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The adidas Metalbone 14.5 2025 is one of the most interesting paddles to hit Pickleball Central's shelves in the last year — and almost nobody is talking about it. adidas brings 40 years of racket sport engineering from tennis and squash, and they've quietly built a lineup with a feature no other pickleball paddle brand offers: a custom weight and balance system that actually changes how the paddle plays. At $146.30 right now (down from $229), it's also one of the better-value raw carbon paddles in its class.
Is it worth it? Depends on what kind of player you are. I'll break it down.
Last Updated: October 2026
Quick Verdict
| Rating | 4.3 / 5 — Best for all-court players who tinker with gear |
| Price | $146.30 (sale from $229.00) |
| Best For | 3.5–4.5 players who want a configurable all-court raw carbon paddle |
| Skip If | You want max thickness for kitchen control, or need USAP certification for the LP |
| Pros |
✓ Custom weight system (unique in this class) ✓ Monocoque raw carbon — genuine spin generation ✓ 14.5mm core hits the sweet spot of power + feel ✓ Strong value at current sale pricing ✓ Polyhedral handle aids two-handed backhands |
| Cons |
✗ Small grip only (no medium option on this model) ✗ Brand name confuses newcomers vs. the LP and ADIPOWER lineup ✗ Not as forgiving off-center as thicker-core alternatives ✗ Original MSRP of $229 was arguably high |
Check Price on Pickleball Central →
Specs at a Glance
| Spec | Metalbone 14.5 2025 |
|---|---|
| Face | Raw Carbon Fiber + Spin Blade Max texture |
| Core | 14.5mm Low Density Polypropylene Honeycomb |
| Construction | Monocoque |
| Length | 16.5" |
| Width | 7.5" |
| Handle Length | 5.5" (polyhedral shape) |
| Weight | 8.0 oz (7.8–8.2 oz range) |
| Grip Size | Small |
| Price (Current) | $146.30 (reduced from $229) |
| Certification | USAP Approved |
Why Trust This Review
FORWRD designs pickleball bags — we're not a paddle company. That means we have no financial reason to favor one paddle brand over another, and we can give you the honest read. We've handled, tested, and sourced player feedback on paddles across the price spectrum from $79 to $329, which gives us context for where a $146 raw carbon monocoque paddle actually sits in the market.
We compared the Metalbone 14.5 2025 against the Metalbone LP, the ADIPOWER PRO Edition ATTK, the Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control 16mm, and the Selkirk LUXX Control Air during this review cycle. All specs verified directly from Pickleball Central's product listings and adidas' product documentation.
The Custom Weight System — What It Actually Does
Here's the thing nobody else is writing about: the adidas Metalbone 14.5 2025 has a custom weight and balance system. Simple weights in key areas let you change the balance point and overall heft of the paddle. Most reviewers mention this in passing. Worth spending a full section on it.
Why? Because the difference between a head-heavy and handle-heavy setup on a 14.5mm carbon paddle isn't subtle. Head-heavy adds pop on drives and overheads — your swinging weight goes up, you'll feel it on balls you really connect with. Handle-heavy puts more mass at the grip end, which helps with hand speed and reset control at the kitchen. Some players add weights to the top corners for a slightly wider sweet spot on off-center hits.
Most carbon paddles come as a fixed system and you're stuck with what the manufacturer chose. adidas is giving you a real option here. It's borrowed directly from adidas tennis — the Metalbone family started as a squash and padel paddle line, and configurable weighting has been standard in those sports for years. The tech transplant to pickleball actually makes sense.
The raw Metalbone 14.5 at 8.0 oz (range 7.8–8.2) is already a midweight. A couple of weights in the head corners nudges it toward 8.2, which is on the heavier side for control players but comfortable for power seekers. Running it lighter at 7.8 with no added weights gives you faster hands for doubles.
No other sub-$200 raw carbon paddle in Pickleball Central's catalog offers this. The CRBN, Six Zero, Selkirk LUXX — all fixed-weight builds. adidas built in the flexibility.
On-Court Feel: Spin, Power, Dinks, Resets
Spin
The Spin Blade Max surface texture on the 14.5 is aggressive. Raw carbon fiber with this coating generates spin on loops, topspin drives, and even half-volleys near the transition zone. In blind testing against players who've used the Six Zero DBD, the grip on off-speed dinks felt comparable — both surfaces bite the ball on contact. The 14.5mm core keeps the ball on the face long enough for the texture to do its work.
Power
Thinner cores pop harder — that's well-established in the pickleball world. At 14.5mm, this paddle delivers a lively response on drives that you won't get from a 16mm thick-core setup. The monocoque construction means the face and frame are one continuous piece, which stiffens the whole system and adds to the explosive feel. Where the JOOLA Scorpeus Pro V 16mm feels like a pillow on power shots (in a good, controlled way), the Metalbone 14.5 has more immediate pop.
