# adidas Metalbone Ctrl 3.4 > Round, 345 to 360 g, even balance. Above average for handling and forgiveness, below for power. € 191.90 delivered to the Netherlands, checked 14 Nov 2026. - URL: https://padell.io/rackets/adidas/metalbone-ctrl-3-4/ - Last updated: 2026-11-10 - 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. --- [Rackets](https://padell.io/rackets/) · [adidas](https://padell.io/brands/adidas/) · [Metalbone CTRL](https://padell.io/rackets/adidas/metalbone-ctrl/generations/) 2025 - **Shape**: Round - **Weight**: 345 to 360 g - **Balance**: Even - **Core**: EVA Soft Performance Lowest price **€ 191.90** at Padel Nuestro · In stock · € 186.95 + € 4.95 shipping · Checked at 02:23 (2026-11-14) Lowest in 53 days **€ 191.90** Today **€ 191.90** [Buy at Padel Nuestro](https://padell.io/go/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.padelnuestro.com%2Fint%2Fadidas-metalbone-ctrl-3-4-2025) 1. [All for Padel · In stock · Free shipping · Checked at 05:32 (2026-11-14) **€ 234.00**](https://padell.io/go/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fallforpadel.com%2Fen%2Fpadel-rackets%2F7326-adidas-metalbone-ctrl-34-racket-8435739402757.html) Prices include shipping to the country you choose. [How padell.io earns money](https://padell.io/how-we-earn-money/) The short answer A round, even-balanced control racket at 345 to 360 g with a soft EVA core and a carbon 16K face. The only real change from the 3.3 is that face. Four video reviewers who played it disagree about handling and comfort, so expect a soft, control-first feel, not free power. By [Ruud Caris](https://padell.io/about/) · facts checked 30 September 2026 Choose it if - you win points with placement and patience rather than smashes - you like tuning weight and balance with a screw system - you want a round pro-level racket with a large sweet spot Skip it if - you need easy power on overheads, look at the adidas Metalbone HRD+ 3.4 Ale Galán instead - you want softer, lighter handling, the Stiga ACE 3 LW rates higher on maneuverability - you prefer a proven racket with written tests, this one only has video reviews so far ## How it plays 8.5 **padell.io score 8.5** Play 8.7 (60%) and reviews 8.3 (40%). No independent reviews found yet, so that part starts low. [How the score works](https://padell.io/how-we-score/) - **Control**: 8.5 above average▲ - **Power**: 4.5 below average▼ - **Comfort**: 6.0 around average● - **Handling**: 6.0 above average▲ - **Forgiveness**: 7.5 above average▲ - **Line = the average of all rackets**: ▲ above ▼ below The Metalbone Ctrl 3.4 is built for control, and the specs back that up. - **Control** High, thanks to the round shape, even balance and the combination of soft EVA with a stiff carbon face. - **Power** Low on paper, so you supply the pace yourself on smashes and overheads. - **Comfort** Medium, the soft core absorbs but the stiff 16K face keeps the hit firm. - **Handling** Medium, though one court tester found handling worse than the previous version and movement slower in volleys. - **Forgiveness** High, the round shape and soft core forgive off-center contact. ## Specifications - **Launched**: 2025 Newer version from 2026 - **Shape**: Round [Big sweet spot low in the face: control and margin](https://padell.io/guides/padel-racket-shapes/) - **Weight**: 345 to 360 g Light: quick in the hand, less mass behind the ball - **Balance**: Even according to the brand Even: quick at the net, enough in the smash - **Face**: Carbon Aluminized 16K Stiff: precise and powerful at speed, less damping - **Core**: EVA Soft Performance Soft: comfort and ball exit, less control at high speed - **Thickness**: 38 mm The maximum the rules allow - **Head size**: 485 cm² - **Surface**: Spin Blade Decal Rough: helps with spin - **Frame**: Carbon Not published by the brand: handle Specs from the brand's own site · checked 25 September 2026 · [Spotted a wrong spec? Report it →](https://padell.io/contact/?topic=correction&racket=adidas%20Metalbone%20Ctrl%203.4) ## Video