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Starvie Kenta Eternal Ultra Speed Soft Review
Before we dive into our review, let’s address something right away. Your mind likely goes to one place when you see “Ultra Speed Soft” on a padel racket: beginner-friendly, forgiving, possibly a little underpowered. That’s a valid assumption, but if you are looking at StarVie Kenta Eternal Ultra Speed Soft, that’s not correct. This one is a padel racket designed for advanced padel players. Want to know how it makes a difference? Here is the complete StarVie Kenta Eternal Ultra Speed Soft padel racket review.
Starvie Kenta Eternal Ultra Speed Soft Overview
Starvie’s premium collection includes the Kenta Eternal Ultra Speed Soft racket, and this racket is intended for advanced players who demand control but don’t want a dead or extremely stiff feel.
Here are the key features of the StarVie Kenta Enternal Ultra Speed Soft padel racket:
- Shape: Round
- Weight: 355–380g
- Balance: Medium (26–26.5 cm)
- Face: Double-layer 3K carbon
- Core: EVA Ultra Speed Soft
- Frame: Carbon
- Technologies: Hex Tech surface, Reactive Holes, Geo Bridge, Noene Inside, Longer Handgrip (+1.5 cm)
- Level: Advanced
- Made in Spain
- Play style: Control
Starvie Kenta Eternal Ultra Speed Soft Analysis
Marketing claims can be muddy. So, don’t just go with the big promises of the brands, let’s dig deeper and analyse what this racket actually offers you.
Look and Feel
If we look at Starvie rackets, they typically come with a unique look and feel. Unlike brands like Bullpadel or Nox, which use bold colors to make a statement, Starvie looks to keep it classy. Their rackets are more modest, functional, and lack the bold color schemes. The Kenta Eternal Ultra Speed Soft walks on the same path. It is neat, has a professional appearance, and has a sturdy construction that is consistent with Starvie’s reputation for longevity.
The first significant engineering is evident in the handle. Thanks to the Noene Inside technology used in this racket, it absorbs up to 96% of the negative vibration caused by impact. This technology is clearly integrated into the grip shaft in collaboration with the Swiss anti-shock materials manufacturer Noene.
Compared to the 1 cm extension found in most rackets, the Longer Handgrip adds 1.5 cm to the regular handle length. Particularly, two-handed backhand players value it. Additionally, it allows you to perform overhead with a little extra leverage without shifting your grip position.
So, how does it feel in the first swing? Light. Adaptable. It feels easier to move than a racket in this weight class.
Materials
The word ” Soft” in the Starvie Kenta Eternal Ultra Speed Soft often confuses the players. This ignites the common perception that the whole racket is soft. But that’s not the fact.
The face of this racket wraps two layers of genuinely stiff 3K carbon. This is obviously more rigid than a single layer of carbon, more rigid than fiberglass. When the racket is struck cleanly, the ball pings off the face rather than thudding into it, which is what gives the racket its own unique sound. It also implies that although the core below is doing something entirely different, the facade offers structure and accuracy.
Materials
The softest foam in the whole Kenta line is that core, EVA Ultra Speed Soft. It uses the hardest EVA. The standard Kenta uses a medium density. In terms of maximum softness, highest ball output, and maximum arm comfort, this variant is on the opposite end.
Why is that important? Soft cores launch the ball with higher rebound energy because they compress more during impact. The soft EVA actively helps you create pace without having to swing hard at low to medium ball speeds.
The racket’s ability to withstand chilly weather better than many alternatives can also be attributed to its robust face and soft core. While tougher cores might perish in the cold, soft EVA maintains its characteristics. It’s important to be aware of this if you’re playing outside in the UK.
In order to prevent the core from compressing unevenly with repeated impact, the Geo Bridge at the center of the racket provides structural stability throughout the middle of the frame. Instead of gradually becoming mushy in the middle, it maintains a consistent feel across the entire sweet spot.
Shape
This padel racket has a round shape with a sweet spot in the middle. This is a sensible option for a sophisticated control racket, and Starvie has made the right decision in this case.
You can catch the ball slightly off-center and still receive a useful response because of the wider, more forgiving contact area. No one is asking you to thread a needle all the time. This is important because a round shape gives you a margin that a teardrop or diamond just won’t, especially in defensive circumstances.
