Adidas
Cross It Carbon 2026
The Adidas Cross It Carbon 2026 is an attacking diamond with 6K carbon, a high balance and an EVA Soft Performance core. Power 9 and smash 9 for experienced attackers seeking head weight.
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Explosive • Comfortable • Control focused
The Adidas Cross It Carbon 2026 is the attacking model in Adidas' Cross It line, the segment below the Metalbone series. Diamond shape, high balance, 6K carbon face and EVA Soft Performance core. Power 9/10 and smash 9/10: a pronounced attacking profile that uses head weight for overhead power. The racket is tailored to Maxi Arce and targets experienced attackers through to experts. The EVA Soft Performance core is the defining choice: softer than the High Memory EVA in the older Cross It 3.4, producing comfort 8/10 and a usable sweet spot for a diamond. As a result, the racket penalises off-centre contact less harshly than typical power diamonds in this segment. The trade-off is defence 6/10. The high balance and diamond shape make the racket slower to return after the swing and less suited to defensive play. Players who build points through control are in the wrong place; players who finish above the net are in the right one. Within its own line, the Cross It Carbon CTRL 2026 is the round control counterpart. Players who want higher carbon quality and a larger sweet spot in a power diamond should look at the Adidas Metalbone series.
The Adidas Cross It Carbon 2026 weighs 360–375g, with a diamond shape and high balance. Profile 38mm. Face: Carbon 6K. Core: EVA Soft Performance. Frame: Carbon 6K. Pro player: Maxi Arce.
The Cross It line sits one price segment below the Metalbone series. Within that line, the Carbon is the attacking model: a diamond that uses head weight for overhead power, opposite the round control variants Carbon CTRL and CTRL.
Cross It 2026 positioning:
| Model | Shape | Balance | Face | Profile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cross It Carbon | Diamond | High | Carbon 6K | Power |
| Cross It Carbon CTRL | Round | Even | Carbon Aluminized 18K | Control |
| Cross It CTRL | Round | Even | Carbon Aluminized 15K | Control |
Technologies:
- Dynamic Air Flow, open holes in the bridge that reduce air resistance and accelerate the swing
- 11 Thirteen, eleven central holes with a smaller diameter than the other thirteen for additional stiffness and power
- Spin Blade Mold, surface relief for spin potential on spin shots
- Extra Power Grip, a longer handle that moves more mass towards the head
Power 9 and smash 9 are the key scores. The diamond shape and high balance concentrate mass in the head, providing direct energy transfer on overheads and smashes. The 6K carbon face is stiff enough for a hard response without the extreme stiffness of an aluminised face.
Comfort is rated 8/10. The EVA Soft Performance core is the distinguishing element: softer than the High Memory EVA in the older Cross It 3.4, which immediately penalised poor contact. As a result, the Carbon 2026 feels less raw on off-centre contact than most power diamonds in this segment.
Sweet spot is rated 7/10 and forgiveness 7/10. Good for a diamond, but the shape remains a diamond: the effective hitting area is smaller than on a round or teardrop variant. Consistent technique remains necessary.
Defence is rated 6/10. This is the clearest limitation. Head weight makes the racket slower to return after the swing, and on quick defensive balls it lacks the manoeuvrability of the round Cross It models. Spin is rated 8/10: the Spin Blade Mold texture provides enough grip for sliced bandejas and spin shots.
For experienced players through to experts with an attacking style and solid overhead technique. The diamond shape and high balance require consistent timing; beginners and control players are better served by a round or teardrop Cross It variant.
The Cross It Carbon is a high-balance diamond focused on power and smash. The Cross It Carbon CTRL is a round shape with even balance and a Carbon Aluminized 18K face, focused on control and a larger sweet spot. Choose Carbon if you attack, Carbon CTRL if you play through placement.
A diamond with a high balance. The centre of mass sits towards the head, providing overhead power but limiting manoeuvrability and defence. Adidas describes it as a power shape for attacking play.
The Cross It Carbon sits one price segment below the Metalbone line. Metalbone models use Carbon Aluminized face material for a more direct response and have broader review coverage. The Cross It Carbon offers a similar attacking profile with a 6K carbon face at a more accessible price.
Advantages
Power 9 and smash 9: pronounced overhead power through the diamond shape and high balance
EVA Soft Performance core: more comfort and margin than earlier Cross It power diamonds
The Dynamic Air Flow bridge accelerates the swing despite the head weight
Adidas quality and broad distribution in the Netherlands in the mid-range
Considerations
Defence 6: not suitable for defensive play or building points
The 6K carbon face is less responsive than the Carbon Aluminized in the Metalbone line
The high balance requires consistent overhead technique
What you will notice as a player
The smash gets plenty of easy power; you do not need a full follow-through to put the ball away.
Comfortable in long matches: the racket cushions contact well, with little feedback in your arm.
The racket offers little help in defense; returning balls off the glass takes considerable effort.
At the net you react a little more slowly: the weight sits forward, so quick adjustments take more effort.
Which shots are affected most?
| Situation | What will you notice? |
|---|---|
| Defense | Little help: you must guide balls off the glass and keep them deep yourself. |
| Volley | Comfortable and stable; aiming is easy and you keep the ball low. |
| Bandeja | Easy to control: the ball stays reasonably low and predictable. |
| Vibora | Enough bite for a quick brushing shot with some acceleration of your own. |
| Smash | Its strongest point: maximum power with little effort, sending the ball away like a rocket. |
| Block | The forward weight makes quick blocks more demanding than with an agile racket. |
| Off-center ball | Reasonably forgiving: outside the sweet spot you lose some speed, while accuracy is largely maintained. |
Well suited to
Less suited to
This racket is likely to suit you if you…
want more power and strength in your smash
like to play an attacking, explosive game
want more comfort and cushioning
have a sensitive arm and need cushioning
This racket may disappoint if you…
want a light and agile racket
want to react quickly to hard-hit balls
often have to play from defense
You will probably appreciate this racket if you…
- •want to finish points with power from the back of the court;
- •value an explosive smash and vibora more than comfort;
- •want a balanced racket that handles every shot;
You may run into limitations if you…
- •defend often and want help from the face;
- •value quick hands at the net more than power;
- •want a pronounced specialist rather than an all-round racket;
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Indicatieve marktprijs
€230 · decathlon