Quick Answer: The Adidas Metalbone is a 345-360 gram diamond-shaped padel racket built for advanced attackers, priced at $455 through Padel USA for the current 2026 generation. Padelverdict’s testing scores it 8.8 out of 10 for power and 7.8 out of 10 for control (8.2/10 overall) — a stiff, head-heavy frame designed around Alejandro Galán’s back-court smash game rather than an all-around or beginner racket.
Adidas splits its flagship padel line into two philosophies: the Metalbone, an attack-first diamond built for maximum smash power, and the Adipower, a more balanced control-power teardrop. Within the Metalbone family itself there’s a further split — the diamond-shaped standard model reviewed here, and the round-shaped Metalbone CTRL for players who want the same carbon construction with a more forgiving, defense-friendly profile. This review breaks down what’s actually in the standard Metalbone’s frame, how it stacks up against its own CTRL sibling and Adidas’s Adipower line, and who should actually spend $455 on it.
By the numbers
- The 2026 Metalbone weighs 345-360 grams with a high, head-heavy 268mm balance point, per Padelverdict’s measured specs — the classic diamond-shape formula for maximum smash power at the cost of a smaller, tip-shifted sweet spot.
- Padelverdict’s aggregated testing scores the Metalbone 8.8 out of 10 for power, one of the highest marks in its advanced-attacker database, against 7.8 out of 10 for control and 6.8 out of 10 for comfort — an overall score of 8.2 out of 10.
- Every racket in this review fits the same International Padel Federation cap of 45.5cm long, 26cm wide, and 38mm thick; the Metalbone’s face is a Carbon Aluminized 16K weave over an EVA Soft Performance core, so the power comes from stiffness and balance, not extra size.
Adidas Metalbone at a glance
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Shape | Diamond |
| Weight | 345-360g |
| Balance | 268mm (high/head-heavy) |
| Core | EVA Soft Performance |
| Face material | Carbon Aluminized 16K |
| Profile | 38mm |
| Pro player | Alejandro (Ale) Galán |
| Price | $455 (Padel USA, 2026 generation) |
What’s actually in the frame
The Metalbone’s 16K Aluminized Carbon face is a stiffer, higher-count weave than the fiberglass-blended faces on Adidas’s mid-tier rackets, which is where most of its power comes from — stiffer carbon transfers more energy back into the ball on contact instead of flexing and absorbing it. Adidas pairs that face with an EVA Soft Performance core tuned for a medium feel, an Octagonal Structure and Power Groove aimed at extending the sweet spot along the racket’s long axis, and an Extra Power Grip (EPG) handle that’s noticeably longer than standard, adding leverage for two-handed backhands and extra reach on smashes. None of that changes the fundamental trade-off of a diamond shape, though: the sweet spot still sits high near the tip, so off-center contact lower on the face loses power and control fast.
Adidas Metalbone
- 16K Aluminized Carbon face — one of the stiffest, highest-power builds in Adidas's 2026 lineup.
- Aggregated power score of 8.8/10, the highest of any Adidas racket we've reviewed on this site.
- High 268mm balance point rewards committed, technical smashing over defensive rallying.
- Priced at $455 through Padel USA as of August 2026; the earlier 3.3 generation still shows up around $300 at some retailers.
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How it compares to Adidas’s other 2026 rackets
| Racket | Shape | Power | Control | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adidas Metalbone | Diamond | 8.8/10 | 7.8/10 | $455 |
| Adidas Metalbone CTRL | Round | 8/10 | 8.3/10 | ~$300-350 |
| Adidas Adipower Multiweight 3.3 | Teardrop | Tunable | Balanced | ~$260 |
Against its own CTRL sibling, the standard Metalbone trades a round shape’s forgiving sweet spot for a diamond’s raw power ceiling — same carbon-heavy construction philosophy, opposite playing profile. Against the Adipower Multiweight, the difference is bigger still: the Adipower’s teardrop shape and removable weight system are built to be tuned toward whichever balance a player needs, while the Metalbone is a fixed, attack-only frame with no in-between setting. For the full Adidas lineup including the beginner-friendly RX 200, see our best Adidas padel racket guide, or check how the Metalbone’s power profile stacks up against Nox and Bullpadel’s flagships in our best padel racket for power roundup.
Who should buy it — and who shouldn’t
The Metalbone makes the most sense for advanced attackers who already generate their own power and want a frame that amplifies committed, technical smashing — the 8.8/10 power score is near the top of any racket we’ve measured on this site, and it’s the exact mold Ale Galán competes with on tour. It’s a weaker fit for three groups: beginners, who are far better served by Adidas’s RX 200 at around $55 while technique is still developing; defenders and all-court players who need a bigger margin for error, who should look at the round-shaped Metalbone CTRL instead; and value-conscious advanced players, who can get most of the same carbon-heavy attack profile from the earlier 3.3 generation for roughly $150 less. Comparing it against non-Adidas power frames at the same tier? Our best padel racket for advanced players guide ranks it alongside Bullpadel’s and Babolat’s flagship attack rackets.
The bottom line
The Adidas Metalbone earns its spot as one of the highest raw-power frames we’ve reviewed, backed by an 8.8/10 power score and the exact diamond mold Ale Galán plays on tour. Buy it if you’re an advanced player who already strikes the ball cleanly and wants every extra bit of smash pace the frame can give; buy the Metalbone CTRL instead if you want the same carbon construction with a far more forgiving, defense-friendly shape, or the Adipower Multiweight if you’d rather tune the balance yourself. Newer players are better served putting that $455 toward Adidas’s RX 200 and a pair of padel shoes instead.