Every other Metalbone in the 2026 range is a head-heavy diamond built for power. This one is not. The adidas Metalbone Team Light 2026 is a round racket of 345 to 360 g with an even balance. One retailer lists the balance at 255 mm. That makes it the light, control-oriented entry into a family otherwise aimed at PRO-level hitters like the adidas Metalbone 2026 Ale Galán.
The one Metalbone that is not a diamond
Look at the 2026 Metalbone line and a pattern appears. The Metalbone 2026 Ale Galán, the Metalbone Carbon, the HRD+ and the Pro Edt are all diamonds with head-heavy balance and carbon faces. The two round siblings, the Metalbone Ctrl and Metalbone Carbon Ctrl, are built with carbon too. The Carbon Ctrl is also heavier, between 360 and 375 g.
The Team Light breaks that pattern twice. It is round, and it uses fiberglass instead of carbon. The Metalbone name here signals the family look, not the family playing style.
Advanced on the label, young players in the marketing
Here the sources disagree, and that is worth knowing. The brand lists the level as Advanced. Yet the product page describes it as a companion for young players that builds confidence in evolving players. Those are two different target groups.
Read together, the specs side with the marketing. A soft core, fiberglass face, round shape and low weight is a classic recipe for a forgiving racket, not a demanding one. If you are an intermediate player moving up, that fits. If you are a genuinely advanced player who generates your own power, the label oversells it.
What the weight and balance do on court
Weight runs from 345 to 360 g. That is light for an adult racket. Light rackets swing faster, react quicker at the net and tire your arm less over a long match.
The balance, listed at 255 mm by a retailer, sits low and even. The brand itself only says Even. Either way, the weight stays close to your hand. You notice that in defense: quick blocks, fast changes of direction, easy preparation on the bandeja.
The trade-off is simple. No mass in the head means no free power. Smashes and aggressive volleys need your own swing speed.
Fiberglass and soft EVA: control and comfort, modest power
The core is Eva Soft Performance, a soft foam. The face is fiberglass. Both choices lean the same way: a comfortable, elastic contact that helps the ball out on slow shots and absorbs vibration.
The surface is listed as Spin Blade Gritt, and the handle as Extra Power Grip. The frame material is not published. The head measures 485 cm2 and the profile is 38 mm, both standard.
Add it up and the profile is clear. High control, high comfort, high maneuverability, a large sweet spot, and low power. Not a finishing racket, but a building one.
One review, and it never touched a court
The only independent review comes from Padelzoom, and it is an algorithm: a rating computed from the specs, not from playing. It praises the control, ball output, sweet spot and maneuverability, and flags the moderate power. That mirrors what the specs suggest, which is reassuring but not proof.
A video review from the allforpadel channel did go on court, though the racket match is only partial. It describes a lightweight, comfortable racket with a centered sweet spot, suited to intermediate players. That aligns with the rest. Still, nobody has published a full, verified court test of this exact racket. Treat the certainty accordingly.
Which light adidas to pick instead
If this profile appeals but you want options, adidas has three close relatives. The adidas Cross IT Team Light 2026 shares the same core, face, shape and weight, with slightly lower maneuverability. The adidas Rx Series Light 2026 follows the same recipe. The adidas Adipower Light 3.3 is a step up: a PRO-level round racket with an Alutex fiber face, played by Mafalda Fernandes.
The Team Light's edge over all three is maneuverability, rated High where they sit at Medium. If fast hands matter most, this is the pick. If you want a firmer, more premium face, the Adipower Light 3.3 is the natural upgrade.
