HACK 04 HYB CLOUD

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 04 Hybrid Cloud sits in a specific gap in the Bullpadel range: it carries the Hack line's attacking identity — teardrop shape, carbon face, spin-ready surface — but routes everything through a comfort-first engineering stack. The low balance and CloudEva core are not concessions; they're a deliberate recalibration for players who want to play longer, more aggressive sessions without accumulating the joint stress that typically comes with a carbon-faced attacker at this level.

The face is Elastic Fiber on one side and carbon on the other — a hybrid construction that combines the flexibility and vibration absorption of fiberglass-derived material with the stiffness and spin grip of carbon. The carbon side benefits from 3D Grain surface treatment, a polygon-pattern texture that increases friction between ball and face, making spin generation measurably easier on slice serves, angled volleys, and redirected groundstrokes. The frame is built on a 100% bidirectional Carbon Tube perimeter, which keeps torsional flex minimal even on off-center hits — important when the core is as soft as CloudEva. Smart Holes removes the central face holes, stiffening the central hitting zone so the softer core doesn't absorb too much pace on clean strikes. Ease Vibe dampeners sit in four strategic holes and, according to Bullpadel's own testing with the Polytechnic University of Madrid, absorb up to 49% of impact vibration before it reaches the frame. Combined with the Vibradrive handle — a high-elasticity rubber insert that splits the handle assembly and filters residual shock — the vibration chain is interrupted at three distinct points: core, face holes, and grip. That's meaningful engineering, not a single dampener bolted on as an afterthought.

The low balance makes this feel noticeably quicker through the air than most Hack-line rackets. Reaction volleys at the net and reset shots under pressure are easier to time, and the faster swing arc suits players who generate pace from technique rather than brute weight. Where you feel the CloudEva core most clearly is on slower exchanges — balls arriving without pace don't compress the face aggressively, so the core's cushioning characteristics mean you have to add your own energy rather than redirecting someone else's. That's the honest trade-off: on fast balls and well-timed smashes the Hack 04 Hybrid Cloud performs cleanly, but if you're looking for a racket that pings slow balls back with interest, the standard Hack 04 MultiEVA core will serve you better. The 3D Grain surface earns its keep on spin-heavy play — angled passing shots and drop volleys with slice grip the ball noticeably longer than a smooth carbon face would. Custom Weight plates in the protector compartments let you push balance slightly higher if you want more head presence on overheads, which is a useful option for players who split their time between left and right side.