Metalbone — and that is the right answer for most club attackers, including most who think they want the HRD+.
Metalbone CTRL 2026 — the round one
The CTRL keeps the Metalbone build — the 16K face, the EVA Soft Performance core, the octagonal frame, the long handle and the adjustable weights — and moves it onto a round head with an even balance and a centred sweet spot. On a round frame the Weight & Balance System is more useful than on the diamonds, because you can push the balance towards attack for a match and pull it back for a lesson.
Padel.how scored it 71/100 (January 2026): control 9, net play 8, stability 8, manoeuvrability 7, sweet spot 7, spin 7, defence 7, comfort 6, power on demand 6, power ceiling 6 — for intermediate-to-advanced players with a compact, well-prepared stroke, favouring placement over finishing help, and ranked near the bottom of their 2026 round-control group chiefly on comfort and power. Padelful is warmer (8.5; sweet spot 9.1, rebound 9.3): it “keeps the Metalbone identity, but it is calmer and less demanding”. Two practical notes from their panel — the long handle may not suit small hands, and volleys can feel a little awkward until you are used to the balance. Official specs are unchanged from the CTRL 3.4; Padelful's side-by-side has the 2026 fractionally more powerful and fractionally less soft.
At the distributor's current $499 against a $659 RRP it is the value pick of the three by $160, and the Metalbone we would put in most club players' hands.
Drive 2026 — the first racket
The Drive is adidas's entry racket and the only one on our wall with the three stripes for under $200: round, even balance, a fibreglass face over the EVA Soft Performance core, a big 519cm² hitting area, 360–375g, in black or blue. Three testers, one message. Padel Racket Lab (8.0/10 — forgiveness 8.6, control 8.5, comfort 8.3, sweet spot 8.3, power 6.2) call it a sensible, confidence-building choice for beginners and warn that the feedback is muted and you will outgrow it. PadelRacketReviews score it 70/100 with value at 83. Padelful's panel is the harshest (6.1 for the black, 6.0 for the blue) and the line to remember is theirs: if you want easy finishing power, this is not that racket. It is a racket for learning to hit the ball cleanly, and at that job it is good.
Against the other first rackets we sell, the Babolat Counter Origin is lighter and a fraction cheaper and the Dunlop FX Start is a hybrid shape with more reach; the Drive is the heaviest of the three, which means more stability on the volley and slightly slower hands. None of the three is the wrong answer for a first year of padel. Nothing structural changed for 2026 — new colourways and product codes on the 3.4 build. The Drive does not have the Weight & Balance screws.
What adidas's technology names actually mean
Weight & Balance System is the set of screws and washers that thread into the head of the Metalbones — up to 11.2g in different positions. At the top of the head the racket plays heavier and more head-weighted for the overhead; left out, it plays at its listed weight. It is the single most useful feature on the racket, and the one most owners never touch. Power Groove is the rail moulded along the profile for rigidity. Octagonal Structure and Low Poly describe the faceted frame shape. Extra Power Grip is the longer handle, which two-handed backhand players like and small-handed players sometimes do not. Spin Blade is the textured decal on the face; Smart Holes Curve is the drilling pattern. Carbon Aluminized 16K is a 16K carbon weave with an aluminised finish — stiffer and more direct than a 3K or 12K face. EVA Soft Performance and EVA High Memory are the low- and high-density cores. What the weave numbers actually mean →
The balls, grips, tape and bags
Speed RX balls. adidas make two padel balls, the Pro Bounce for durability and the Speed RX for pace, and the Speed RX is the one the brand puts on tour — it was the official ball of the Premier Padel Dubai P1. A 58g pressurised ball with a wool-and-nylon felt and a 144–147cm bounce at the top of the padel range, so it plays quick and sits up; best on slow or indoor courts. adidas do not publish a FIP or ITF approval for it, so for a sanctioned event buy the Dunlop Pro or NOX Nerbo. $14 a can, cartons for clubs. Our ball comparison →
Overgrips. Three-packs in black or white of the micro-perforated polyurethane overgrip adidas fit to their own rackets — tacky, absorbent and cushioned, $20 a pack. How to fit one →
Antishock protection tape. A 37cm strip of 0.5mm polyurethane on 3M adhesive for the top edge of the frame, in black or transparent, $20. One thing adidas say and we repeat on the product page: it is not compatible with the Metalbone line or the Adipower Multiweight. It fits the Drive and most standard padel frames from other brands.
Bags. The Multigame 2026 in off-white is the 58-litre, four-racket bag adidas built the 2026 launch around — semi-rigid thermal racket compartments, a ventilated shoe tunnel, padded backpack straps and a water-repellent recycled 900D fabric, $199. The Tour 3.4 in black is the outgoing 54-litre tour bag with the same layout at a clearance $139 against a $179 RRP while it lasts.
