Adidas Cross It Light 2026
The Adidas Cross It Light 2026 is Marta Ortega’s racket, and the lightest, most approachable member of the Cross It family. Where the standard Cross It is an attacking diamond, the Light takes the same premium materials — 24K aluminised carbon faces, a full carbon frame, the Spin Blade relief — and puts them into a round head at 345–360 g.
The result is a racket with a very clear job: precise, fast, technically rich padel for players who build points instead of forcing them. It is one of the few premium rackets built around a lighter weight from the start rather than a slimmed-down afterthought, which is exactly why it keeps coming up whenever women players and lighter-framed men ask for a high-end control option.
Verdict
The Cross It Light 2026 is a premium control racket that never feels heavy or hard work. The round head and medium balance put the sweet spot low and central, the 345–360 g weight makes it quick to prepare at the net, and the 24K aluminised carbon faces give a firm, precise response that tells you exactly where the ball is going. It is a racket that rewards good technique with accuracy rather than one that hides poor technique with power.
Its limit is the one you would expect: it is not a smash machine. The Extra Power Grip adds some inertia and the Spin Blade relief helps you kick the ball out on víboras, but flat put-aways need a full, well-timed swing. For intermediate and advanced players — and especially for players who want a lighter racket without stepping down to entry-level materials — this is one of the most complete control options of the 2026 season.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Genuinely light for a premium racket — 345–360 g makes net preparation and fast exchanges effortless.
- Round head with a low, central sweet spot gives consistent, predictable control from the back.
- 24K aluminised carbon faces deliver a precise, informative response with no mushy feel.
- Spin Blade 3D relief and the curved hole pattern give real bite on slices, kicks and víboras.
- Dynamic Air Flow channels in the heart keep the racket moving fast through the air.
- Premium construction — full carbon frame, structural reinforcement and 3M protection tape — built to last.
Cons
- Limited top-end power: flat smashes need a full, well-timed swing to finish the point.
- The 24K faces are firmer than fibreglass, so it is not the softest option for sensitive elbows.
- Premium price — clearly more expensive than mid-range round rackets with similar control.
- Heavier hitters from tennis may find it too light to feel stable on hard incoming balls.
On-court performance
From the back
This is where the Cross It Light is most at home. The round head puts the sweet spot exactly where most defensive contact happens, and the medium balance keeps the racket under your hand on lobs, chiquitas and low balls off the glass. Placement is the standout: you can aim at a corner and the ball goes there.
The EVA Soft Energy core gives enough ball output that defensive lobs reach the back without a big swing, but the firm 24K faces stop the ball from flying long when you meet it hard. It is a racket that lets you build a point patiently and wait for the right moment to attack.
At the net
Light weight, medium balance and the Dynamic Air Flow channels in the heart make this one of the quickest premium rackets to prepare. Fast reflex volleys and blocks against hard-hitting opponents feel easy, because you are never late getting the face into position.
Volleys come off precise and well-directed rather than explosive. Deep, placed volleys to the feet are its natural weapon; if you want to blast a volley through the opponents, a diamond will do more of the work for you.
Overheads
Bandejas are excellent — controlled, deep and easy to place. Víboras benefit from the Spin Blade relief and the curved Smart Holes Curve pattern, which help the ball grip and skid off the glass.
Flat smashes are the one area where the Light asks more of you. The Extra Power Grip lengthens the handle to add some inertia, but the round head and low weight mean you have to generate the pace yourself. Well-timed, you can still finish points; it simply won’t do it for you.
Comfort & vibration
Comfort comes mostly from the low weight: less mass to swing means less load on the shoulder over a long match. The EVA Soft Energy core, a medium-density compound with fast recovery, softens impact compared with a hard EVA.
The aluminised 24K faces are firmer than fibreglass, though, so you do feel the ball. Players with an active elbow problem should look at a softer, fibreglass-faced round racket first; for healthy arms, the balance between feel and comfort is very good.
Spin
Spin is a clear strength. The Spin Blade mould adds a 3D relief to the face, and the stiff 24K surface grips the ball cleanly, so slices stay low and kick serves and víboras get real rotation without forcing the swing.
Who is it for / not for
Good choice if…
- You are an intermediate or advanced player who wins points with placement and patience.
- You want a premium racket but prefer a lighter weight — a very common choice among women players.
- You play mostly on the left or right in defence and want control off the glass.
- You like a precise, informative feel rather than a soft, trampoline-like response.
- You are moving up from a mid-range round racket and want better materials without changing shape.
Avoid if…
- You want maximum smash power — the standard Cross It or a diamond will help you more.
- You have elbow problems and need the softest feel possible.
- You are a beginner — a cheaper fibreglass round racket makes more sense for your first year.
Cross It Light vs Cross It 2026 — which one?
Adidas uses the Cross It name for rackets with very different personalities, so the version matters more than the name. The standard Cross It is a diamond with a high balance, built for attacking players who want power and spin above the net. The Cross It Light is its opposite: round head, medium balance and a lower weight, designed for control and speed.
There is also a Cross It Light Pro-EDT 2026, a more expensive edition of the Light. If you are choosing between the two Light versions, start with the standard Light reviewed here — it carries the same concept and materials at a clearly lower price. If you choose between Light and standard Cross It, ask yourself one question: do you win your points with placement or with power? Placement means Light.
Specifications
| Shape | Round |
|---|---|
| Weight | 345–360 g |
| Balance | Medium |
| Thickness | 38 mm |
| Faces | Carbon Aluminized 24K, Spin Blade 3D relief |
| Core | EVA Soft Energy (medium density) |
| Frame | Carbon fibre with structural reinforcement |
| Technology | Dynamic Air Flow, 11 Thirteen holes, Smart Holes Curve, Extra Power Grip, 3M protection tape |
| Level | Intermediate / Advanced |
| Signature | Marta Ortega |
Small unit-to-unit variations in weight and balance are normal.
Alternatives
| Adidas Metalbone CTRL 2026 | Round control from the same brand, with adjustable Weight & Balance | Heavier and less suited to players who want a light racket |
| StarVie Raptor 2026 Plus | Round, exceptionally comfortable and easy on the arm | Less precise and crisp than the 24K faces of the Cross It Light |
| Bullpadel Elite W 2026 | Gemma Triay’s women’s racket — a more versatile hybrid teardrop | Less pure control from the back than a round head |
| Adidas Cross It 3.4 2025 | The attacking diamond of the Cross It family | Heavier, harder and much more demanding |
| Babolat Air Vertuo 2.6 | Light 345 g hybrid teardrop — softer, easier and much cheaper | Less precise and less premium than 24K carbon |
In 30 seconds
- Marta Ortega’s racket: a light, premium round racket built for control and speed.
- 345–360 g with a medium balance — one of the quickest premium rackets to move at the net.
- 24K aluminised carbon and Spin Blade relief give precise placement and real spin.
- Trade-off: limited flat-smash power and a firmer feel than fibreglass rackets.
- Best for intermediate and advanced players — very often women — who want premium control without the weight.