reviews 5 videos from independent channels and shops ### What 4 video reviewers say 4 played it on court Often mentioned **Plus points** - Large sweet spot *3 of 4* - Adjustable weight system *2 of 4* - Comfortable, little vibration *2 of 4* - Easy to handle *2 of 4* **Minus points** - Lacks power *2 of 4* Summaries by padell.io, based on what each reviewer says in the video. Tap a time to watch that moment. Tested on court The reviewer highlights the racket's versatility, noting that its weight and balance system allows players to customize it for either more control or more power. It is described as the easiest Metalbone model to play with, making it suitable for a wide range of skill levels. Tested on court The reviewer finds this racket comfortable and easy to use in defensive situations with a good sweet spot. It offers decent power for its category and is suitable for players who want a racket that provides assistance without requiring excessive effort. Tested on court The reviewer finds this racket to be a significant improvement over the previous version, specifically noting that it no longer causes arm discomfort. It offers excellent control and manoeuvrability, making it a versatile option for intermediate to advanced players on both sides of the court. Tested on court The reviewer finds this racket easy to handle and focused on control. It is a suitable choice for players who want to adjust their gear to their playing style and need comfort during play. ## Every version [Compare all versions →](https://padell.io/rackets/adidas/metalbone-ctrl/generations/) [2023 · Other version · € 190.00](https://padell.io/rackets/adidas/metalbone-ctrl-3-2/) [2024 · Different specs · Not in shops](https://padell.io/rackets/adidas/metalbone-ctrl-3-3/) 2025 · This racket · € 191.90 [2026 · Different specs · € 224.95](https://padell.io/rackets/adidas/metalbone-ctrl/) Three numbered versions exist, plus a 2026 successor. From the 3.2 to the 3.3, only the surface label changed: Spin Blade Decal and Spin Blade Mold became Spin Blade Decal alone. From the 3.3 to this 3.4, the face changed from Carbon Aluminized 2 to 1 to Carbon Aluminized 16K. Every other listed spec is identical. The 2026 model keeps the 16K face and changes the frame label to Octagonal Structure and the weight system listing to 11.2 g. Which to look at: the 3.4 is the stiffer-faced step over the 3.3, and the 2026 version is its closest match. If handling matters most, note that one court tester found the 3.4 handles worse than the 3.3 and moves slower in volleys. ## Price history Today **€ 186.95** Lowest in 30 days **€ 186.95** vs 30-day average **-16%** Lowest price per day across the shops in your market. Checked every night. ## What reviewers say No written reviews exist yet; everything here comes from four video reviews that played the racket on court. They agree on the basics: control-focused, comfortable in defence, large and forgiving sweet spot, and a weight system that adds power when tuned. They disagree on handling and feel. Padel Review found it extremely agile with no arm discomfort, while Dani 13 reported worse handling than the previous version and slower movement in volleys and direction changes. The Padel Reviews channel reported a noticeable trampoline effect from the soft core. Virgin Active Padel Club ZA judged it less powerful than the HRD version. That same channel called it the easiest Metalbone to play with. Read the split as: soft, controlled and tuneable, with quick-handling speed still open to debate. The adidas Metalbone Ctrl 3.4 changes exactly one thing compared with the 3.3. The face goes from Carbon Aluminized 2 to 1 to Carbon Aluminized 16K. Everything else carries over. Same EVA Soft Performance core, same [round shape](https://padell.io/guides/padel-racket-shapes/), same even balance, same 345 to 360 g weight window, same 38 mm frame. If you know the 3.3, you largely know this racket. ## 16K instead of 2 to 1: the one change since the 3.3 The