Padel magazine and his reigning palas tester Stéphane Penso dissect it Piton 9.0 from Black Crown. A pala combining comfort et efficiency for players intermediate leagues à confirmed.

Black Crown is a family business that was established in 2011. Work, effort and dedication are the three pillars on which Black Crown has consolidated its image on Spanish territory in the world of padel. Ten years after its creation, the brand has established itself in an increasingly demanding market thanks to a well-defined philosophy and values. It is a company entirely dedicated to the practice of padel (unlike some multisport brands that can be found in tennis in particular).

A little history

Ten years ago, the team led by Jordi Rovirosa began his adventure in the world of padel (but Jordi started it on his own in 2006) and, during all this time, has not stopped evolving, making technological advances in order to conquer fans by offering products with the best components. For Black Crown, the equation is simple, to design premium rackets with particular attention to price to promote the practice of snowshoeing as much as possible. padel in the best conditions. The range of blades Black Crown aims to meet the demands of the most advanced level players, but the company has not forgotten the amateur or beginner player, who needs other features. The main players on the WPT are Tito Allemandi, Eli Amatriain and Marta Marrero, in France, the very loyal and essential Jérôme Ferrandez.

The test

Lots of control ...

Today, we are going to take a look at one of the most legendary palas sold by the brand Black Crown, the Piton, and its latest version, the 9.0. This racquet will bring you comfort and efficiency, adapting very well to intermediate players thanks to a large sweet spot, while conferring significant power in the sharp attacks of confirmed players.

The racket does not lose the essence of previous versions. It continues with the same round shape, giving it excellent maneuverability, giving the player maximum control and increased safety in fast, airy play. Moreover, it is the format favored by Black Crown on the majority of rackets produced. The racquet is always focused on the game of control, with extraordinary precision.

The balance in the sleeve gives us a certain confidence, which will allow us to hit the ball in the best conditions. That's why it's perfect for players who want full control of the rally, both in attack and defense. However, it has solid materials which allow, in addition to the control, to have a very good power.

… But not only!

La Black Crown Piton 9.0 has a very versatile handling, a racquet with which you can finish a point with force by taking it to the limit, or play finely while maintaining full control.

The foam Super Control Black EVA will give you a touch of the ball full of control. It is a rubber that seeks to amplify the control, with a shape memory impact elastic enough to give more performance to the ball. It also has excellent absorbency to prevent epicondylitis and elbow discomfort without losing the benefits of an Eva Black gum, a little harder, to be able to promote power.

Side attack, the racket of padel Piton 9.0 is not left out. The use of fiber 3k carbon on the racquet surface allows good level players to capitalize on this explosive material. This 3k aluminum is a fairly soft material that provides a much sharper ball output without losing a lot of control.

As for its frame in 80% carbon fiber double tubular, it offers greater resistance to the pala and prolongs its lifespan.

Finally, the racquet has undergone a total change in its aesthetic, which is now a little more pampered. Today it has a completely dark color design which gives it a more contemporary look. The weight is 366 grams, which is a high value for a round shaped racquet (but one which is superbly distributed), and the strap is of the simplest kind.

The performance of the Piton 9.0

At the bottom of the track

Once on the track, we notice from the first shots that this is a super manoeuvrable and well balanced pala, which makes the game controlled, stable and very pleasant. With its medium / hard core, this pala allows us to direct the ball with ease to any point on the pitch with little effort, which makes the experience very enjoyable.

At the back of the track it is a pala which surprises during the defense, by the maneuverability and the great sweet-spot it offers, which will allow us to maintain a firm and dynamic defense in all the shots that start from the bottom .

Net

On offense, this is the most explosive round shaped racquet I have tested so far. A clear and controllable power! It has nothing to envy to diamond shapes, that's obvious. On the smashes, feeling the ball go into the foam and then squirt 1000 fires was a very convincing experience. The atmospheric conditions were ideal, no wind and a temperature of 28 °, which obviously favors the par 3 exits because the humidity level was zero that day. Note that the faces are smooth for even more ball speed.

Conclusion

It is a very well balanced pala, a version always intended for players who seek full power but without losing control of the game. A pala which adapts to advanced players and which emphasizes those of intermediate level. Its black and gray design sprinkled with red edging quickly hit the mark. It's a versatile racket, excellent in all areas and average nowhere, a pala that will not disappoint you and which, carried over year after year, improves and improves like a grand cru.

Price: 204€

Special thanks French Padel Shop for allowing me to perform this test.

Stéphane Penso

Fan of padel, Stéphane has become the official tester of the planet padel in Europe. Everything goes through his expert hands. Thanks to his extensive experience in the snowshoeing world, he is able to scan your gear from head to toe!