Stéphane Penso’s review
AT10: measured innovation in the service of performance · Padel Magazine
Article: Stéphane Penso · 2024-10-15
What Penso liked
Penso places the 18K on the more comfortable, versatile side of the 2025 AT10 pair. He finds it easier to defend with than the 12K, crediting a little more forgiveness and ball release. He still describes enough attacking power for an experienced player who wants to move between defense and offense.
The trade-off against the 12K
In the same test, Penso gives the 12K the edge for explosive attacking shots. His distinction is useful if you are deciding between these two teardrop models: choose by the response you want from a controlled swing, rather than treating the larger carbon-fiber number as an automatic upgrade.
Which edition to compare
This is the orange-accented 2025 18K Alum teardrop. The 2025 Attack models move the balance toward the head and put the sweet spot higher. Penso describes those diamond versions as more demanding, trading some handling for attacking weight.
Shared construction, different response
The paired review describes MLD Black EVA as the common core across the 2025 AT10 references. The 18K Alum and 12K therefore cannot be separated simply by reading the foam label. Penso’s useful distinction comes from play: the aluminised model gives him a little more tolerance and release on defence, while the 12K feels more explosive. A player seeking that easier defensive response should keep the teardrop shape fixed rather than moving to an Attack in pursuit of the same name.
Surface and handle details worth checking
Penso describes Exclusive Spin as a central hexagonal texture combined with a sandblasted finish elsewhere on the face. He also identifies the extended handle, adjustable Custom Grip and replaceable Smart Strap. Those are practical things to inspect in a demo: whether the handle fits your hand, whether the grip setup is comfortable and whether the safety cord is intact. The presence of several branded systems does not itself decide whether you prefer the response to the 12K.
Who should compare another racket
More forgiving than the 12K is a relative finding, not the same thing as a soft beginner rental. Both teardrops remain performance-oriented choices in Penso’s account. If you are still learning contact and the glass, use a rental introduction to establish a useful baseline before buying. If you are already an experienced attacker who finds this version too yielding on a forceful volley, the paired 12K is the meaningful next demo; an unrelated larger carbon number is not.
Manufacturer specifications
- Shape
- Teardrop
- Weight range
- 360–375 g
- Face
- 18K aluminized carbon
- Core
- MLD Black EVA
What to try on court
Put the 18K on your demo list if you want the more forgiving of the two 2025 AT10 teardrops. Compare it directly with the 12K on defensive blocks and controlled volleys before choosing.