face is now Carbon Aluminized 16K, the same carbon [adidas](https://padell.io/brands/adidas/) lists for the 2026 successor. A 16K weave is a stiffer facing than the older 2 to 1 layup on paper. Stiffer face, same soft core underneath. That pairing shapes everything else about this racket: a firm surface over a forgiving middle. The 3.3 also listed pro player Lorena Rufo. For the 3.4, no pro player is published. That is a label change, not a spec change. If you want the full side-by-side, see the [Metalbone Ctrl 3.4 versus the 3.3](https://padell.io/compare/adidas-metalbone-ctrl-3-4-vs-adidas-metalbone-ctrl-3-3/). ## Round, even, soft EVA: the control recipe underneath The shape is round and the balance is even. That combination keeps the racket calm in the hand. You direct the ball rather than launch it. The core is EVA Soft Performance. Soft foam absorbs impact and widens the zone where the ball still goes where you aimed. On paper that means a large sweet spot and comfort on late, defensive contact. The cost is power. Soft core plus round shape plus even balance rates low for power. The stiff 16K face pushes back a little, but smashes still need your arm. Not a racket that finishes points for you, but one that rarely gives points away. The surface is Spin Blade Decal, as adidas lists it. The head measures 485 cm2 and the frame is carbon, 38 mm thick. The Metalbone family Same year, from most power (left) to most control (right) [**3.4**](https://padell.io/rackets/adidas/metalbone-3-4-ale-galan/) [**HRD+ 3.4**](https://padell.io/rackets/adidas/metalbone-hrd-3-4-ale-galan/) [**Reserve**](https://padell.io/rackets/adidas/metalbone-reserve/) [**Carbon 3.4**](https://padell.io/rackets/adidas/metalbone-carbon-3-4/) [**09**](https://padell.io/rackets/adidas/metalbone-09-racket/) [**Team 3.4**](https://padell.io/rackets/adidas/metalbone-team-3-4/) **Ctrl 3.4** [**Carbon Ctrl 3.4**](https://padell.io/rackets/adidas/metalbone-carbon-ctrl-3-4/) ## A weight system you tune, and reviewers who heard it differently The Weight & Balance System lets you add or remove small weights on the frame. Adidas says you can shift weight by up to 11.2 g and move the balance toward control or power. Treat that as the brand's claim, not a measured figure for this model. That adjustability matters because the stock setup is control-first. If the low power bothers you, the screws are the fix adidas provides. ## Extremely agile or slower in volleys: where the court tests split Four video reviewers played this racket on court. They do not agree. Padel Review called it extremely agile and easy to handle. Dani 13 found the opposite: worse handling than the previous version, plus slower movement in volleys and direction changes, and more demanding play at high speeds. Same racket, two opposing conclusions. Virgin Active Padel Club ZA landed in the middle, praising the stability and precision in defence and the large, forgiving sweet spot. The Padel Reviews channel also found it easy to handle and control-focused. How do you read that? The specs support the agile camp: round shape, even balance, 345 g at the light end. But the 16K face is stiffer than the 3.3's, and stiffer faces can feel slower on quick exchanges. If fast net play is your game, the disagreement is a reason to try before buying. ## No arm discomfort here, a trampoline effect there: reading the comfort claims Comfort splits the reviewers too. Padel Review said it no longer caused arm discomfort, an improvement over the previous version. The Padel Reviews channel found the core too soft for its taste and noted a noticeable trampoline effect. Those are personal reactions, not measurements. The EVA Soft Performance core is genuinely soft, and soft cores produce a springier contact than hard ones. If you like a crisp, direct hit, that trampoline feel may annoy you. If your elbow complains, the soft core plus the reported lack of arm discomfort is encouraging. Medium comfort is the honest middle. ## Ctrl 3.4, Carbon Ctrl 3.4 