Reviewers define the sweet spot as “larger than average” for the genre, which seems about right. When you hit it clean, you can feel it, and when you don’t, you don’t get overly penalized.
Balance
The balance is positioned between 26 and 26.5 centimeters from the handle, which is medium. Because of its soft core, it has a minor tendency to feel a little heavy when in play.
You can move this racket swiftly. The hole map pattern on the face, known as the Aero Channel (Reactive Holes), lowers air resistance during the swing and facilitates maneuverability. The outcome is a racket that doesn’t strain your shoulder during extended defensive exchanges when combined with the medium balance.
This medium balance also contributes to the racket’s reputation as a gear that prioritizes control over force.
Power
Let’s discuss the real numbers, no bluff. Shots at a moderate speed? This racket is quite good. The stiff 3K carbon face makes sure that rebound energy goes somewhere beneficial rather than being absorbed into the frame, while the soft EVA propels the ball with more energy than you would anticipate given the effort you put in.
Fast-moving balls? This is the point at which you should flip your expectations. The ultra-soft core may make it challenging to handle a fast ball, such as a hard smash or a flat shot from close range. Faster balls may “eat” into your face more than you would want since soft cores compress more on impact. The ball seems to become momentarily trapped. It’s a serious problem, but it’s not really dramatic.
By spreading mass more centrally, the Kenta Eternal’s revised weight distribution in the racket’s center. That’s why you get better power delivery. Without the racket feeling top-heavy, you get additional swing weight across the contact zone.
So, overall, smashes are not the main attraction of the Kenta Eternal Ultra Speed Soft, but they are acceptable. This is not the racket you want if the main objective of your game is to destroy smashes.
Control
This is the point at which it becomes truly fascinating.
Starvie’s Hex Tech surface technology is currently the best roughness system available. Instead of being painted or adhered to the surface, the hexagonal design is molded into the carbon structure itself. Because of this, it is more resilient than surface-applied texturing and continues to produce spin even as the racket ages.
When you combine that with the medium balance, soft core, and round form, you have a racket that is excellent at placing the ball with spin. Shots that involve wrapping the ball around a point rather than driving through it include chiquitas, cross-court drops, and angled volleys.
The Kenta Eternal Ultra Speed Soft is fast and responsive at the net. Even on awkward contacts, the Noene handle maintains a crisp feel. For two-handed backhand volleys, the longer grip is helpful. Defensive lobs have a wonderful form when they come off the face.
Professional Players Using the StarVie Kenta Eternal Ultra Speed Soft Padel Racket
Starvie doesn’t brag about this fact: they completely discontinued their professional sponsorship program in 2024. Lucas Bergamini, Coki Nieto, and Bea González were among the players who declared they would be leaving. There are currently no documented Premier Padel tour competitors using Starvie rackets.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- The racket uses the Hex Tech roughness system, which is the best available for spin durability.
- Compared to most options, Noene Inside handle technology used in this one absorbs vibration better and is comfortable for extended periods of time.
- For players who favor touch over force, the round shape and soft EVA are perfect.
- The double-layer 3K carbon offers face stiffness and pleasant, explosive sound on clean blows.
Cons
- The weight range of 355–380g is too wide. You have to be specific when placing your order, or else you’re taking a chance.
- The extremely soft core can make the racket feel less controllable at high ball speeds, which is not ideal under intense pressure.
Summary
If you are an advanced player who prioritizes feeling above power, whether you play all-court or right side. Or you are someone who, instead of cracking winners, wins rallies by forcing their opponent to move. Or you are someone who wants a racket that doesn’t injure their elbow while playing three or four times a week, perhaps outside in unpredictable UK weather. The Starvie Kenta Eternal Ultra Speed Soft padel racket will be a hit product for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1) What style of play is the Starvie Kenta Eternal Ultra Speed Soft suited to?
Ans: The Starvie Kenta Eternal Ultra Speed padel racket is best for tactical, control-based play. It is designed for players who use movement, spin, and placement rather than power to create points.
Q2) What level is the Starvie Kenta Eternal Ultra Speed Soft suitable for?
Ans: This padel racket is best for Advanced players. However, proficient intermediate players, especially those with outstanding technique who want comfort without compromising spin, can also choose this one.
Q3) How heavy is the Starvie Kenta Eternal Ultra Speed Soft?
The official range is between 355 and 380 grams, which is more than most rackets have.
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