Stiga 3K 2 Cybershape Padel Racket

Most of the Cybershape range wears an 18K face. The 3K 2 uses a coarser weave: twisted carbon fibres in a twill pattern that STIGA says gives a fast response against hard shots. The stockist describes a stiff surface, a clear acceleration and a cleaner ball feel, with the same sandy Crystal Grip finish the other rackets carry for spin.

The handle is long, and the listing says there is room for both hands, which suits players who hit a two-handed backhand or like to choke up. The wrist strap is replaceable. These are stockist details, and STIGA's own 20 per cent larger sweet spot figure for the hexagon is the brand's claim rather than a measured result.

The stockist says medium to high, and our catalogue tags it high. Put the Cybershape rackets on one line and the 3K 2 lands just short of the head-heavy 18K Hard 2, with the 18K 2 and 18K X Hard a notch nearer the hand and the 18K LW 2 lighter still. That ordering is the stockists' wording, not a measurement.

In practice that means a racket that helps a little on overheads without feeling like a hammer, though we would want to demo it before saying so with confidence.

Choose the 3K 2 if you want a stiffer, more direct feel and a face that shouts less. The 18K rackets spread across the range from soft to explosive, and the 3K sits with the precise end of it. If you want the softest contact, go to the 18K 2; if you want the most pace, to the X Hard.

For a gentler first Cybershape, the 1.3K Hard is the entry point.

Anyone who wants the racket to forgive a late swing. A stiff 3K face on a 360 g frame passes more feedback to the arm, and a first racket from the best padel racket for beginners page will be kinder. If you want to compare attacking shapes, the advanced padel rackets list is the place to start.

A stiff face likes a fresh grip, so a tacky wrap from the padel grips page is the first job, with frame tape from the racket protector range for the head. Fresh balls from the padel balls page keep a stiff racket from feeling dead.

A bag with a shoe pocket such as the Babolat RH Pro keeps sand off the kit, and court shoes are on the padel shoes page. The full padel racket range is on one page, and our guide to choosing a padel racket explains shape and balance.