That's not universally better, by the way. If your game is based on precision placement and resetting fast exchanges, the 14.5mm pop can feel punchy in ways that require adjustment.
Dinking and Kitchen Control
This is where 14.5mm paddles tend to lose to 16mm setups, and the Metalbone 14.5 is no exception. The liveliness that helps power shots works against you on touch dinks — you get more rebound than you bargained for on slow, delicate exchanges. Players who live at the NVZ will need a recalibration period. It's manageable. It's not a dealbreaker. But it's honest.
The polyhedral handle shape is genuinely helpful here. That cross-section gives you a tactile reference for paddle face angle even when fatigue sets in late in a match. Steady dinking relies partly on your ability to feel where "flat" is — the polyhedral grip helps.
Reset and Defense
Resets are fine. The low-density honeycomb core absorbs some energy on hard attacks, so you're not just battling pure stiffness. The 16.5" paddle length and 5.5" handle give you room to get a second hand on backhand resets without choking up awkwardly. Drives from power players still challenge it — this isn't a defensive paddle by design — but for recreational 3x-per-week players it holds up.
See Current Price: adidas Metalbone 14.5 2025 →
adidas Metalbone 14.5 vs Metalbone LP: Which adidas Do You Actually Want?
This is the comparison that stumps buyers. Both say "Metalbone." The LP costs less ($124.50 vs $146.30 right now). But they're genuinely different paddles.
| Feature | Metalbone 14.5 2025 | Metalbone LP |
|---|---|---|
| Core | 14.5mm LP poly honeycomb | 16mm LP poly honeycomb |
| Feel | Livelier, more pop | Softer, more control |
| USAP Certified? | Yes | No (UPA-A Provisional only) |
| Price | $146.30 | $124.50 |
| Best For | All-court players, tournament play | Rec play, power-seekers, budget-aware |
The 16mm LP core is actually softer on kitchen exchanges — confusing, given that adidas markets the LP as "attack-minded," but the monocoque construction + polyhedral throat is where the attack framing comes from, not the core. If you play USAP-sanctioned tournaments, the 14.5 is the correct choice since the LP is still awaiting USAP certification as of October 2026.
If you play recreationally and want a Metalbone for less, the LP at $124.50 is a legitimate buy. Just know what you're getting.
adidas Metalbone 14.5 vs ADIPOWER PRO Edition ATTK 14mm
Same 14mm core thickness. Totally different paddles.
The ADIPOWER PRO ATTK ($189) adds adidas' TriFoam construction — a foam layer surrounding the honeycomb core. That foam absorbs vibration, adds stability, and gives you a slightly different contact feel. Where the Metalbone 14.5 monocoque feels stiff and immediate, the ADIPOWER PRO feels slightly cushioned even at the same core thickness.
The ADIPOWER PRO is also elongated at 16.5" with a Medium grip (vs Small on the 14.5). Medium grip matters — some players find they can't get adequate wrist snap with Small grips, and the ADIPOWER PRO gives them what they need. The handle is also Power Extra grip, which damps vibration even further.
In terms of pure performance: if you're primarily a doubles player who lives at the NVZ line and needs precise drop shots, the ADIPOWER PRO ATTK's TriFoam softens the feel in ways the Metalbone 14.5 doesn't. If you want maximum configurability and are comfortable with a livelier feel, the 14.5 wins. The $43 price difference ($146.30 vs $189) also matters — at current sale pricing the Metalbone 14.5 is a clear value play.
Both are dual USAP/UPA-A certified. Both have the Spin Blade Max or equivalent raw carbon face texture. Different tools for different games.
See ADIPOWER PRO ATTK 14mm ($189) →
vs Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control 16mm
If your main question is "how does adidas compare to the Six Zero crowd," here's the direct read.
The Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control 16mm ($180) is a 16mm thermoformed carbon paddle with a well-earned reputation for kitchen feel. We've reviewed it at length, and the DBD Control is a genuine control paddle in a way the Metalbone 14.5 isn't — the extra 1.5mm of core thickness makes a noticeable difference on delicate exchanges.
Where the Metalbone 14.5 wins: customizability (Six Zero is fixed-weight), brand engineering pedigree from tennis/padel, and current pricing ($146.30 vs $180). Where the Six Zero wins: thicker-core kitchen control, slightly more off-center forgiveness at 7.5" width-for-width, established player community reviews.
Neither is wrong. Power-first players who like to drive the ball: Metalbone 14.5. Touch-first players who want a kitchen tool: Six Zero DBD Control 16mm.
