Adidas Metalbone CTRL 3.4 2025 Review: Still Worth It Now the 2026 CTRL Is Out?

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The adidas Metalbone CTRL 3.4 is the round, control-first member of adidas’s 2025 Metalbone family. It shares the Carbon Aluminised 16K face, EVA Soft Performance core and Weight & Balance System of the diamond-shaped Metalbone 3.4, but moves the sweet spot to the centre of the head for steadier defence, placement and net play. This guide covers the 2025 edition (black and gold), explains what changed on the white and orange Metalbone CTRL 2026 that replaced it, and sets out where UK players can still find each one.

Affiliate links. Stock checked 8 October 2026. The 2025 Metalbone CTRL 3.4 had no featured offer on Amazon UK, so the first button opens an Amazon UK search rather than a single listing. Search results also show the cheaper Metalbone Carbon CTRL, so check the name on the racket, and some marketplace sellers ship from outside the UK, so check delivery and any import charges before you order. On 14 October 2026 the white Metalbone CTRL 2026 listing we linked was unavailable, so that button now opens an Amazon UK search too.

At a glance

What the Metalbone CTRL 3.4 is designed to do

adidas describes the CTRL 3.4 as a racket “built on the foundation of control” that still borrows power technology from the main Metalbone. In practice that means three things on the spec sheet:

• A round head with a central sweet spot. Round rackets keep more mass towards the handle, which helps on blocks, lobs and low volleys. It is the opposite design brief to the head-heavy diamond Metalbone 3.4 that Ale Galán uses.
• A hard face over a soft core. The Carbon Aluminised 16K face is listed as high hardness, while the EVA Soft Performance rubber is low density. adidas pairs the two so the ball leaves the face cleanly without the racket feeling dead on soft shots.
• Tuning options. The Weight & Balance System lets you add up to 11.2g and shift where that weight sits, so the same frame can play a little more solid on drives or a little quicker at the net.

Technology explained

Weight & Balance System

For 2025 adidas revised its adjustable weight system. Screws, plates and removable washers sit on the sides and top of the frame, and swapping them changes both total weight (by up to 11.2g) and balance. The Amazon UK listing photos show an adjustment key and spare weights. Most owners settle on one setup, but it is useful if you want a heavier, more stable racket for winter club sessions or a lighter one for fast indoor courts.

Carbon Aluminised 16K face and EVA Soft Performance core

The face is the same Carbon Aluminised 16K used across the top 2025 Metalbone models. The core is adidas’s softer EVA Soft Performance compound rather than a hard EVA, which retailers describe as giving good ball output with a comfortable feel. If you are coming from a soft fibreglass racket, expect a firmer, more direct response; if you are coming from a hard-core power racket, it will feel softer.

Power Extra Grip, Low Poly and Power Groove

These are the three technologies adidas added to the Metalbone line for 2025. The Power Extra Grip is a longer handle that adds swing inertia and leaves room for a two-handed backhand. Low Poly is a faceted, polyhedral design in the frame and core aimed at stiffness, and Power Groove is a rail inserted into the frame for extra rigidity. adidas also lists its Octagonal Structure frame tube to reduce twisting on off-centre hits.

Spin Blade Decal

The raised Spin Blade Decal pattern on the face adds texture for grip on the ball when you brush up on lobs or slice a bandeja. Retailers list the surface as rough.

What owners and reviewers report

Amazon UK shows the 2025 CTRL 3.4 at 4.5 out of 5 from 54 global ratings on 8 October 2026. The themes that come up most in owner reviews and English-language video reviews are:

• Easy to control. Reviewers describe it as an easy racket to play with, well suited to placement and defence.
• More punch than you might expect. Reviewers and owners say it has more power than they expected from a round racket, helped by the longer handle.
• Soft feel divides opinion. Some players who prefer stiff rackets find the core too soft, with noticeable trampoline effect.
• Price and import sellers. One UK buyer reported paying an unexpected customs fee to an overseas seller, which is why we flag delivery details above.

