HEAD One Ultralight: the lightest padel racquet in the world

The choice of a padel racquet is a much more important aspect than many players, especially at amateur level, may think. Not only the hardness or the shape of the padel racquet comes into play, but also the weight is something to take into account. In this sense, we are going to discover the HEAD One Ultralight.

It is the lightest padel racquet in the world for adults that is currently on the market. Its lightness is noticeable as soon as you pick up the racquet, weighing just 300 grams. In addition, another aspect that is striking at first glance is another feature and that is that it only has one hole, located in the lower center of it.

At Padel Addict we have been able to test this model on court and here we tell you everything you may wonder about it.

The lightest racquets in the world

First of all, let’s talk about what makes it so special and also very suitable for many players. We are referring to its weight, which is 300 grams. Being for adults, this racquet has a 38 millimetre frame. In the same way, it has a minimalist design that could even be called futuristic.

Although we have tested the ONE Ultralight in black, it is worth mentioning that this racquet is available in two colours, giving us the opportunity to choose the one that best suits our tastes and preferences. Thus, HEAD has launched this racquet in black and white, both with the logo of the brand in greyish tone.

A tough carbon racquet

Like another HEAD model that we also reviewed on the web, the HEAD Extreme One, the One Ultralight has been manufactured with a 12k carbon body, although this same material has certain differences between the two racquets.

Specifically, the main change from one to the other is its density, which translates into the number of crossings that are made with the 12,000 filaments present in each strand of carbon. This second case is the one that corresponds to the Ultralight, which has, therefore, a lower stiffness or hardness.

Returning to the number of holes in this racquet, the truth is that the minimum number of holes allowed is just one. In addition to this, HEAD has also included the minimum diameter allowed, which is nine millimetres.

Benefits of the racquets with a single hole

Let’s go one step further to find out the benefits that this innovative detail can provide to players. racquets with only one hole are much more resistant than the rest, avoiding something as common as breakage between holes.

However, on the other hand, one of the things that we will notice if we use a racquet of this type is that we will not be able to give as much spin to the ball as other models. This is due to the fact that, as in tennis with the strings, in padel it is the holes that help, to a large extent, to make this possible.

To try to camouflage this, it is necessary to add an extra rough and, in this case, HEAD has included a sandy rough in its One Ultralight, being more effective at first, but more sensitive to wear. The Extreme One, on the other hand, has a 3D rough.

Who is this racquet suitable for?

Another difference between the two racquets is that the lighter one has a rounded shape and a 13.5 centimetre grip, making it one of the longest on the market. On the other hand, a similarity between the two models is that they use a gel cap, very comfortable and capable of reducing vibrations.

Precisely because of its reduced weight, around 300 grams, it is an ideal racquet for beginner players. It allows for better handling and, in addition, it could also prevent injuries that occur as a result of a high weight.

Can such a light racquet have power?

The biggest question, after knowing all this about the HEAD One Ultralight, is whether it can provide the power that offensive players are looking for. After testing the racquet, we can say that it will depend on the acceleration that we are able to give to the ball with each racquet.

Therefore, those players who find it difficult to achieve this will find a great ally in these racquets with such a lightweight. Despite this, the truth is that it does not reach as much power as other heavier ones, such as the Extreme One.

Regarding the defence that we will be able to do with this racquet, without affecting the 27 centimetres of its balance, it is very comfortable and very agile. In this way, we will not feel extra fatigue generated by the weight of it, nor will we feel that we are late to the balls for the same reason.

At low speeds, this light racquet has a great ball output, but it doesn’t respond as well when we want to play a little harder, as it absorbs some force and therefore loses a little speed. Its sweet spot is very wide, and this will allow us greater freedom to hit with almost any part of the racquet.

Main differences between the HEAD One Ultralight and the Extreme One

We have already talked about some differences between these two HEAD models that the brand has designed with only one hole, in both cases located in the lower and central part of them.

Making a summary of them, the main inequality responds to its weight, being 300 grams in the Ultralight and 340 grams in the Extreme. Similarly, the density of the carbon makes the lightest model also the softest and, therefore, the most manageable.

The latter aspect allows you to achieve less power in the game. Another difference is that the Ultralight has a rounder shape. The combination of all these features makes it a great option for those padel players who are just starting out.

If you want to know all the latest news from HEAD Padel, you can follow them on their Instagram, Facebook, X and YouTube profiles. You can also subscribe to their newsletter to stay up to date at all times!