PadelGuru analysis
Verdict
The Bullpadel Hack 04 2026 suits advanced players who build the point with the bandeja and the vibora and want a diamond-shaped racket that doesn’t punish them in defence. If you finish points with big smashes, it will come up short.
This is Paquito Navarro’s racket, and it’s the most accessible Hack 04 yet. The ball comes off the face more easily and the impact is gentler. The trade-off is that it loses some of the aggression of earlier editions, especially when you need to accelerate the ball overhead.
- Best for
- Advanced or expert players who attack with bandejas and viboras placed to a spot rather than with smashes.
- Not for
- Players who finish with powerful smashes and need weight in the head to accelerate the ball.
Strengths
- Easier ball exit than the 2025 version
- Vibora and bandeja with reactivity you can control
- Sweet spot easier to find than before
- Less harsh impact than the previous Hack 04
Weaknesses
- Not enough head weight to accelerate the smash
- The ball slips a little on the glossy upper area
- Volleys lack bite because there's little weight in the tip
01 Back of the court: defending takes less effort
The back of the court is where it has improved most. Ball exit is still medium, but it comes more easily than on the 2025 Hack 04, so defending off the back glass or sending back a deep lob needs a shorter swing.
It handles freely at the back, which helps when you’re late to an off-the-wall attack (bajada) or have to reset your position after your opponent’s smash.
02 At the net: quick enough, short on tip weight
At the net it handles well and gets to block volleys in time. It weighs between 365 and 375 g with a balance of 264 mm, so maneuverability is average: it isn’t a light racket, but it doesn’t fall behind in fast exchanges either.
What it lacks is weight in the tip to make the volley come out aggressive on its own. To finish the point at the net you have to supply the arm, and if your volley relies on the racket pushing the ball, you’ll find it falls short.
03 Overheads: precise bandeja, smash without drive
The bandeja and the vibora are the best things it does overhead. Its medium reactivity means the ball leaves at the speed you give it, without running away from you, which makes placement easier.
The power smash is its weak point. It really misses extra weight in the head to accelerate the ball, and if you’re used to finishing with force, you’ll notice the ball reaches your opponent with less sting.
04 Feel: softer, less harsh impact
With a MultiEVA core and a TriCarbon 18K face, the impact is gentler than on the Hack 04 2025 and no longer carries that harsh feel. The sweet spot is standard in size, but it’s easier to find than on the previous edition.
The 3D textured finish doesn’t behave the same across the whole face: on the upper area, where the finish is glossy, the ball slips a little on contact.
Frequently asked questions
- What racket does Paquito Navarro use?
- Paquito Navarro plays Bullpadel's Hack 04 2026. It's a diamond-shaped racket with a medium feel, and it shines more when you're setting up points from overhead with control than when you're trying to put the ball away.
- Is the Hack 04 2026 good for smashing?
- It's better at placing overheads than at finishing them. The racket gives you little momentum, so on a hard smash your own arm has to generate the speed.
- Is the Hack 04 2026 a stiff or soft racket?
- It sits at medium hardness, just below medium-stiff, and it's a little softer than the 2025 version.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Hack 04 2025 to the Hack 04 2026?
- It depends on your game. If you picked the 2025 model for its aggression on the smash, the new one will feel tamer overhead; if its harsh feel bothered you or it made defending hard work, the 2026 makes life a lot easier while staying a diamond-shaped racket.