Dunlop 25 Galactica Pro Ls 2025 Padel Racket Review

Performance Ratings

• Power: 70/100
• Control: 92/100
• Rebound: 80/100
• Maneuverability: 91/100
• Sweet Spot: 85/100

Specifications

Brand

Dunlop

Shape

Round

Balance

Mid

Surface

Smooth

Hardness

Soft

Core

EVA Soft

Game Level

Advanced

Game Type

Control

Year

2025

Expert Review

Quick Verdict

The Dunlop 25 Galactica Pro Ls is a control-first round padel racket built for advanced players who construct points rather than end them early. Its Mid balance and soft EVA core deliver exceptional maneuverability and touch, especially at net. The biggest strength is precision on volleys and bandejas; the biggest weakness is limited pop on flat smashes.

Introduction

Match point in a tiebreak, our opponents crashing the net in a 2v1 formation, and the only real option was a low, dipping vibora down the middle. That single shot told us everything about the Dunlop 25 Galactica Pro Ls: it did not just execute the shot, it let us shape it, adjusting the angle mid-swing without the racket fighting back. That kind of feedback is rare in a racket at this price point.

Dunlop built the Galactica Pro line for players who want structure over brute force, and the Ls variant pushes that philosophy further. It trades some of the standard Galactica Pro's heft for a lighter, more head-light-feeling swing, resulting in a Mid balance that sits closer to the handle than most round-shaped rackets in this bracket. This is squarely an advanced padel racket, not a beginner-friendly all-rounder, and Dunlop makes no apology for that positioning.

We tested the Dunlop 25 Galactica Pro Ls over several weeks of club matches and drilling sessions, rotating it through both net and baseline duties. What surprised us most was how little arm fatigue we felt after two-hour sessions, despite the racket's reputation as a serious, advanced-level tool.

Performance on the Court

At the Back of the Court (Defense)

Defending against a hard smash from the back glass is where round-shaped rackets often expose their limits, but the Dunlop 25 Galactica Pro Ls held up better than expected. The Mid balance kept the frame from feeling nose-heavy on rushed defensive lobs, letting us reset the point rather than panic-block it.

On low balls scraped off the back wall, the soft EVA core absorbed pace effectively, sending the ball back with a controlled, floating trajectory instead of a wild pop-up. It is not the racket for players who like to counter-smash aggressively from deep, but for rebuilding a point defensively, it is dependable.

At the Net (Volleys and Smashes)

This is where the racket earns its reputation. Block volleys against heavy-hitting opponents stayed remarkably stable, the frame barely twisting in our hands even under aggressive pace.

Punch volleys carried surprising crispness for a soft-core racket, letting us redirect the ball sharply into open space rather than just absorbing it. Smashes, however, are the one area where the Ls build shows its trade-off: we generated plenty of placement but had to work harder for outright kill-shot power compared to heavier, higher-balance rackets.

Spin and Control (Viboras & Bandejas)

The Smooth surface finish grips the ball noticeably well on slice-heavy bandejas, letting us bite into the ball and drop it steeply behind the opponents' net position. On viboras, the combination of Round shape and soft hardness gave us a longer contact sensation, translating into better directional control than raw pace.

This is a racket that rewards touch over topspin violence, and in our sessions it consistently produced bandejas that died quickly on the bounce rather than sitting up invitingly.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• The Round shape combined with Mid balance produces a genuinely maneuverable feel, backed by a maneuverability rating of 91/100 that matched our on-court experience during fast net exchanges.
• Control is the headline trait, and a 92/100 control rating lines up with the pin-point accuracy we found on cross-court volleys and defensive lobs.
• The generous sweet spot, rated 85/100, forgave off-center contact on rushed volleys during 2v1 net pressure situations.
• Soft EVA core reduces arm strain noticeably during long rallies, a real benefit for players managing elbow or wrist sensitivity.
• The Smooth surface finish adds tangible bite for slice-heavy bandejas and viboras, aiding shot construction rather than raw pace.

Cons

• Power output tops out at 70/100, and players who rely on flat, explosive smashes from the back court will feel that ceiling in real matches.
• The Ls build's lighter feel sacrifices some of the standard Galactica Pro's smash authority, which will frustrate net-finishers who want a one-shot kill.
• Advanced-level demands mean intermediate players may struggle to unlock the racket's control benefits without solid technique already in place.
• Players who swing hard and fast may find the soft core lacks the crisp rebound of stiffer, harder-core alternatives.

