In 2026, Wilson continued to structure its padel racket range with two families boasting almost opposing philosophies: Defy for power and Endure for control. But beyond the marketing hype, what differences can you actually feel on the court? Which Wilson should you choose based on your skill level and playing style? We tested the Wilson Defy Pro, Defy V1, Defy LS, Endure Pro, Endure V1, and Endure LS to understand precisely how they perform.

The Wilson catalogue Padel It has probably never been so readable.

The American brand is no longer simply looking to offer different levels of stiffness or several variations of the same racket. It is now building families that correspond to specific player profiles.

Two product lines particularly illustrate this strategy: Wilson Defy and Wilson Endure .

On paper, the distinction is simple:

Wilson Defy: power and offensive play
Wilson Endure: control and precision

In reality, it's obviously more subtle.

Because an Endure Pro is capable of delivering surprising power for a round racket, while a Defy V1 can prove to be significantly more forgiving than its appearance as a pure attacking racket might suggest.

After several hours of testing, here is our full analysis, the original version of which, by Stéphane Penso, can be found here:

Wilson 2026: The grand slam of sensations

Wilson Defy vs Wilson Endure: two almost opposing conceptions of padel

Even before talking about carbon, foam or balance, the first difference lies in the geometry.

La Wilson Defy adopts a diamond shape with a balance oriented towards the head of the racket. This design increases leverage during shots and naturally promotes power.

La Wilson Endure, on the other hand, adopts a round shape. with a lower balance point. The sweet spot is more accessible and the racket is easier to handle in situations where reaction time is short.

This results in two very different behaviors.

The Defy requires the player to commit and rewards a properly centered shot.

The Endure aims more to secure the strike, facilitate ball placement and offer a consistent response.

But beware of a common misconception: A round shape does not necessarily mean a racket without power .

The Endure Pro is probably the best demonstration of this.

Wilson Defy 2026: the range designed for offensive players

The Defy family represents the power center of Wilson.

With its diamond shape and offensive character, it targets players who like to take the net, accelerate and finish points.

The range consists of three models:

Defy Pro V1, Defy V1 and Defy LS V1.

The logic is fairly standard: the higher you go towards the Pro range, the more demanding and rigid the racket becomes. Moving down to the LS range, you gain in maneuverability and forgiveness.

Wilson Defy Pro V1: the most powerful, but also the most demanding

This is the most radical racket in this selection.

La defy pro notably combines a C2 tubular construction and a face made of 15K carbon .

It also uses several technologies designed to enhance attack: Aeroexact to improve aerodynamics, Spin² for spin and Duo Grid to adapt the arrangement of perforations to different striking zones.

But the technical specifications only tell part of the story.

On the track, what immediately strikes you is the overall rigidity.

The ball comes out quickly when the shot is properly executed, with a crisp and extremely direct contact.

In smash

This is his preferred terrain.

When the player has sufficient arm speed and good technique, the Defy Pro allows a lot of energy to be transferred to the ball.

High shots, aggressive viboras and smashes directly benefit from the offensive balance.

But this power has a downside: The racket doesn't do the work for you. .

A player who lacks arm speed or who regularly mishits shots may find the Defy Pro difficult to use.

In defense

Logically, this is where it requires the most skill.

On a low ball behind the line or when playing late, its head-heavy balance and less forgiving sweet spot require precision.

Therefore, this is not the racket we would recommend first and foremost to a player primarily seeking ease of use.

For which player?

The Defy Pro is primarily aimed at:

for advanced and competitive players;
to attacking players;
to players with good arm speed;
to players capable of consistently crossing the ball;
to the big smashers looking for a firm answer.

Our opinion: a true offensive machine, but one that requires the technical level to exploit it.

Wilson Defy V1: probably the best compromise in the range

For many players, this is perhaps where the Defy family becomes most interesting.

La Defy V1 retains the diamond mold and offensive DNA of the Pro, but notably adopts a surface made of 3K carbon .

This difference significantly alters its behavior.

The touch becomes less brutal and the racket is more forgiving.

It remains clearly attack-oriented, but requires less precision and less physical commitment than the Pro.

This is particularly noticeable when you have to defend or play a ball that is imperfectly positioned.

At the net, it retains enough rigidity to accelerate and finish points.

However, at the end of the runway, it provides more comfort.

The sound itself reflects this difference: where the Pro delivers a particularly dry impact, the V1 offers a more muted tone.

For which player?

It will be particularly suitable for:

intermediate, advanced and experienced players;
offensive players who don't want a racket that's too demanding;
players seeking power and comfort;
players who alternate between building up play and accelerating their attacks.

Our opinion: the Defy V1 is probably the most versatile Wilson Defy for the greatest number of offensive players.

Wilson Defy LS: arm speed and maneuverability

The Defy LS retains the offensive identity of the family but changes significantly in philosophy.

Its main advantage lies in its lightness.

His face Comfort Flex , a mixture of carbon and fiberglass, also provides greater flexibility.

The result is particularly interesting for players who like to accelerate their movement rather than relying on the mass of the racket.

In fast exchanges at the net, it is easy to position and allows you to string together volleys without feeling like you are fighting against the racket head.

This feature can also be useful for players wishing to limit fatigue during long sessions.

It obviously doesn't deliver the same ball weight as the Defy Pro, but its excellent speed of movement allows it to generate quite respectable power.

Our opinion: the Defy is the easiest to handle and probably the most physically accessible.

Wilson Endure: The round racket makes a strong comeback

With Endure, Wilson explores very different territory.

The brand has built a range around three concepts: control, precision and maneuverability .

The three Endure models use a round shape designed in particular to promote a comfortable striking zone.

Wilson also introduces its technology Exacttouch , a particular surface texture designed to enhance the connection with the ball and the ability to generate spin.

