The Metalbone HRD+ 2026 is a pure attack diamond, sat at the top of the Adidas 2026 range and priced there too, around €390. It carries Ale Galán's name, and it plays like it. If you already play offense, hunt the smash, and finish points at the red, I would put it in your hand. If you are still building your game, I would not. In feel it sits close to a Coello Pro, a shade more rigid.

How it plays

Contact is firm and direct. The 16K aluminised carbon face over a dense EVA core gives a crisp response that rewards a clean strike, and the 3D surface bites the ball on every spin shot. For me the standout is the smash: heavy, easy to accelerate through, easy to finish. Víbora and bandeja both come off with authority and land low, and the volea at the red is stable when you meet the ball out in front. Head-heavy balance carries the shot for you.

The catch is the sweet spot. Hit the top-centre and the ball flies. Miss by a couple of centimetres in defensa and the response goes dry and short. On salida de pared you need to be early, technique clean, or the ball dies on the frame. The core is reactive for its hardness, so a touch shot or a dejada is more forgiving than I expected from a diamond this stiff, but the drop-off outside the punto dulce is sharp.

The trade-off

You buy power and stability, and you pay in manejabilidad and margin. The head is slow through the air on reflex voleas and quick chiquitas at the red, and the tip lags if your hands are tired. That small sweet spot is not kind to a mishit, and defensa asks more of you than most rivals will be asking of themselves. The Weight & Balance System shifts feel more than it shifts anything measurable: useful for personalising heft, not a substitute for choosing the right mold in the first place.

Best for, avoid if

This is a frame for advanced, offensive players, most naturally a revés (left-side) player who lives in the ataque and can carry a head-heavy diamond for a full match. If you want the highest smash in the Adidas 2026 line and a stable volley, and you are willing to work for your defense, it delivers. Avoid it if you are an intermediate looking for pop, if you play the derecha and rely on quick blocks and defensive versatility, or if your elbow or shoulder has any history. There are gentler diamonds; this is not one of them.