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Why does LeBron play with a 3k carbon racket? Isn’t it the least powerful

We’ll share your thoughts

Comments (62)

1) It’s impossible to just talk about “power” in a racket. It’s better to talk about terms like stifness and ball output/reactivity. Softer rackets = more trampoline effect = more ball output at lower speeds and stiffer rackets = less ball output at low speeds = more control and “power” at high speeds 2) Generally speaking lower K value means a stiffer racket, but it’s not that easy: a lot also depends on the weave pattern of the filaments, the foam, the layering of carbon and fiberglass on the surface, etc… 3) Be aware that most pros don’t play with the rackets that are for sale for amateurs, so just because the consumer version is 3K that doesn’t mean that Lebron plays with it. Now, in this case, the Lebron version of the viper is actually one of the few rackets that both Babolat and Lebron always say is exactly the same racket he uses and it’s quite a demanding racket so probably in this case it’s actually the one he uses.

u/epegar1w ago

It's even more nuanced. In an interview, Paquito said that bullpadel prepares rackets with different stiffness depending on conditions. For example, harder from Mexico, and softer for Denmark.

u/Bananabirdie1w ago

https://www.nitprocomposites.com/blog/carbon-fiber-k-grades-explained

u/GnarlyBear1w ago

Soft foam does not have trampoline effect, it literally absorbs input which is why you get more spin from great return effect on surface area EDIT: Amazing to see the downvotes. This subreddit is full of uninformed new players and relatively new enthusiasts with YouTube knowledge.

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u/Bananabirdie1w ago

Soft foam has trampoline effect. Softer foam = easier to compress = less speed at highest racket speeds Harder foam = harder to compress = more power out but needs higher racket speed

u/Fibonacci112358131w ago

I never said anything about spin, softer rackets let the ball enter more into the racket face which allows longer contact time and more spin that’s correct, but that has nothing to do with power. The fact that a softer racket absorbs the input and the ball enters deeper into the racket is literally why they call it trampoline effect…

u/Aquarius19751w ago

I seriously doubt that LeBron plays padel at all, but if he does, I'd love to see it.

u/Emotional-Peach-30331w ago

🤣

u/Mexetudo1w ago

You can't just say xxK is harder or softer, there are other things to consider, mainly the material being used in the core. Lebron's racket, with its 3k carbon, is considered one of the hardest mainstream rackets. Coello's racket is also considered very hard and uses a mix of carbon (I don't know if they specify) and fiber glass which is considered a "soft" material. Nox has the AT10 18k which is softer than the 12K. So it's clearly not just "lower K carbon = softer"

u/Aizpunr1w ago

Lower K -> less fibers -> stiffer material More K -> more fibers -> more flexible material

u/Environmental-Path321w ago

Is the opposite 3k os more powerful...

u/Bananabirdie1w ago

https://www.nitprocomposites.com/blog/carbon-fiber-k-grades-explained

u/iguivi4d ago

This is not about padel racket , 3k fiber it the stiffest, stiffest means less ball absorption when you put power into the ball so it reflects into more power putted into the ball

u/Rurouki1w ago

The lower the K, the stiffer. Higher K = more flexibel. Edit: it's more complicated because of the other layers and composition of the racket. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ge2rf4rrGBs](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ge2rf4rrGBs)

u/Bananabirdie1w ago

No, its less material making it less stiff. Higher K is more stiff. But it depends on the core too and how hard that material is as well

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u/Mexetudo1w ago

The 2025 NOX AT10s both used the same core, but the 12k was harder than the 18k. How does that fit your comment that "higher k is more stiff" ?

u/pancoste1w ago

https://www.zonadepadel.com/blog/2023/04/what-are-the-types-of-carbon-in-padel-rackets/ > ...following this logic, the higher K, the more flexible the padel racket is. So the more flexible a racket is, the more trampoline effect it has, so the less stiff it has to be. I've played with all kinds of rackets for extended periods of time on purpose to find the grade that fits me the best and my experience is in line with this. I personally don't like a lot of trampoline effect, so the highest K grade I go for is 12K. 3K and 6K also seem a bit too stiff for my liking. However, as someone has pointed out, the ball output is also dependent on the foam and other factors.

u/pancoste1w ago

> Higher K is more stiff. What's your source? It's the opposite of how I've understood the carbon fiber K number.

u/GameOfPadel6d ago

The K doesn't say anything about how powerful a racket is but most of the time lower K rackets are stiffer and in the case of Lebron's racket it's clearly one of the hardest and most powerful rackets you can find but you also need to have a powerful arm to get the most out of it. Most amateur or intermediate players would probably be able to generate more speed with a softer racket that helps more.

u/Any_Elk74951w ago

Stiff racket but don’t forget the importance of the foam.

u/jenwhite19741w ago

It depends on the brand, but generally lower k is harder and more powerful

u/Beneficial-West29391w ago

I think power is a tricky think to state with regards to flex in material. If you have a flexy carbon you will get more power for less input. Basically a high trampoline effect. I think the pros prefer harder carbon as they want predictable effect with as little trampoline as possible. (so the opposite of power)

u/Bananabirdie1w ago

Lower K is softer..

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u/Environmental-Path321w ago

You know nothing John snow

u/Majestic-Nobody-31781w ago

Pros usually don’t play with the rackets that are made for the general public, the rackets are modified to their specifications. He’s probably using the 3K version because it’s the version babolat wants to sell the most of, but the actual racket specifications are different based on how he likes it.

u/[deleted]6d ago

Bcs he got tennis elbow?

u/Bananabirdie1w ago

Higher K carbon fiber (e.g., 12K, 18K) is generally stiffer, more durable, and less flexible than lower K carbon (3K). While higher K counts mean more, thinner filaments per bundle, providing a harder feel for power and control, the ultimate stiffness of a product is also heavily determined by the resin, layup, and core material. 3K Carbon: Flexible, lighter, often provides a softer, more comfortable feel with more "bounce" or "ball exit". 12K - 24K Carbon: Stiffer, stronger, and more brittle, resulting in a harder, more direct, and more powerful performance. Exceptions: Some manufacturers suggest that the density of the weave in 3K can make it feel stiffer in certain applications (like in some paddle rackets), but in general industrial terms, more fibers (higher K) lead to a higher modulus of elasticity.

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u/Inevitable-Spend4785d ago

You are right... But you are also wrong. A higher K count doesnt mean thinner filaments per bundle, its mean that there are more per bundle. Those bundles get woven, and so a higher K count (wider bundle) results in a wider weave. That means that a lower K count results in a tighter and finer weave. And that weave toghether with the raw material of carbon fibers used (ie T300, T700, or even T1000 etc) plays a huge role in how stiff, rigid (opposite of flexible) the end surface or part will be. It is true however that the fibers itself are more rigid than the resin in wich the carbon fiber end product is made, wich hold the fibers and weave in place like glue. BUT, a higher tight weave (less K count) usually uses LESS matrix material (resin) then a higher K count weave. The weave pattern itself is tighter with fewer fiber filaments (K count) so there is LESS space for matrix material (resin). I say usually because this is depended on manufacturing process but generally true. This divtates the FVF (fibre volume fraction). So yes, the fibers itself are stiffer, but because we use a less tight weave and more resin, the end product is less stiff with more fiber count. (For most padel manufacturing) What people tend to forget is that K count itself isnt really that important to the stiffness but rather the orientation, FVF, fiber type of raw material, weave etc are more important for the stiffness for the end product.

u/Bananabirdie5d ago

Ive literally linked to a padel manufacturers site explaining that it is stiffer