Looking to step up your padel game without breaking the bank? The Adidas RX Series 2026 is engineered specifically for beginner to intermediate players who want control, comfort, and durability in one package. Having reviewed the RX Series Light previously, we put the standard RX Series through its paces to see how it compares.
👉 Check the Adidas RX Series 2026 on Amazon UK
Who Is It For?
The RX Series 2026 sits firmly in the beginner-to-intermediate bracket. With a round head shape, centred balance, and low-medium balance point, it’s designed to be forgiving — minimising unforced errors while you build technique. Weight comes in at 360–375g, making it easy to manoeuvre without being flimsy.
Technology Breakdown
EVA Soft Performance Core
The heart of the racket is a low-density EVA foam core. This provides excellent vibration absorption — great news for players with arm or elbow sensitivity — and a soft, responsive feel that helps with touch shots at the net. It’s the same core philosophy Adidas uses across their accessible range, and it works.
Fiberglass Face
Unlike more advanced rackets that use carbon fibre faces, the RX Series uses fiberglass. This is a deliberate choice: fiberglass is more flexible and elastic, which means a larger effective sweet spot and a more forgiving ball response. You don’t need perfect technique to get a decent shot away.
Structural Power Reinforcement
Strategic carbon fibre reinforcements in the frame add rigidity where it counts — reducing torsion during powerful impacts and ensuring the racket doesn’t twist on off-centre hits. This gives the RX Series more stability than a pure fiberglass frame while keeping the weight accessible.
Smart Holes Lineal
Adidas’s drilling pattern groups holes in sets of three at equal spacing, which improves structural integrity across the face and contributes to a more consistent sweet spot. For developing players, this means better feedback and a more predictable response shot to shot.
On Court: How Does It Play?
Control
This is where the RX Series earns its stripes. The round shape and centred balance make defensive work — back-wall exits, lobs, cross-court placements — feel natural and reliable. Volleys have a satisfying softness; you can direct the ball rather than simply blocking it. For players working on consistency, this is exactly the right tool.
Power
This isn’t a power weapon, and it doesn’t pretend to be. That said, the structural reinforcements give it enough stability to transfer energy effectively when you do generate swing speed. Smashes carry decent depth, and the round shape means even off-centre smashes still clear the net. As your technique improves, you’ll start extracting more pace from it.
Comfort
The combination of EVA Soft core and fiberglass face is genuinely comfortable over long sessions. Vibration damping is noticeable — hands feel significantly fresher after 90 minutes compared to stiffer carbon rackets. If you’re prone to arm fatigue or returning from an injury, this deserves serious consideration.
RX Series vs RX Series Light: What’s the Difference?
We’ve reviewed both — here’s the quick comparison:
- RX Series (this review): Slightly heavier (360–375g), standard fiberglass + EVA Soft, more forgiving feel
- RX Series Light: Lighter frame, quicker to manoeuvre, slightly more lively response
If you play longer sessions or prefer a slightly more planted, stable feel, go for the standard RX Series. If quick reactions at the net are your priority, the Light version edges it.
Specs at a Glance
| Shape | Round |
| Balance | Centred / Low-Medium |
| Weight | 360–375g |
| Core | EVA Soft Performance |
| Face | Fiberglass |
| Level | Beginner–Intermediate |
YouTube: See It In Action
Verdict
The Adidas RX Series 2026 is a well-built, honest racket for players at the start of their padel journey or consolidating intermediate skills. It won’t flatter poor technique — but it won’t punish it either. Comfortable, durable, and consistently forgiving, it offers excellent value at under £100.
Rating: 4.5/5 — Highly recommended for beginners and intermediates seeking reliability.
👉 Buy the Adidas RX Series 2026 on Amazon UK
Also consider:
- Bullpadel Indiga Control — similar level, different feel
- Wilson Bela Pro 2026 — step up when you’re ready for more power
