# New model or last year's? Same racket, lower price > Of the 131 generation pairs in the index, 9 are identical on paper. New color, same specs. Buy the old model and pay less. - URL: https://padell.io/guides/last-years-padel-racket/ - Last updated: 2026-10-05 - Published: 2026-09-24 - Author: [Ruud Caris](https://padell.io/about/) - Language: en - Site: padell.io (https://padell.io/) Shop links go through padell.io/go/ (affiliate links: padell.io may earn a commission, which never affects scores). Prices include shipping to the Netherlands unless stated otherwise, and change daily. --- [Buying](https://padell.io/guides/) Of the 131 generation pairs in the index, 9 are identical on paper. New color, same specs. Buy the old model and pay less. [**Ruud Caris**](https://padell.io/about/) · Updated 5 October 2026 · 4 min read **In this guide** 1. New color, same racket 2. 9 times exactly the same specs 3. What changes in the rest? 4. Four examples that did change 5. What can't the index see? 6. How do you check it yourself? 7. When is the previous version less useful? 8. Buy what you want, not what is new ## New color, same racket 131 generation pairs in the index. For 9 of them, the specs are identical. Same shape, same weight, same balance, same core, same hitting surface. Only the look differs. That often saves you money. The index compares the published specifications of each racket with its predecessor. No playtest: purely the specs brands publish themselves. Below you see which pairs are identical, which specs change most often, and how to check it yourself. ## 9 times exactly the same specs The full list. Each pair consists of the new model and the previous version. - [adidas Cross IT Ctrl 2026](https://padell.io/rackets/adidas/cross-it-ctrl-2026/) and [adidas Cross IT CTRL 3.4](https://padell.io/rackets/adidas/cross-it-ctrl-3-4/) - [adidas Drive 2026](https://padell.io/rackets/adidas/drive-2026/) and [adidas Drive 3.4](https://padell.io/rackets/adidas/drive-3-4/) - [adidas Match 3.4](https://padell.io/rackets/adidas/match-3-4/) and [adidas Match 3.3](https://padell.io/rackets/adidas/match-3-3/) - [adidas Metalbone Carbon 2026](https://padell.io/rackets/adidas/metalbone-carbon-2026/) and [adidas Metalbone Carbon 3.4](https://padell.io/rackets/adidas/metalbone-carbon-3-4/) - [adidas Metalbone Carbon 3.4](https://padell.io/rackets/adidas/metalbone-carbon-3-4/) and [adidas Metalbone Carbon 3.3](https://padell.io/rackets/adidas/metalbone-carbon-3-3/) - [adidas Metalbone Carbon Ctrl 2026](https://padell.io/rackets/adidas/metalbone-carbon-ctrl-2026/) and [adidas Metalbone Carbon Ctrl 3.4](https://padell.io/rackets/adidas/metalbone-carbon-ctrl-3-4/) - [adidas Metalbone Carbon Ctrl 3.4](https://padell.io/rackets/adidas/metalbone-carbon-ctrl-3-4/) and [adidas Metalbone Carbon Ctrl 3.3](https://padell.io/rackets/adidas/metalbone-carbon-ctrl-3-3/) - [Oxdog Hyper Pro+ 2.0](https://padell.io/rackets/oxdog/hyper-pro-2-0/) and [Oxdog Hyper Pro+ 2.0 2025](https://padell.io/rackets/oxdog/hyper-pro-2-0-397/) - [Wilson Defy Pro V1 SE](https://padell.io/rackets/wilson/defy-pro-v1-se/) and [Wilson Defy Pro V1 2025](https://padell.io/rackets/wilson/defy-pro-v1-2025/) ## What changes in the rest? Of the 131 pairs, 122 have something different. This is how often each spec changes: **Face** 65 times **Surface** 64 times **Core** 49 times **Balance** 40 times **Level label** 38 times **Frame** 37 times **Weight** 31 times **Shape** 19 times **Weight system** 15 times **Pro player** 12 times **Handle** 9 times **Head size** 3 times Live from the generation pages: what differs between a racket and the previous version in the same line, per spec. That pattern makes sense. Shape, weight and core determine a racket's character. A brand wants to keep that consistent within a line. The hitting surface is easier to renew without the racket behaving completely differently. Not a whole new racket, but a fine adjustment. A different type of carbon fiber or a rougher surface changes the feel, not the base. Why does that matter? Because it lets you judge how big the difference really is. Only the hitting surface renewed? Then the racket probably plays comparably. Has the shape changed, or the core, or the balance? Then you are dealing with a different racket. ## Four examples that did change Not every difference is big. Sometimes it's a new type of carbon fiber, sometimes a different shape. **[adidas Metalbone 3.3](https://padell.io/rackets/adidas/metalbone-3-3/) to [Metalbone 3.4 Ale Galán](https://padell.io/rackets/adidas/metalbone-3-4-ale-galan/) (2024 to 2025)** Two things changed. The hitting surface