HACK 04 26

Highlights

The feel

How it's built to play, by shape, core and construction — rated low / mid / high rather than on a false 1–10 scale. Higher isn't always better; it depends on the game you want.

The spec sheet

Our verdict

What the shape, core and construction tell us about how this racket is built to play.

How it's built to play

The Hack line has spent a decade as Bullpadel's power flagship, and the 04 26 edition doesn't rewrite that identity — it sharpens it. The central engineering decision this generation is the Total Channel: a hollow aerodynamic groove that now wraps the entire frame perimeter rather than stopping at the throat. Bullpadel's own data puts the aerodynamic gain at 17% over a non-channelled frame. Whether or not you trust the number, the on-court consequence is real — the swing arc feels lighter than 375g suggests, which matters most when you're late on a fast incoming ball and need to generate pace from a compressed swing.

The TriCarbon 18K face is the most interesting construction decision on this racket. Where the 3K weave used on lower-tier models produces a denser, drier surface that prioritises precision, the 18K tridirectional weave is more open — lighter per layer, with more elasticity built into the fibre architecture itself. That translates to quicker rebound after impact rather than a pure transfer of force. Pair that with the Carbon Tube frame — 100% bidirectional carbon around the perimeter — and you have a structure with exceptional torsional resistance: the frame doesn't flex or twist on off-centre contact, so energy doesn't bleed sideways on mishits the way it would on a mixed-material build.

Inside, the MultiEVA core runs three EVA layers at different densities. The two outer layers are compact and high-density, reacting sharply to fast-ball exchanges; the inner layer is softer, cushioning the feel on gentler shots and taking the edge off vibration before it reaches the arm. It's a sensible construction for an attacking racket — the Hack 04 doesn't need to be comfortable on slow rally balls, but it does need to stay usable across a full match. The Tricore structure reinforces this further, thickening the internal vectors in the heart of the racket to reduce resonance on hard strikes and give the frame a planted, solid contact feel rather than a ringing one. Vibradrive in the handle — a high-elasticity rubber component splitting the handle longitudinally — adds a final layer of vibration management before impact energy reaches the hand. Combined with the Hesacore grip's honeycomb design, which reduces required grip force and absorbs residual vibration at the palm, the Hack 04 does more arm protection work than most attacking diamonds. That said: this is still a high-balance, stiff-framed diamond with a carbon face. Players with elbow history should not read the vibration-dampening stack as a green light.

The shape of the Hack 04 26's sweet spot — pushed high into the head by the diamond geometry and high balance — means the racket is built for one moment: the overhead finishing shot from the left side. Bandejas, smashes, and aggressive volleys struck from that zone feel immediate and direct, with the TriCarbon 18K face releasing the ball fast enough that opponents rarely have time to reset. The 3D Grain rough surface adds to this — the concentric circle texture generates strong friction at contact, so topspin and slice effects are more pronounced than on a smooth carbon face, giving attacking shots genuine lateral movement rather than flat pace alone.

Away from that overhead zone, the racket is less forgiving. The Smart Holes pattern — holes removed from the central face area to increase rigidity — tightens the feel across the whole surface, which benefits power on full strikes but makes the touch game near the net less intuitive than a softer teardrop would allow. The Custom Weight system adds a useful layer of personalisation: four positions at the top of the frame can each accept 3g gel plates, letting players push the balance even further toward head-heavy for more smash momentum, or redistribute weight toward the handle for a fractionally faster swing on defensive exchanges. That flexibility is genuine — a 12g adjustment at the head changes the feel noticeably. The Ease Vibe dampeners in four strategic holes, studied by the Polytechnic University of Madrid to absorb up to 49% of vibrations at impact, give players one more tuning variable: move them toward the centre for more control, toward the edges for a touch more power.