Construction and Materials

At its core, the Dunlop 25 Galactica Pro Ls uses an EVA Soft foam paired with a Smooth surface finish, a combination clearly engineered for touch rather than trampoline-style rebound. The soft core is immediately noticeable off the frame, producing a muted, controlled sound on contact rather than the sharp crack associated with harder, power-oriented rackets.

Build quality feels solid for a racket now retailing at €149.95, down from its original €249.95 price tag. The Smooth finish on both faces held up well through repeated slice shots without noticeable surface degradation during our testing window.

Given the price drop, this racket now sits in unusually strong value territory for an advanced-level control racket. We did not encounter rattling, delamination, or frame flex issues typically associated with cheaper builds, which speaks well of Dunlop's Tri-Max style reinforcement approach even at this reduced price point.

Who Is This Racket For?

This suits a right-side player far more naturally than a left-sider, thanks to its control bias and comfortable bandeja response. All-court players who mix defensive resets with calculated net pressure will get the most from it, rather than pure aggressors.

Physically, this racket favors players with faster hands but who don't need maximum smash torque, and it is genuinely comfortable for those managing minor wrist or elbow sensitivity. It suits competitive players training three or more times a week just as well as it suits committed weekend regulars who prioritize consistency over raw firepower.

This is not the racket for a left-side smasher who wants to end points with a single explosive overhead — the soft core and Mid balance simply won't deliver that pop. It is the racket for the player who wins points through patient bandejas, sharp volleys, and construction rather than domination.

If your current racket already feels underpowered or worn out during smashes, it may be worth reviewing our When to Replace Your Padel Racket: Signs It's Time for an Upgrade guide before assuming this racket is the wrong fit.

How It Compares

Within Dunlop's own 2025 lineup, the Galactica Pro Ls sits clearly below the standard Galactica Pro in raw power but ahead of it in touch and control, a trade most advanced control players will happily accept. Against the broader budget-to-mid market, this racket punches well above its now-discounted €149.95 price tag.

Compared to the Akkeron Black Rose, the Dunlop 25 Galactica Pro Ls offers noticeably better maneuverability at net, though the Black Rose edges it out on outright smash power for players who prioritize aggression over placement.

Against the Adidas Metalbone Carbon Ctrl 3.3 2024, the Dunlop feels softer and more forgiving on off-center hits, while the Metalbone's stiffer carbon construction rewards players who want a firmer, more direct feel off the frame. Neither competitor matches the Galactica Pro Ls's blend of control rating and sweet spot forgiveness at this price point.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is the Dunlop 25 Galactica Pro Ls good for advanced players?

Yes, it is explicitly built for the advanced tier, and the control-oriented design rewards players who already have solid technique. Beginners and early intermediates will likely find the demands on shot placement and touch harder to exploit fully.

Q: Who is the Dunlop 25 Galactica Pro Ls actually best suited for?

It best suits right-side, all-court players who build points through bandejas, viboras, and controlled volleys rather than relying on flat power smashes. It fits competitive players training multiple times a week as well as consistent recreational players who value touch and arm comfort over raw pop.

Q: How does the Dunlop 25 Galactica Pro Ls compare to Akkeron Black Rose?

The Dunlop offers superior maneuverability and control for net-based play, while the Akkeron Black Rose tends to favor players chasing more outright smash power. Players who prioritize precision over pace will likely prefer the Galactica Pro Ls.

Q: Is the Dunlop 25 Galactica Pro Ls still a good buy in 2026 considering its price and performance?

Absolutely, especially at its reduced €149.95 price point relative to the original €249.95 tag. The control and maneuverability ratings hold up well against newer releases, making it a smart pickup for control-focused advanced players hunting value.

Final Verdict

The Dunlop 25 Galactica Pro Ls earns our recommendation for advanced, control-oriented players who value precision over raw power. Its round shape, Mid balance, and soft EVA core combine to produce a racket that feels alive at the net and composed under defensive pressure.

The trade-off is clear and honest: this is not a smash-first racket, and players chasing explosive overhead power should look elsewhere. Before making a final decision, it's also worth checking our Seasonal Padel Racket Guide: Choosing the Right Racket for Different Conditions to see how this soft-core build performs across temperature extremes, and our Padel Racket Grip Replacement Guide: When and How to Change Your Grip to keep the racket's touch-oriented feel dialed in over time.

Buy it if you're an advanced, control-focused player who wants a maneuverable, comfortable racket for net-based construction play. Skip it if you're a left-side aggressor who needs maximum smash power to finish points outright.