But what interests us most is his actual behavior.

And one thing quickly becomes apparent: The Endure are not just defensive frontcourt players. .

Wilson Endure Pro: the surprise of the test

This is probably the model that surprised us the most.

On paper, one could imagine a round racket primarily geared towards control.

On the track, the reality is much more interesting.

La Wilson Endure Pro has a face made of Raw Carbon 3K , a reported weight of 365 gr and a balance of 260 mm .

The first remarkable element is its stability.

When a ball arrives quickly at the net, the racket doesn't seem to fall apart. The blocks are clean and the trajectory remains easy to control.

In defense, the round shape and the distribution of mass allow for recovery from difficult situations with great composure.

But it's when you start to accelerate that the Endure Pro reveals its second personality.

She has enough stamina to actually finish the points.

Obviously, it doesn't reach the explosive character of a Defy Pro.

But to consider the Endure Pro as simply a control racket would be a mistake.

For which player?

It is particularly interesting for:

experienced players;
tactical players;
players seeking precision and stability;
players who build up their points a lot;
players who want a round racket without giving up attacking.

Our opinion: probably the biggest surprise of this comparison. A round racket capable of becoming decidedly offensive when the player accelerates.

Wilson Endure V1: the most balanced

The Endure V1 logically sits between the radical nature of the Pro and the ease of the LS.

His face in UD carbon provides greater flexibility.

Its announced weight remains 365 gr , with a balance of 255 mm .

These five millimeters of difference in balance compared to the Pro may seem anecdotal on a spec sheet.

On a racket, however, they contribute to the overall feeling of maneuverability.

The Endure V1 moves easily, while retaining enough material to remain stable.

It proves particularly effective in defense-to-attack transitions.

For a player who wants neither an extremely rigid racket nor a very light model, this is probably the most consensual option in the family.

Our opinion: the most versatile and easiest Endure to recommend to a player looking above all for control and comfort.

Wilson Endure LS: the queen of maneuverability

With 355g advertised and a balance of 255 mm The Endure LS is the lightest in the family.

And you can feel it immediately.

It's an extremely easy racket to move.

On reflex defenses, quick volleys and changes of direction, she gives that appreciable impression of being immediately available.

Its Comfort Flex coating further enhances this feeling of ease.

But its main quality probably remains its very comfortable sweet spot.

It is more forgiving of minor errors and allows you to play for a long time without giving the feeling of excessive arm fatigue.

Our opinion: an excellent option for players who prioritize maneuverability, comfort and forgiveness.

Defy or Endure: which Wilson should you choose in 2026?

Ultimately, that's the most important question.

And the answer depends less on your skill level than on your playing style.

You are a very offensive player.

Choose a Wilson Defy .

The diamond shape and offensive balance promote acceleration and finishing shots.

You are primarily looking for control and precision.

La Wilson Endure will generally be more suitable.

Its round shape and more forgiving behavior make stitch construction easier.

You are a very experienced smasher

La defy pro remains the most obvious choice.

It is the most radical and explosive, provided you have the necessary arm and technique.

You want to attack without using an overly demanding racket.

La Defy V1 seems to us to be the best compromise.

You want a control racket that can attack

Look very seriously at the Endure Pro .

That's precisely where she surprised us.

You prioritize maneuverability and comfort

The LS are the natural candidates, with a particular advantage to the Endure LS for players who prioritize control and ease of use.

Wilson Defy vs. Endure 2026 Comparison

Model	Form	Orientation	maneuverability	Power	Control	Requirement
defy pro	Diamond	Attack	Average	Very high	Medium	Very high
Defy V1	Diamond	Attack/versatility	Bonne	Élevée	Good	Élevée
Defy LS	Diamond	Attack/Speed	Very high	Bonne	Good	Average
Endure Pro	Round	Control/attack	Very good	Élevée	Very high	Élevée
Endure V1	Round	Versatility/control	Very good	Bonne	Very high	Average
Endure LS	Round	Control/comfort	Excellent	Moderate to good	Very high	Low to medium

The ratings for power, control, handling and requirements correspond to our sensations during the test and not to laboratory measurements.

What is the best Wilson padel racket in 2026?

There is no single best Wilson 2026.

There is above all a Wilson adapted to each profile .

For sheer power, our choice logically falls on the defy pro .

For the best offensive compromise, the Defy V1 seems more accessible and more versatile to us.

For control combined with genuine offensive potential, the Endure Pro constitutes one of the most interesting offerings in this new collection.

Finally, players who are primarily looking for lightness and maneuverability will find the LS versions to offer significantly easier solutions to exploit.

But the main lesson from this test lies elsewhere.

Wilson managed to propose two truly different identities , and not simply two different designs.

The Defy naturally pushes the player forward and rewards commitment.

Endure provides more security and encourages point building.

And the Endure Pro cleverly blurs the lines between these two worlds.

Our verdict

Defy Pro: for the competitor and the big hitter.

Defy V1: Our choice for the attacking player seeking the best compromise.

Defy LS: for the attacker who prioritizes arm speed and maneuverability.

Endure Pro: Our top pick for the control player who wants to be able to deal a lot of damage when attacking.

Endure V1: probably the most balanced of the Endure family.

Endure LS: the easiest, most manageable and most comfortable.

This initial comparison primarily serves to illustrate the new architecture of the Wilson product lineup. The analysis doesn't stop at Defy and Endure.

Two other major families still need to be put to the test: the Bela V3 and the new Blade V4 .

They will help answer an even broader question: Which Wilson 2026 racket is truly the best according to your playing style?

Franck Binisti

Franck Binisti discovered padel at the Club des Pyramides in 2009 in the Paris region. Since then, padel has been part of his life. You often see him touring France to cover major French padel events.