or Stiga ACE 3: picking your round control racket Adidas sells a second round control model this year, the [Metalbone Carbon Ctrl 3.4](https://padell.io/rackets/adidas/metalbone-carbon-ctrl-3-4/). It swaps the 16K face for 6K carbon and runs heavier at 360 to 375 g, with comfort rated high instead of medium. Same idea, more weight. Outside adidas, the [Stiga ACE 3](https://padell.io/rackets/stiga/ace-3/) matches this racket almost line for line: round, control high, power low, sweet spot high, at a fixed 360 g. See the [full comparison with the Stiga ACE 3](https://padell.io/compare/adidas-metalbone-ctrl-3-4-vs-stiga-ace-3/). Its lighter sibling, the [ACE 3 LW](https://padell.io/rackets/stiga/ace-3-lw/), adds maneuverability rated high. Pick the Ctrl 3.4 when you want the adjustable weight system and the stiffer face. Pick the others when you want a fixed setup or a softer hit. Written by **[Ruud Caris](https://padell.io/about/)** Padel player and founder of padell.io Bought, played and sold more rackets than was good for him, and built padell.io to bring it all together. [About padell.io →](https://padell.io/about/) ## Similar rackets Often compared: [Metalbone Ctrl 3.4 vs adidas Metalbone Ctrl](https://padell.io/compare/adidas-metalbone-ctrl-3-4-vs-adidas-metalbone-ctrl/) [adidas Cross IT Light](https://padell.io/rackets/adidas/cross-it-light/) · 8.7 [Compare side by side](https://padell.io/compare/adidas-metalbone-ctrl-3-4-vs-adidas-cross-it-light/) [adidas Adipower Light 3.2](https://padell.io/rackets/adidas/adipower-light-3-2/) · 8.7 [Compare side by side](https://padell.io/compare/adidas-metalbone-ctrl-3-4-vs-adidas-adipower-light-3-2/) [adidas Cross IT Light](https://padell.io/rackets/adidas/cross-it-light-72/) · 7.9 [Compare side by side](https://padell.io/compare/adidas-metalbone-ctrl-3-4-vs-adidas-cross-it-light-72/) [Stiga ACE 3 LW](https://padell.io/rackets/stiga/ace-3-lw/) · 8.0 [Compare side by side](https://padell.io/compare/adidas-metalbone-ctrl-3-4-vs-stiga-ace-3-lw/) [All rackets that play like the adidas Metalbone Ctrl 3.4 →](https://padell.io/alternatives/?r=1) ## Questions before you buy **What changed from the Metalbone Ctrl 3.3 to the 3.4?** One spec: the face went from Carbon Aluminized 2 to 1 to Carbon Aluminized 16K. Core, shape, balance, weight range and thickness are all unchanged, though one video reviewer found the 3.4 handles worse and moves slower in volleys. **Is the Metalbone Ctrl 3.4 the same as Ale Galán's Metalbone 3.4?** No. The Ale Galán model is a diamond-shaped, head-heavy power racket rated low for control. This Ctrl version is round, even-balanced and control-first. They share the 16K face and the name, little else. **Is it comfortable for a sensitive arm?** Promising, not proven. The EVA Soft Performance core is soft, and one court tester reported no arm discomfort. Another noticed a trampoline effect from that same soft core, so the feel divides opinion. **Is the Metalbone Ctrl 3.4 good for intermediate players?** Adidas labels it professional, but the round shape, high sweet spot and even balance are forgiving on paper. One video reviewer called it the easiest Metalbone to play with. The low power rating means you must generate your own pace. **Is the Metalbone Ctrl 3.4 worth the money right now?** Today's price is labelled "Fair price" compared with the rackets that play most alike. Which shops deliver, and what shipping costs, depends on your country. The price comparison shows it for yours. See all prices **What is the closest alternative?** The adidas Cross IT Light plays most alike. Differences: comfort +1.0. Today: € 176.98. [Compare side by side →](https://padell.io/compare/adidas-metalbone-ctrl-3-4-vs-adidas-cross-it-light/) **Who should not buy it?** Skip it if you want easy power for smashes (power 4.5/10). **How heavy is it really?** The brand gives 345 to 360 g. That counts as light. Each racket can differ within that range. [Why a range? →](https://padell.io/guides/padel-racket-weight-range/)