Quick Answer: The best Adidas pickleball paddle in 2026 is the Metalbone LP Team ($119.99) —
an elongated, monocoque-built power paddle that independent testing at The Kitchen Pickle ranked among
the hardest-hitting paddles available. Want the same face technology with more control? The Adipower
CTRL ($189) trades some power for touch. On a budget? The RX Team ATTK/CTRL (~$79.99) is
Adidas’s entry point. One catch worth knowing before you buy: Adidas’s newest Metalbone paddles
currently carry interim UPA-A certification rather than full USA Pickleball approval.
Adidas is the latest global sporting-goods giant to enter pickleball, following the same path as Wilson, Head, Prince and Babolat. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), pickleball grew to roughly 24.3 million U.S. players in 2025, up from just 4.2 million in 2020 — growth that’s pulled legacy racquet-sports brands into a paddle market once dominated by dedicated makers like JOOLA, Selkirk and CRBN. Unlike some of those late entrants, Adidas’s flagship Metalbone line has actually earned strong marks from independent testers: The Kitchen Pickle’s 2025 review called the LP S and LP Team variants paddles that generate “a level of power that puts them ahead of anything else on the market right now.” We compared the lineup, including a genuine certification wrinkle worth knowing before you buy.
Best Adidas paddles at a glance
| Paddle | Best for | Core / shape | Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adidas Metalbone LP Team | Best overall / power | 16mm · elongated (ATTK) | ~$119.99 | ★★★★½ |
| Adidas Metalbone 14.5mm | Best thin-core power | 14.5mm · elongated (ATTK) | ~$159.99 | ★★★★ |
| Adidas Adipower CTRL | Best control | 16mm · standard | ~$189 | ★★★★ |
| Adidas RX Carbon ATTK | Best mid-tier value | carbon fiber · elongated | ~$111-149 | ★★★½ |
| Adidas RX Team ATTK/CTRL | Best budget | composite face | ~$79.99 | ★★★ |
1. Adidas Metalbone LP Team — Best Overall
Adidas Metalbone LP Team
- Monocoque construction wraps a low-density honeycomb core into one seamless molded shell — a build method Adidas carried over from its padel and tennis lines.
- Elongated ATTK shape with a 5.5-inch "Extra Power Grip" handle, built to add reach and leverage for drives and serves.
- Rough "Spin Blade Max" texture on the face, aimed at maximizing spin off aggressive swings.
- Independently ranked as one of the hardest-hitting paddles on the market by The Kitchen Pickle's 2025 power testing.
The LP Team is where Adidas’s pickleball push has genuinely landed a punch — this isn’t a legacy brand phoning in a me-too paddle, it’s a top power performer by independent testing. If you already know you’re a driver rather than a dinker, it’s worth a look next to the field in our best pickleball paddle for power roundup. Loading up your bag before league night? Start your free Audible trial and queue up a strategy audiobook for the drive to the courts.
2. Adidas Metalbone 14.5mm — Best Thin-Core Power
Adidas Metalbone 14.5mm
- Same elongated ATTK shape and monocoque build as the LP Team, in a thinner 14.5mm core for an even firmer, faster feel off the face.
- Priced above the LP Team, positioning it as the flagship's premium variant rather than a budget option.
- Carries the same UPA-A interim certification status as the rest of the current Metalbone line — not yet full USA Pickleball approval as of this writing.
- Best suited to players who already generate their own power and want the thinnest possible core, not a first paddle.
The 14.5mm swaps a little forgiveness for an even firmer response than the LP Team — a small core difference that matters more than it sounds like once you’re mid-rally. Because certification status varies within the Metalbone line itself, always check the specific model against USA Pickleball’s own database before entering a sanctioned event.
3. Adidas Adipower CTRL — Best Control
Adidas Adipower CTRL
- Carbon aluminized face with carbon structural reinforcement — a step below Metalbone's monocoque build, but still Adidas's second-tier performance construction.
- "CTRL" naming pairs it with the power-focused Adipower ATTK, splitting the line by playstyle the same way Adidas does with Metalbone.
- Standard shape prioritizes a consistent sweet spot over the extra reach of an elongated build.
- The more consistently USAP-approved option if the current Metalbone certification gap is a dealbreaker for your league.