Which adidas should you buy?
You are new, or play casually, and want the adidas name: the Drive 2026, in whichever colour you like. Do not buy a Metalbone as a first racket — none of the three is forgiving enough.
You are an improving or advanced control player: the Metalbone CTRL 2026. Round, even, tuneable, and the cheapest Metalbone right now. If comfort is your first criterion, the Babolat Counter Vertuo and Tecnifibre Curva Speed (a teardrop) are kinder frames.
You are a club attacker who finishes points overhead: the Metalbone 2026. It is the sensible Metalbone for most attacking players — the larger sweet spot and softer core forgive a mistimed overhead in a way the HRD+ will not. Its closest rivals on our wall are the Babolat Viper Juan Lebrón 3.0 and the Hirostar Alien Pro.
You are advanced, you already play a hard diamond, and you want the stiffest, most precise version: the Metalbone HRD+ 2026 — and go in knowing every tester flags comfort and fatigue.
You have ever had elbow trouble: not the HRD+. The CTRL is the least demanding Metalbone; the Drive is the least demanding adidas; and our tennis elbow guide lists the arm-friendly frames across every brand we stock.
Still unsure? The racket finder scores every adidas against your answers alongside the other forty-odd rackets we range.
Buying adidas padel in Australia
Official Australian stock through Everything Padel, the adidas padel licensee for Australia. We match the distributor's own retail price on every adidas product — our daily price check is set to hold that price rather than undercut it, which is how a distributor-supplied brand stays available — and the RRP is shown on every page. Same-day dispatch from the Gold Coast on orders placed before 1pm AEST, free shipping over $99 and free click and collect at Pacific Fair, Broadbeach. We have no demo rackets; if your club has a Metalbone on its wall, hit with it there first. Shop the adidas range →
Frequently asked questions
Are adidas padel rackets any good?
The Metalbones are serious competition frames — Ale Galán has won at the top of the sport with the HRD+ — and the independent scores (64 to 71 out of 100 at Padel.how, 8.5 to 8.7 at Padelful) put them in the upper-middle of the 2026 field on power and control and below average on comfort. They are demanding rackets that reward clean technique. The Drive is a simple, well-made beginner racket. adidas padel's weakness is not quality; it is that the range is not forgiving, so the wrong Metalbone in the wrong hands disappoints.
What racket does Ale Galán use?
The adidas Metalbone HRD+ 2026 — the high-density-core version of the Metalbone. All three Metalbones we stock carry his signature, and the retail HRD+ is the same specification as the frame he plays, with the usual caveat that sponsored professionals sometimes compete with frames that differ from the retail model.
Who makes adidas padel rackets, and where?
All For Padel, a Spanish company, designs and makes them under licence from adidas. The rackets are designed in Spain; All For Padel do not publish where they are manufactured, so we do not claim it. adidas's own sportswear business is not involved.
What is the difference between the Metalbone and the Metalbone HRD+?
Only the core. The Metalbone uses EVA Soft Performance, a low-density rubber; the HRD+ uses EVA High Memory, a high-density one. The HRD+ is harder, drier and more precise with a smaller sweet spot and less comfort; the standard Metalbone has more trampoline, a larger sweet spot and a more forgiving feel. Everything else — mould, face, weight, technologies, price — is the same.
Is the Metalbone CTRL a beginner racket?
No. It is the control-oriented Metalbone, for intermediate and advanced players who win on placement. It is the least demanding of the three Metalbones, but it is still a 16K carbon frame with a firm response. The adidas beginner racket is the Drive.
Can I use the adidas Antishock tape on a Metalbone?
adidas say no — the tape is not compatible with the Metalbone line or the Adipower Multiweight, because those frames ship with their own moulded protector. It fits the Drive and most standard padel frames.
Why are your adidas prices the same as Everything Padel's?
Because they are the distributor and our supplier, and we hold their retail price on distributor-supplied brands rather than undercutting it. Our daily price check does that automatically, and it also tells us if any other Australian store lists an adidas product cheaper. You are welcome to buy from either of us; the difference is Gold Coast dispatch and click and collect at Pacific Fair.
Specifications from All For Padel (allforpadel.com) and Everything Padel Australia, verified 24 September 2026. Independent scores quoted from Padel.how, Padelful, Racketdoktor (via Justpadel), Padel Racket Lab, PadelRacketReviews and Tennis Warehouse and are their opinions, not ours. Prices are live from our store and are checked against Australian retailers every morning.