Three video reviewers looked at the adidas Cross IT Ctrl 2024, and they do not quite agree on how hard it is to play. No written reviews exist yet, so this page leans on the specs and on those videos.
The racket is round, 38 mm thick, with a 460 cm2 head and a 265 mm balance. Weight runs from 360 to 375 g. adidas lists the level as Professional.
Video reviews disagree: small sweet spot or helpful hole pattern?
One reviewer, Virgin Active Padel Club ZA, played it and found strong control and spin. He also called the sweet spot quite small and said you need real skill to find it. Padel Test by Roberto Cardi played it too. He liked control and power on volleys, and said the hole pattern helps comfort and sweet spot. He still pointed to more arm effort on defensive shots.
So the sources split on the sweet spot. The sweet spot meter on this page sits in the middle at Medium. Treat it as workable for a strong player, not generous.
Round head, hard core, 15K carbon: why control reads High and comfort Low
The face is Carbon Aluminized 15K. The core is EVA High Memory, and a retailer lists its density as hard. The round shape, the stiff face, the core and the medium balance all contribute to the High control rating.
Comfort is a different story. It reads Low because the stiff carbon face and the heavy weight both pull it down. Not a flaw in the build, but a trait you should plan for.
Aerodynamic bridge and longer handle: what adidas claims, and what the video reviewers say
The product page claims an aerodynamic neck. It also claims a hole pattern with smaller holes in the centre of the head. And it says a longer grip concentrates the balance in the head. These are brand claims.
The pre-release video from Time2PadelRoma repeated them. It had no court test, so it adds little. Virgin Active Padel Club ZA played it and mentions the longer handle as extra leverage on attacking shots. Padel Test by Roberto Cardi calls the balance slightly high. This page lists it as even, at 265 mm. Both can be true of a racket with a long handle.
2024, 3.4 and 2026: one changed surface label, then three identical sheets
This 2024 racket has a Rough structure surface. The adidas Cross IT CTRL 3.4 lists Spin Blade Mold instead. Everything else on the sheet matches. The 2026 version is identical to the 3.4. A changed label is only that, a label. It does not prove a different feel.
What a 360 to 375 g professional round racket asks of your arm
That is heavy. Over a long match you may feel it in the shoulder and forearm, especially on defence. The range is wide, so check the weight of the one you buy if you can. Players with a conditioned arm will cope better. Others may tire and lose the precision the racket is built for.
What can you do? Work on technique first and accept shorter sessions while your arm adapts. If that sounds like too much, look at a lighter racket.
Cross IT Ctrl, Carbon Ctrl 2026 or LOK Maxx Flow: picking your round control racket
The adidas Cross IT Carbon Ctrl 2026 uses a softer EVA core and an 18K face. Its meters read lower power, but Medium comfort and High sweet spot. The LOK Maxx Flow has the same weight range and a Low power meter, with Low comfort like this one. If you want control with more forgiveness, the Carbon Ctrl is the closer fit. If you want this racket's pace, stay here.