The Adipower CTRL is the pick for players who want Adidas’s better construction tier without betting on the newest, still-pending-approval Metalbone line. See our best pickleball paddle for control guide for how it compares against dedicated control-first brands like Selkirk.
4. Adidas RX Carbon ATTK — Best Mid-Tier Value
Adidas RX Carbon ATTK
- Carbon fiber face sits a tier below Adipower and Metalbone, but above the composite-faced RX Team models.
- Elongated shape, following the "ATTK" naming Adidas uses for its power-oriented builds across every tier.
- Pricing varies noticeably by retailer and listing — we found the same paddle from ~$111.75 to $149 across sources, so it's worth comparison-shopping.
- A reasonable step-up if the RX Team's composite face feels underpowered but $189 for Adipower is more than you want to spend.
The RX Carbon ATTK is a genuinely confusing paddle to shop for — Adidas has released several similarly-named RX and Metalbone-RX carbon variants across generations, and retailer pricing swings by nearly $40 for what looks like the same paddle. Confirm the exact model number before you buy rather than trusting a listing title alone.
5. Adidas RX Team ATTK/CTRL — Best Budget
Adidas RX Team ATTK/CTRL
- Composite face rather than carbon fiber, Adidas's entry point into pickleball construction.
- Sold in matching ATTK (power) and CTRL (control) versions at the same price, same as the rest of the lineup.
- Frequently discounted from a $99 list price, making it one of the cheaper name-brand paddles from a major sporting-goods company.
- A lower-risk way to try Adidas's build quality before committing to the $119.99-$189 performance tiers.
At under $80, the RX Team is priced more like a serious second paddle than a true beginner’s first one — it’s still not the most forgiving entry point in the sport. For paddles built specifically around ease of use, see our best pickleball paddle for beginners guide.
Adidas, by the numbers
- 24.3 million U.S. players in 2025. Per the SFIA, pickleball’s player base grew from 4.2 million in 2020 — the same boom that pulled a global sporting-goods brand like Adidas into the paddle market.
- UPA-A interim certification, not yet full USA Pickleball approval (current Metalbone models). A genuine, verifiable certification gap reported by The Kitchen Pickle’s 2025 review — check the specific SKU on USA Pickleball’s equipment database before tournament play.
- $79.99-$189 price range. Adidas’s lineup spans four tiers (RX Team, RX Carbon, Adipower, Metalbone), each split into ATTK (power) and CTRL (control) versions.
- 14.5mm vs. 16mm Metalbone cores. The flagship line offers two thicknesses within the same monocoque construction, letting players pick firmness without changing shape or face material.
- Nearly $40 price swing on the same RX Carbon ATTK paddle across different retailers — worth comparison-shopping before buying, not just checking a single listing.
How to choose an Adidas paddle
- Want Adidas’s best power paddle? The Metalbone LP Team (~$119.99) is the independently top-ranked option in the lineup.
- Chasing an even firmer feel? The Metalbone 14.5mm (~$159.99) is the thinnest-core flagship variant.
- Prioritizing control and consistent approval status? The Adipower CTRL (~$189) is the safer bet for sanctioned play.
- Want carbon construction without flagship pricing? The RX Carbon ATTK (~$111-149) splits the difference.
- New to the brand or budget-conscious? The RX Team ATTK/CTRL (~$79.99) is Adidas’s entry point — see our best pickleball paddle for beginners picks for true starter-paddle options.
The bottom line
The Adidas Metalbone LP Team is the best Adidas pickleball paddle in 2026 for most power-seeking
players — independently ranked among the hardest-hitting paddles available, at a relatively
approachable $119.99. Control-first players and anyone who needs certainty on tournament
certification should look at the Adipower CTRL ($189), and budget shoppers fit better with the
RX Team (~$79.99). Whichever tier you pick, verify the exact model against USA Pickleball’s
equipment database if you play sanctioned events — Adidas’s newest paddles are still working through
approval. Still comparing brands? See how Adidas stacks up in our
best pickleball paddle brands ranking, check the overall field
in our best pickleball paddle pillar, or browse other single-brand
roundups: best Babolat pickleball paddle,
best Wilson pickleball paddle and
best Prince pickleball paddle.