Metalbone CTRL 3.4 2025 vs Metalbone CTRL 2026

adidas has now replaced the 2025 edition with the Metalbone CTRL 2026. On paper the two are very close: adidas lists the same 345 to 360g weight range, round shape, medium balance, 38mm profile, Carbon Aluminised 16K face, EVA Soft Performance core and Weight & Balance System. The visible changes are:

• Colourway: the 2025 edition is black and gold; the 2026 model is mainly white with orange details.
• Wrist cord: adidas highlights a new adjustable cord with a padded wrist strap for 2026.
• Feel: owners who have used both are split. Some describe them as effectively the same racket; others report a slightly smaller sweet spot and a little more power on the 2026.

Our take from the data: if you can find the 2025 edition from a UK seller at a clear discount, it remains a sensible buy. If the only 2025 offers are overseas sellers at a similar price, the in-stock 2026 model is the simpler choice.

Do not confuse it with the Metalbone Carbon CTRL

adidas also sells a cheaper Metalbone Carbon CTRL 3.4, and Amazon search results often show the two side by side. The Carbon CTRL is a different model with a white throat and “METALBONE CARBON CTRL” printed on the face. Check the name on the racket in the listing photos before you buy. We cover the newer version in our Metalbone Carbon CTRL 2026 review.

Who the Metalbone CTRL 3.4 suits

• Good fit: advanced and strong intermediate players who play from the back, defend a lot and want a racket that keeps the ball on the court. It also suits players moving from a diamond to a round racket who still want some help on the overhead.
• Think twice: beginners and players on a tight budget, who will get more value from our best intermediate padel rackets UK guide, and power players who want a head-heavy diamond, who should look at the Metalbone HRD+ 2026.

Alternatives worth comparing

• NOX ML10 Pro Cup: a long-running round control racket that usually costs much less.
• HEAD Radical Pro 2026: a HEAD alternative to compare at a similar level.
• adidas Adipower Multiweight 3.3: an older adidas racket with adjustable weights.
• adidas RX Series 2026: a far cheaper adidas option for developing players.

For the wider market, see our best padel rackets 2026 guide, or start with how to choose a padel racket.

Looking after a premium racket

A carbon racket at this price is worth protecting. A frame protector reduces chips from wall and floor contact (see our racket protector guide), a fresh overgrip such as the Wilson Padel Pro Overgrip keeps the extended handle secure, and good balls help any racket play as designed (see best padel balls UK).

Frequently asked questions

Is the adidas Metalbone CTRL 3.4 a round or diamond racket?
Round. The diamond-shaped, head-heavy model is the standard Metalbone 3.4. The CTRL has a round head, medium balance and a central sweet spot.

How heavy is the Metalbone CTRL 3.4 2025?
adidas lists 345 to 360g before you add weights. The Weight & Balance System can add up to 11.2g.

What is the difference between the Metalbone CTRL 2025 and 2026?
The listed specs are almost identical: round shape, medium balance, Carbon Aluminised 16K face and EVA Soft Performance core. The 2026 model has a new white and orange colourway and a padded adjustable wrist cord. Owners are split on whether it plays differently, with some reporting slightly more power and a slightly smaller sweet spot on the 2026.

Is the Metalbone CTRL 3.4 good for beginners?
It is marketed at advanced and competition players, and the price reflects that. The round shape is forgiving, but most beginners will get better value from a cheaper racket.

Is the Metalbone CTRL the same as the Metalbone Carbon CTRL?
No. The Metalbone Carbon CTRL is a separate, cheaper model. Check the printed name on the listing photos.

How much does the Metalbone CTRL 3.4 cost in the UK?
On 8 October 2026, the 2025 listing on Amazon UK had no featured offer, with other sellers from about £209.99, and the Metalbone CTRL 2026 was in stock at £250.95. Some UK specialist shops now show the 2025 edition as sold out.

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