{"product_id":"adidas-match-2026-padel-racket-black","title":"adidas Match 2026 Padel Racket — Black","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe adidas Match 2026 is adidas's beginner all-rounder and, with the Match Light, the cheapest way onto the three stripes at $159. An “allround” head — between round and teardrop — with the balance a touch towards the head and the sweet spot in the middle, a fibreglass face and frame, and the soft EVA core adidas use across the whole entry range. This listing is the Black colourway with orange stripes; the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/adidas-match-light-2026-padel-racket\"\u003eMatch Light\u003c\/a\u003e is the same racket 15g lighter in black and mint.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow it actually plays.\u003c\/strong\u003e Padel Racket Lab scored it 7.9\/10 for beginners in May 2026 — comfort 8.2, forgiveness 8.1, sweet spot 8.0, control 7.8, manoeuvrability 7.4, power 6.8 — and call it “a reliable entry-level choice for calm, confidence-building all-court learning”. What they liked: a balanced response that works in defence, in the rally and at the net without pushing you into one style, mishits that stay in play, a comfortable impact over long sessions and stable volleys. What they did not: limited finishing power overhead, and handling that is slower than head-light beginner frames. In other words a racket for learning to hit every shot cleanly, not for winning points from the back of the court.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMatch or Drive?\u003c\/strong\u003e Same price bracket, same face and core, same beginner rating. The \u003ca href=\"\/products\/adidas-drive-2026-padel-racket-black\"\u003eDrive\u003c\/a\u003e is a true round with an even balance — the most forgiving shape there is. The Match's fuller head and slight head weight give it a touch more reach and depth on the volley and the lob, at the cost of a fraction of that forgiveness. If you are unsure, the Drive; if you played tennis or have a naturally attacking swing, the Match.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhere it sits against other beginner rackets we sell.\u003c\/strong\u003e The \u003ca href=\"\/products\/babolat-counter-origin-2026-padel-racket\"\u003eBabolat Counter Origin\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"\/products\/babolat-air-origin-2026-padel-racket\"\u003eAir Origin\u003c\/a\u003e are lighter; the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dunlop-fx-start-2026-padel-racket\"\u003eDunlop FX Start\u003c\/a\u003e is the closest shape-for-shape match with a firmer feel. None of them is the wrong answer for a first year of padel — choose by brand and by how the handle feels.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eIs this the racket for you?\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eYes\u003c\/strong\u003e if you are new to padel or play casually, want a forgiving all-court racket from a brand you know, and would rather have comfort and consistency than pace. Also a sensible club spare or holiday-house racket.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNo\u003c\/strong\u003e if you already play weekly and want the frame to add something — the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/adidas-rx-series-2026-padel-racket\"\u003eRX Series\u003c\/a\u003e is $30 more and a real step up — or if you want the lightest possible frame, where the Match Light or the Counter Origin is the better pick.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eShape\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAll-round (between round and teardrop)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWeight\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e360–375g\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBalance\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSlightly head-heavy\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSweet spot\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMiddle\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eProfile\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e38mm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLength\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e455mm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCore\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEVA Soft Performance (low density)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFace\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFibreglass\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFrame\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFibreglass\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSurface\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSmooth\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTechnologies\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eStructural Reinforcement · Smart Holes Lineal · standard protector tape\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLevel\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBeginner (adidas: beginner, occasional play)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eColourway\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBlack \/ orange (adidas 'Match Black'; a Black\/Lime version also exists)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eProduct code\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAR5GA3U23 (adidas KL2632)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEAN\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e8435739406052\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\u003c\/table\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003csmall\u003eSpecifications from the adidas Padel Probook 2026 (All For Padel, the adidas padel licensee) and Everything Padel Australia (the Australian distributor), verified 2026-09-29. Where the distributor listing or a review site and the adidas probook disagree we follow the probook. Manufacturer weights vary by around ±10g. Review scores are quoted from the sites named, with their dates; we have not court-tested this frame ourselves.\u003c\/small\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"adidas","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67007515296115,"sku":"APS-AD-0019","price":159.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1015\/6287\/6275\/files\/AR5GA3U23MATCHBLACKORANGEFRONT.png?v=1790647364","url":"https:\/\/australianpadelshop.com\/products\/adidas-match-2026-padel-racket-black","provider":"Australian Padel Shop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}