adidas Drive Light Padel Racket 2026

The standard adidas Drive is listed at 360 to 375 g; the Drive Light drops that to 345 to 360 g. Everything else is the same: a round head, a fibreglass face and a soft core. The previous season's Drive 3.4 sits in the same standard weight band. Up to 15 g sounds small, and in the hand of a new player it is not. A lighter racket is easier to get up to the ball and kinder to the elbow in the first month.

Take the Light if you are smaller, newer to racket sports, or returning from an injury. Take the standard if you are tall, strong, or coming from tennis and want a little more stability.

Retailers agree on the materials: a fibreglass face and a soft EVA core, with a round head. adidas Ireland and most shops give the weight as 345 to 360 g, though one listing says 350 to 360 g. adidas's own page also mentions a Smart Holes Lineal pattern, holes in groups of three, for strength.

Balance is where it gets fuzzy. One listing says middle, others say low, with the weight towards the handle. We could not find an adidas figure in millimetres, so we do not give one. For a first racket it matters less than the weight, and every source agrees it is not head-heavy.

Padelful has not reviewed the Light, but it has reviewed the standard Drive Black and scored it 6.1 overall, noting an easy centred sweet spot, quick handling and limited power. Those numbers carry across to a lighter version of the same racket. Expect a soft, controlled hit where the ball goes where you aim it and not much further.

That is not a criticism. A first racket is meant to teach you to place the ball. When you start to feel the racket holding you back, move on.

Anyone who already rallies and wants pace. A soft fibreglass racket tops out quickly, and an improving player will outgrow it inside a season. The intermediate padel racket page lists the next step. For another very light soft racket, the fibreglass Cross It Team Light scores well for handling.

Put a racket protector on first, since beginners meet the glass often. Add the adidas overgrip 3-pack and look at the full padel grips page. A tube of adidas Speed RX balls and our padel balls guide cover the next bit, then padel shoes for the sand.

Compare it with the other starters on the beginner padel racket page, with budget picks on the cheap padel racket page, and with women's options on the women's padel racket page. Our guide to choosing a padel racket explains shapes, and the whole padel racket range is a click away.