Bullpadel
VERTEX 05 W CLOUD
A diamond frame tuned for comfort — rare enough to be genuinely interesting for attackers who've paid for their power with sore elbows.
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Full spec breakdown
Listing checked at publish date
Highlights
What makes this racket stand out
Diamond shape with low balance — you get the overhead reach of a head-heavy frame without the arm fatigue that usually comes with it
CloudEVA core absorbs shock at contact, so the racket cushions hard hits rather than transmitting them straight into your elbow
Elastic Fiber face flexes slightly on contact, adding a trampoline effect that helps generate pace without needing a full aggressive swing
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.
Balance — where the weight sits
Even
Handle / low
Head / high
The spec sheet
Year
2025
Shape
Diamond
Level
Advanced
Style
All Around
Balance
Low
Core
Cloud EVA + Elastic Fiber
Our verdict
What the shape, core and construction tell us about how this racket is built to play.
The short version
The Vertex 05 W Cloud is the right call for an advanced player who wants to play a diamond but has learned the hard way that stiff, high-balance attackers' rackets are expensive on the body. It sacrifices the outright power ceiling of the standard Vertex line in exchange for a noticeably more arm-friendly feel — a trade that makes sense for all-court players who finish points from the left without making overheads their entire game. If you're hunting pure smash power above everything else, step up to a MultiEVA Vertex; if comfort matters as much as shape, this is a rare diamond that doesn't punish you for it.
Strengths
Advanced all-court players who want to finish points from the left but need a more forgiving frame after past elbow or shoulder issues
Players transitioning from a teardrop into a diamond who want the shape benefits without committing to a high-balance, stiff-faced attacker's racket
Keep in mind
Pure attackers seeking maximum overhead power — the CloudEVA core and Elastic Fiber face deliberately trade peak punch for comfort, and a seasoned left-side specialist will feel the ceiling
How it's built to play
The Vertex 05 W Cloud occupies an unusual position in the Bullpadel lineup: it's a diamond racket that has been deliberately softened. The Vertex line has always been about overhead power and high-balance aggression, but this version inverts the balance point — going low — and replaces the standard MultiEVA core with CloudEVA and an Elastic Fiber face. The result is a racket that looks like an attacker's tool on paper but plays with considerably more comfort and forgiveness than the rest of the Vertex family. That's a meaningful trade-off, and whether it works for you depends entirely on what you're giving up to make it.
The Carbon Tube frame — 100% bidirectional carbon wrapped around the perimeter — keeps the structure rigid and torsion-resistant, which matters on a diamond shape where off-center hits can otherwise send the racket twisting in your hand. Curv:aktiv adds another layer of torsional stiffness by twisting the frame's side walls, stabilizing the response across the hitting surface without extra weight. Air Power opens up the throat channel by 50% compared to the older Air React Channel design, reducing air resistance through the swing arc for faster racket head speed on smashes and overheads. Where the Vertex 05 W Cloud diverges from standard Vertex builds is in the core and face. CloudEVA is a low-density closed-cell foam that prioritizes shock absorption — it's measurably softer than the MultiEVA found in the flagship Vertex models, and that translates directly into less vibration reaching your forearm on hard contacts. Elastic Fiber, Bullpadel's satin-woven fiberglass bonded with flexible epoxy, adds compliance to the face: the surface bends slightly into the ball before releasing it, which softens the impact signature and helps players who rely on touch rather than brute force. The Top Spin surface texture on the face increases ball-to-face friction, which is a useful bonus for players who want spin-heavy groundstrokes or slice lobs from the defensive position.
The low balance is the first thing you notice — for a diamond, this racket feels unusually easy to maneuver. Quick exchanges at the net don't require the deliberate wind-up that a high-balance diamond demands, and reset volleys on the right side feel more natural than you'd expect from this shape. But the racket is still a diamond: the sweet spot sits high in the head, and the attacking overhead is where it finds its real purpose. The CloudEVA core dulls some of the explosive snap you'd get from a denser EVA build, so power smashes feel solid rather than sharp — the ball leaves the face with authority, but without the crack of a stiffer setup. That cushioning is the whole point. Players with any history of elbow sensitivity will notice that the combination of CloudEVA and Elastic Fiber keeps vibration genuinely low for a carbon-framed diamond, making long sessions more manageable. The Custom Weight system — adhesive plates in the protector compartment — allows some balance adjustment if you want to nudge the racket slightly head-heavier for more overhead momentum, which is worth experimenting with once you've settled into the racket.
FAQ
How does the Vertex 05 W Cloud compare to the standard Vertex 05 MX 25?
The Vertex 05 MX 25 uses a MultiEVA core and X-Tend Carbon face — stiffer, more powerful, and better suited to players who want maximum overhead punch. The Vertex 05 W Cloud swaps those for CloudEVA and Elastic Fiber, which absorbs more shock and reduces vibration at the cost of some peak power. If your priority is comfort and you're willing to trade a little snap on smashes, the Cloud version makes sense. If you generate your power from technique and want the racket to amplify it, the MX 25 is the sharper tool.
Should I choose the Vertex 05 W Cloud or the Vertex 05 W Milano?
The Vertex 05 W Milano sits €50 higher and is built around a stiffer, more performance-oriented construction — it's the option for advanced players who are already comfortable with high-impact diamond rackets and want no compromise on power. The Vertex 05 W Cloud is the better starting point if you're moving into the Vertex line for the first time or if you want a diamond shape that won't aggravate your arm during multi-hour sessions. The Milano rewards big technique; the Cloud rewards consistency.
Is the Vertex 05 W Cloud suitable for right-side players?
It's possible, but not the natural fit. The diamond shape positions the sweet spot high in the head, which favours overhead finishing shots from the left side. Right-side players who need fast, reliable volleys and quick defensive reactions are typically better served by a round or teardrop frame with a low balance. The Cloud's low balance does make it more maneuverable than a typical diamond, which helps, but the shape still demands consistent technique at contact — not ideal for a right-side player whose priority is resetting points under pressure.
What does CloudEVA actually mean for my arm?
CloudEVA is a low-density, closed-cell foam that compresses more at contact than standard EVA, which extends the ball's dwell time on the face and absorbs a larger share of the impact energy before it travels up the handle. In practical terms, the shock you feel on a hard hit is softer and shorter than with a denser EVA core. It won't prevent injury if your technique is off or if you're playing through an acute injury, but it does lower the vibration load per shot — which adds up meaningfully over a two-hour session.
Can I adjust the weight of the Vertex 05 W Cloud?
Yes. The Custom Weight system uses adhesive aluminium plates — each weighing 3 grams — that fit into compartments in the protector. You can add up to 9 grams in total. Placing weight toward the head shifts the balance point slightly upward, adding more momentum to overhead smashes. Adding weight near the handle keeps the balance low and improves maneuverability. It's worth experimenting once you've played a few sessions and identified whether you want a little more punch on finishing shots or a faster feel on volleys.
Made for elbow-conscious players.
A diamond frame tuned for comfort — rare enough to be genuinely interesting for attackers who've paid for their power with sore elbows.
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