Price: $185
Head size: 95 sq. in.
Length: 27 in.
Weight: 11.1 oz. (standard); 12.2 oz. (Tour)
Flexibility: Flexible (standard); stiff (Tour)
Balance: 1/5 in. head light (standard); 1 in. head light (Tour)
Swingweight: 300 (standard); 330 (Tour)
Ideal swing: Long
NTRP: 4.0–5.5 (standard); 4.5–7.0 (Tour)
Compare to: N/A

How it tested: After an 18-year absence, Adidas has jumped back into the racquet business. The Barricade, like the company’s high-performance tennis shoe of the same name, is designed for serious, tournament-ready players. It boasts Power Structure Technology, which adds weight to the 3 and 9 o’clock positions on the head to improve stability and enhance the sweet spot. Advanced playtesters found a manageable power level that allowed them to take long, fast swings on serves and ground strokes, yet maintain control. Those who could swing fast produced spin easily, particularly with the standard model. While on the heavy side, the Barricade is still maneuverable and very responsive at net. Volleys had easy power and felt solid at contact, but some playtesters found the Tour version, which is more than one ounce heavier and has a denser string pattern (18-by-20 vs. 16-by-19 for the standard), a bit too stiff and lacking on touch shots.

Playtester comments: “Felt like every ball hit dead center”; “Loved closing at net”; “Can feel a little harsh on off-center hits.”

Bottom line: Adidas makes a successful return with a solid frame for aggressive all-courters and accomplished juniors.