went from Carbon Aluminized 2 to 1 fiber to Carbon Aluminized 16K. And the shape was adjusted: from diamond with a large blade to diamond. You notice that second point on court. A more compact head gives a smaller sweet spot. That is noticeable. **[adidas Metalbone Carbon 3.3](https://padell.io/rackets/adidas/metalbone-carbon-3-3/) to [Metalbone Carbon 3.4](https://padell.io/rackets/adidas/metalbone-carbon-3-4/) (2024 to 2025)** Here only the shape changed: from diamond with a large blade to diamond. Core, hitting surface, weight and balance stayed the same. One adjustment. **[Head Extreme Pro Arturo Coello](https://padell.io/rackets/head/extreme-pro-arturo-coello/) to [Extreme Pro 2026](https://padell.io/rackets/head/extreme-pro-2026/) (2024 to 2026)** The hitting surface went from carbon with fiberglass to UD Carbon. On paper a stiffer surface. More directness, less dampening. **[Nox AT10 Genius 12K Agustín Tapia 2024](https://padell.io/rackets/nox/at10-genius-12k-agustin-tapia-2024/) to [AT10 Genius 12K](https://padell.io/rackets/nox/at10-genius-12k/) (2024 to 2025)** The core changed from MLD Black Eva to Black Eva. The frame went from a standard carbon frame to a more durable tubular carbon frame. Subtle on paper. Without holding the racket, it is hard to say how much that matters. ## What can't the index see? Identical on paper means: shape, weight, balance, hitting surface and core are published for both models and match. No other published spec differs. But brands do not publish everything. A slightly different mold, a different type of glue, an extra carbon layer inside the frame: that kind of thing rarely shows up in the specs. So it is possible that two rackets are identical on paper and feel slightly different on court. Good to know. Also: the previous version is chosen automatically based on year and line name. For a single pair, that link can be off. Those pairs are checked. ## How do you check it yourself? Every racket page has a timeline with versions. There you see whether a racket has a predecessor. Each version is marked 'Same specs' or 'Different specs'. Three steps: 1. Go to the page of the racket you are considering. 2. Scroll to the timeline and look at the previous version. 3. Are the specs identical? Then the previous version is the same racket in a different color. 4. Are there reviews? Check that they cover the same version. A review of the older model tells you something about the new one if the specs are identical. Not if they differ. The live list at [same racket, lower price](https://padell.io/best/same-racket-lower-price/) shows all identical pairs where the previous version is currently cheaper. Of the 9 identical pairs, the older model is cheaper right now for 7. ## When is the previous version less useful? If the specs did change, weigh it up. Only the hitting surface different? Then the racket probably feels comparable. Has the shape changed, or the core, or the balance? Then the new model really plays differently. Not two versions of the same racket, but two different rackets. Also practical: an older model is sometimes harder to find. And then the difference between specs and feel. Specs tell you a lot, but not everything. Two rackets with the same core and the same hitting surface can still play a bit differently due to a minimal difference in production. Specs are the starting point. Your hand is the end point. ## Buy what you want, not what is new Of the 131 generation pairs in the index, 9 are identical on paper. For those pairs, you pay less for the same racket with the old model. Not a trick, just a season change. Check the timeline on the racket page. Does it say 'Different specs'? Then there is really something new. 'Same specs'? Then the difference is the sticker. Written by **Ruud Caris** Builds websites since 2008 and plays padel [About padell.io →](https://padell.io/about/) ## Keep reading [Buying **Which padel racket fits me?** Four questions. That's all you need to pick the right one from 625 rackets. Here you can read what those questions are and in what order to ask them. · 6 min read](https://padell.io/guides/which-padel-racket/) [Basics **Round, teardrop or diamond: which racket shape suits you?** The shape decides where the sweet spot sits and how the weight is spread. Three shapes, three kinds of player. · 2 min read](https://padell.io/guides/padel-racket-shapes/) [Tech explained **Why padel rackets come with a weight range, not a weight** 360 to 375 g. Why brands rarely give one number, what 15 grams means on court, and how to get the racket you want. · 2 min read](https://padell.io/guides/padel-racket-weight-range/)