Tecnifibre is one of the most prestigious brands in racket sports. The French firm is the absolute leader in squash, one of the most important in tennis, and now it wants to do the same with padel. For this reason, they have sought to continue growing in this market with a new launch, with which they hope to have more presence in all areas of the 20×10. They already had the Wall Breaker range, which focused on offering maximum power; the Wall Master, which was more focused on control; and now Tecnifibre is launching the Curva, which is a complete revolution in their catalogue. There are three rackets that have been presented in their Tour, plus another one that will also be on sale. Their philosophy is based on comfort and manageability.
If Babolat has the Air, Head the Speed and Bullpadel the Vertex, the French brand wanted to join this trend by launching products that give the player a lot of agility of movement, but without losing power. The Tecnifibre Curve range has great aerodynamics and reduced weight, but with different features in each of the models to suit the needs of each player.
In Padel Addict we have been able to test them and we tell you the sensations that each one of them offers.
The feature that sets this collection apart
As Tecnifibre says, padel has become an absolute priority for them. They want to become, as they did with tennis, one of the main companies in the market. However, that can’t be achieved overnight, there has to be a previous work to offer top quality products that end up convincing buyers.
To do this, the French brand has tried to analyse the keys to this sport in order to find some detail with which to offer something different to the player. In the TecniLab, where they carry out their research and experiments, they have found out that trajectory and rebound have a great influence on performance. They have thus found a decisive point on which they have based the whole design of the Curva: the negative angle.
Depending on the strike, the ball can have a positive angle (from bottom to top) or a negative angle (from top to bottom). The latter is the optimal one to achieve the lowest bounce and therefore the highest level. Thanks to this, they have developed a series of characteristics that improve the trajectory, achieving that 91% of Curva users have a better angle in their shots so that the ball bounces less on the glass.
The X-Speed channels, the 3D rough and the shape of the rackets are what make the difference on the court. Tecnifibre, by doing things right, wants to establish itself in padel.
These are the new Tecnifibre Curva
Tecnifibre Curva Power: the most powerful of them all
Within that all have similar characteristics, there are several differences that make that some models stand out in a facet and others in others. Of between the three, the Power is the one that contributes greater power to the player. While it is true that its teardrop shape and its 26.2 centimetre balance are not a racket exclusively focused on offensive play, it does have a ball output that makes it stand out in that sense.
It has 18K carbon on the faces, which in combination with the soft rubber of the firm, makes it have a fast response and gives great speed to the ball with little effort. The X-Speed technology, which are the air channels on the sides, together with its weight of 360 grams make it an ideal choice for those who want to move their racket quickly. In addition, the high quality 3D rough also helps with spin.
So, all in all, it is a high quality product for players who want comfort and power. It is agile, has a medium touch, a good sweet spot and a great ball exit to feel comfortable without losing aggressiveness in the game.
Speed Curve: the one with the most control
Next on the list is the Curva Speed, which is the one with the most different characteristics. Although it has the same technologies and the same rough as the rest, it is the one with the most different behaviour. It is the lightest, but not the easiest. On the contrary, it is possibly the most technical. Instead of 360 grams, it weighs 355, but that is not the key point.
Both the Soft and the Power have soft rubber, but the Speed has the brand’s hard rubber. This is the biggest change from the others. Its ball output is a little lower, but it gains in control by having a harder feel (which is not hard, but a point more in the middle). It is very easy to move, and it is still very comfortable to play with, but it is focused on those who prioritise control over the reactivity of the rubber.
It is the lightest, hardest and most precise in each stroke, although it is also the most technically demanding to get all the power you have inside.
Soft Curve: the most comfortable and simple
While it is true that none of them is too complicated to not recommend it to someone who is just starting out or who has only been playing padel for a short time, there is a racket that can be adapted to almost any type of player, regardless of level or style. The Soft Curve, as its name suggests, is the softest of the three, but also the one that offers the most comfortable feel.
Its faces are made of a mix of carbon and fibreglass, and its soft rubber makes it soft to the touch. However, it doesn’t ‘eat’ the ball too much, as they say. It has a great reactivity that allows you to get good power out of it and the handling is excellent. For those who want to feel the ball, move their racket fast and have great power, this is a great option.
Curva Club: the best way to get started
Finally, the Curva Club, which although we have not been able to test it, has perfect characteristics for players who are just starting out or who need a very simple racket for specific occasions. It doesn’t have the technologies of the other three, but it follows that mentality of having a great handling, which is especially important for those who don’t have a high level.
It has fibreglass on the faces, soft rubber and a medium balance to give a lot of reactivity to the ball. Easy to use and ideal to feel good in those first steps in this sport.
Price and where to buy the new Tecnifibre Curva rackets
You can buy the new range of Tecnifibre Curva padel rackets in their online shop or in the brand’s distribution shops. The prices of the 4 models of rackets are:
| Racket | Price |
| Curva Power | € 249.98 |
| Curva Speed | € 229.98 |
| Curva Soft | € 199.98 |
| Curva Club | € 129.99 |
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