Last pala to have passed into the hands of Stéphane Penso, Wilson bela. A unique test that dissects one of the most popular palas most sold in 2020.

Last racket to be passed through my hands (remember the tests of the Babolat air Viper, Nox AT10 Arena and Tecnifibre Wall Master 365), The Wilson bela pro was eagerly awaited by all fans of “the legend of Pehuajo”.

The American brand with a turnover of more than 800 million euros acts as a steamroller in the sports world. The padel is no exception, and the Chicago company made no mistake about its representative by signing the best player of all time still in activity, Fernando Belasteguin himself.

The Argentinian, who has remained world number 16 for 1 consecutive years, and who is currently teaming up with one of the most promising players of the new generation, Agustin Tapia, had carte blanche from the sprawling manufacture to give birth to a racket in the image of the character, alongside a team attentive to their every wish, having access to exceptional materials, endless resources and irreproachable know-how.

Will all this human and technological debauchery make this pala an epic object? This is what we will see from now!

Visual

Cosmetics are a key element in buying a racquet. The brand did not go there by four ways by offering one of the most sober palas on the market!

99.9% of the frame is deep black, the barely noticeable red watermark logo is present to remind which brand we are dealing with. Red is blood and passion, black is death and mourning, did the American firm want to convey a subliminal message? (it's going to be war on the land, weapon of mass destruction ...)

Anyway, the bet seems successful, and this pala, almost monochrome, is of a simplicity and flamboyant classicism (red is also fire).

wilson bela racket

Description

The premium Primero Carbon face produces a blend of power, responsiveness and exceptional speed. Firm EVA foam ensures secure, crisp hits for faster ball release and excellent control. Ideal for expert players who enjoy playing at a fast pace with less margin for error.

The Arrow-Grip texture features an arrow-shaped pattern on the surface of the pala for excellent feel and an extra degree of rotation. The Shock Shield grip consists of a unique blend of PU and Iso-Zorb to generate an exceptional combination of grip, comfort and cushioning. The padded wrist strap provides control and enhanced security.

Note the inscription above “Belasteguin nunca se rinde” (a Belasteguin never gives up).

The clash

Balance is obviously in the lead, without this being obvious. The racquet is manoeuvrable and the weight fairly well distributed. Still, it must be remembered that the main feature of this pala is attack-oriented, and those looking for rock-solid maneuverability will look to other models.

From the baseline

Diamond size, composed of a hard foam and a weight of 370 ~ 375gr, the power should be there. Indeed, from the first balls played, it goes really strong, too strong. You have to moderate your fervor in order to avoid sending the balls directly onto the opponent's plexiglass. Without a certain control, the punishment will be final.

The phrase “hold back” therefore takes its place when playing with this kind of device, and some adaptation time will be necessary in order to properly understand how to tame this pala.

On the fly

The heavy weight and the head balance are not elements favoring control and maneuverability. The foam of a higher density works wonders, however it is advisable to hold your arm in order not to unscrew on each strike. It is therefore necessary to plan and volley knowingly; this pala is so powerful that the weighting and the dosage must be applied to each shot, otherwise, as in the baseline, the penalty will be immediate.

Smashes

Here we are ! So those who do not have a lot of power and who dream of sending cartridges with all their arms will be delighted to learn that we have here a quite simply extraordinary racket (and those who already have power, will still have more. more). The color was announced, the radical character of the designer, the technologies employed, the smallest details exploited and the factory parameters make this pala an indisputable evidence based on the lightning and the exaltation.

I was able to chain smashes for long minutes, and especially to compare it in real time with the other models available: the result is final. In this section where one must express (most of the time) his outburst and his ardor, this pala obtains the gold palm.

Therefore, anyone looking for raw power, without fuss or artifacts, will be excited and unleashed to annihilate all forms of finesse in favor of unbridled, volcanic power.

En conclusion

This racquet was made by Bela, for Bela. It is an exceptional racquet from every point of view, but which seems tedious to tame and reserved for a certain elite. The vibrations are nonexistent and the tolerance to the decentering acceptable.

To the question: "Are you over 30 years old? padel and the arm of the best player in the universe? », The overwhelming majority will answer no.

It will therefore be necessary to sacrifice other precious parameters for the benefit of a power almost unusable at 100% if you are not an excellent player. It is obvious that those who are starting out will move towards a less boring pala.

The materials used and the positioning of the brand being clear, those who are looking for more homogeneous and accommodating palas will turn (always at Wilson) to the Bela Elite and Bela Team models. For all the others who want to send bags in an intoxicating way, bordering on narcotics, they will be charmed by the strong character of this pala and the eruptive assets that it offers.

Most

Staggering power
Successful design
Premium wrist strap

The lessers

Binding
Rebellious

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!

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