Who Should Buy the adidas Metalbone 14.5 2025
- 3.5–4.5 players who want a legitimate raw carbon paddle without overpaying for pro-tier pricing
- Players who tinker — the weight system is genuinely worth exploring if you're the type who likes dialing in gear
- Tennis converts coming to pickleball — adidas's feel and quality benchmark will feel familiar
- Tournament players who need USAP certification and are comparing the Metalbone family (the 14.5 is certified; the LP is not)
- Players with two-handed backhands — the 5.5" polyhedral handle is well-suited to this
Who Should Skip It
- Kitchen-first players — a 16mm thick-core paddle (DBD Control, Six Zero Ruby 16mm) will serve you better
- Players who need a Medium or Large grip — the 14.5 only comes in Small
- Pure bangers who want maximum pop — the 14mm ADIPOWER PRO ATTK with TriFoam actually punches harder on clean contacts
- Players on a tight budget — $146.30 is solid value, but the Metalbone LP at $124.50 deserves a look too
Complete Your Setup
Found the right paddle — now you need somewhere to carry it. The FORWRD Court Ranger V2 ($195) fits up to 4 paddles in its modular sleeve system, carries your court shoes separately, and has a 16" laptop sleeve for court-to-work transitions. It's built for players who take their gear seriously.
Pricing & Where to Buy
As of October 2026, the adidas Metalbone 14.5 2025 is $146.30 at Pickleball Central (reduced from the original $229 MSRP). That's a genuine price point for a raw carbon monocoque paddle — comparable products from CRBN, Six Zero, and Selkirk sit in the $180–$280 range at full price.
Buy adidas Metalbone 14.5 2025 at Pickleball Central →
FAQ
Is the adidas Metalbone 14.5 USAP approved?
Yes. The adidas Metalbone 14.5 2025 is USAP certified for tournament play. Note: the Metalbone LP, which looks similar, is only UPA-A Provisional Approved and is awaiting full USAP Certification as of October 2026. If tournament eligibility matters, the 14.5 is the correct choice in this family.
What does the Metalbone's custom weight system actually do?
The adidas Metalbone 14.5 2025 includes weights that you can add or remove at key points on the paddle frame. Adding weight to the head corners increases swinging weight, which translates to more pop on drives and power shots. Adding weight at the handle shifts balance toward the grip, which helps with hand speed and kitchen control. The base weight is 8.0 oz (7.8–8.2 oz range). No other sub-$200 raw carbon paddle in this class offers this kind of tunability.
How does the Metalbone 14.5 compare to the Metalbone LP?
The Metalbone 14.5 has a 14.5mm core (livelier, more pop, USAP certified, $146.30) while the Metalbone LP has a 16mm core (softer feel, more kitchen control, NOT yet USAP certified, $124.50). The LP is cheaper but lacks full tournament approval. For recreational play, the LP can make sense. For USAP sanctioned tournaments, choose the 14.5.
What grip size does the Metalbone 14.5 come in?
The adidas Metalbone 14.5 2025 comes in Small grip only. If you need a Medium grip, the adidas ADIPOWER PRO Edition ATTK 14mm (also $189) is the better fit within the adidas lineup — it offers the same raw carbon face with a Medium grip and TriFoam construction for added feel.
Is the adidas Metalbone 14.5 good for beginners?
Not the first choice. The Metalbone 14.5's 14.5mm core is lively and rewards clean contact — on off-center hits, you'll feel the feedback. Beginners benefit more from forgiving 16mm cores and wider paddle faces. That said, the custom weight system is a genuine learning tool: running it lighter gives faster swing speed, which beginners often need. If budget isn't a barrier and you're a fast learner, it'll grow with you.
Where is the adidas Metalbone 14.5 made?
adidas doesn't publish manufacturing location on the Metalbone product page. The Metalbone family originated from adidas' padel paddle engineering (heavily popular in Europe and Latin America), and the raw carbon + monocoque construction technique is consistent with production methods used across adidas' racket sport lines. If sourcing location is a purchasing factor, contact adidas directly for verification.
Final Verdict
The adidas Metalbone 14.5 2025 isn't for everyone — and that's actually what makes it interesting. It's a paddle with a point of view: raw carbon monocoque, lively 14.5mm core, a unique weight customization system borrowed from padel engineering, and a polyhedral handle that does something real for two-handers. At $146.30 right now, it's also priced below most comparable raw carbon builds from CRBN, Six Zero, and Selkirk.
If you want maximum kitchen control, look at 16mm options. If you need a Medium grip, look at the ADIPOWER PRO. But if you're a 3.5–4.5 all-court player who wants a genuine raw carbon paddle with room to tune your setup, the Metalbone 14.5 2025 is worth serious consideration — especially at current pricing.
Check Availability: adidas Metalbone 14.5 2025 →
Related reviews: Six Zero Double Black Diamond Review 2026 | Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Epic Review | HEAD Radical PRO EX 15 Review 2026
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