The Black Friday Prototypes · Part 1 of 3

“If you were to make a more classic hybrid racket, what would it look like?” The question we kept hearing in our Racket Lab sessions.

Project_MX is our answer: a classic hybrid padel racket with tapered sides, a one-piece frame and a compressed Airspring EVA core, built for the 61% of players who adapt their game from point to point.

Every Black Friday, instead of just discounting, we launch prototypes and let our community decide what we build next. Project_MX is the first of three, all launching on 19 November 2026. This is how we built it.

Project_MX is a soft, forgiving hybrid racket with a classic tapered shape. It exists because over 40,000 Racket Lab answers showed that most players are balanced, and most want a softer feel. 100 are being made: £100, or £85 for our Instagram community.

Project_MX: key facts

Want first access? Only 100 are being made. Join our Instagram community for early access at 2pm on 19 November and the community price of £85.

Why we built a classic hybrid: what over 40,000 players told us

Between April and October 2026, over 40,000 padel players took our Racket Lab quiz. They told us how they play, how often, what level they are and how they want a racket to feel. We used those answers to decide what to build.

Most players are balanced

When we asked players to describe their game, 61% said balanced. Only 22% called themselves attacking and 17% controlled. Most players don’t pick a lane. They defend from the back glass, then step in and finish at the net. A racket built for one extreme does half their game well.

Most players want a softer feel

58% of all players said they prefer a softer, more forgiving racket. Among balanced players it is 60%. Multiply that out, and around 37% of everyone who took the quiz is both balanced and wants a soft feel. That is the biggest single group in the data, and no racket in our range was built just for them.

The preference shifts with level. 54% of intermediate players prefer soft, but by advanced level 59% want a stiffer racket and 41% still want soft. That told us the MX should be soft and forgiving, but not so soft that improving players outgrow it.

The brief, in one line: a classic hybrid for balanced players who want comfort and easy power, without losing the control a hybrid should give.

How we built Project_MX

Where it started: 300 testers and Project Aero

Last Black Friday, 300 players tested three prototypes: Project Aero, Project Onyx and Project X85. Project Aero got the best feedback of the three. It was built on a new mould made just for us, with our Bi-Fusion frame: the frame and the face are moulded separately, which gives incredible consistency and durability. Project Aero went on to become our AX range.

Players loved the AX. But in our Racket Lab sessions, one question kept coming back: if you were to make a more classic hybrid racket, what would it look like?

Two rules for a great hybrid

There is no single right answer to what makes a great hybrid. But whichever route you take, two rules apply.

1. Not too aggressive. An aggressive shape has its widest point high up the racket. That moves the sweet spot (the area of the face that gives the cleanest contact) and the balance point (where the racket’s weight is centred) up with it, and you’ve made an attacking racket.
2. Not too round or too soft. Go too round or too soft and you lose power. The sweet spot, the balance point and the density all need to sit in the middle ground between an attacking and a control racket.

Our route: back to a classic shape

The AX range already covers the angular hybrid shape. So we asked how we could build a hybrid with a more classic shape, and made three changes.

1. Tapered sides instead of angular ones. Tapered sides narrow gradually towards the throat, giving the traditional hybrid shape many players grew up with. The sweet spot sits in the middle ground, right where the two rules say it should.

2. A one-piece frame instead of our two-piece Bi-Fusion frame. Moulding everything together lets us compress the Airspring EVA foam in the middle, so it’s denser. Compressed Airspring EVA adds extra density: the racket stays soft and forgiving, without feeling hollow. The playing surface is slightly smaller, but the racket feels like one cohesive piece.

3. A new dual-material end cap. It’s designed to reduce vibration through the handle. It also brings the balance point lower towards your hand, so the racket feels lighter.

Initial feedback has been very good.

Project_MX vs the AX range

Tested with the best: Stan Hunt, GB under-18s

A prototype is only as good as the people who test it. Project_MX was tested by Stan Hunt, who plays for GB under-18s (@stanhuntpadel, 27.3K followers on Instagram). Stan tested all three of our Black Friday prototypes, so he could compare the MX directly against the stiffer RX and the round, control-focused LX.

Follow @stanhuntpadel to see him playing all three prototypes.

Is Project_MX right for you?

Project_MX is for you if:

• You defend from the back, then attack at the net when the chance comes.
• You want a soft, forgiving feel that is kind to your arm.
• You want easy power without needing a perfect swing.
• You like the look and feel of a traditional hybrid racket.

Choose a different prototype if:

• You attack on every ball and want a stiffer, more explosive racket. Read Project_RX: built for attackers.
• You build points patiently and want maximum control. Read Project_LX: built for control.

Compare all three Black Friday prototypes

Not sure which one you are? Take the Racket Lab quiz[ADD LINK: Racket Lab quiz link] and we’ll match you in under two minutes.

How to get Project_MX

Only 100 Project_MX prototypes are being made. They launch on Thursday 19 November 2026.

Every buyer fills in a short feedback form, and that feedback helps decide which of the three prototypes joins the Y1 range. If you buy one, you’re part of building it.

The 2pm password is shared inside our Instagram community. Join the community before 19 November to get early access and the £85 price.

Project_MX FAQs

What is Project_MX?

Project_MX is a classic hybrid padel racket prototype from Y1 Padel. It has tapered sides, a one-piece frame that compresses an Airspring EVA core, and a dual-material end cap. It is built for players who adapt their game and want a soft, forgiving feel with easy power.

What is a hybrid padel racket?

A hybrid racket sits between an attacking racket and a control racket. Its sweet spot and balance point sit in the middle, so it gives you power when you need it and control when you don’t.

How is Project_MX different from the AX range?

The AX range has angular sides and our two-piece Bi-Fusion frame. Project_MX goes back to a classic shape, with tapered sides and a one-piece frame that compresses the foam for a more cohesive feel.

Who is Project_MX for?

Balanced players: those who defend and attack depending on the point. 61% of over 40,000 Racket Lab respondents described their game as balanced, and 58% prefer a softer racket.

How much does Project_MX cost?

£100. Instagram community members can buy it for £85 during early access at 2pm on 19 November 2026.

How many are being made?

Just 100 Project_MX prototypes are being made.

Is Project_MX a good racket for intermediate players?

Yes. 54% of intermediate players in our data prefer a softer feel, and the MX’s central sweet spot is forgiving on mishits. It also has enough density to keep up as your game improves.

Who tested Project_MX?

Stan Hunt, who plays for GB under-18s, tested Project_MX alongside Project_RX and Project_LX.