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Our Verdict
7.7/10Best for: Precision players who put comfort first
The Optix V1 is the racket we hand to anyone who says their arm hurts. Wilson builds it entirely from fiberglass — face and frame alike — and that single decision explains the whole racket: the ball sits on the face a beat longer, the frame soaks up vibration before it reaches your elbow, and every block and chiquita lands where you pointed it. A 9 for control and a perfect 10 for comfort is a combination nothing else on our score cards matches. It won't win you points on pace, and we've scored the power an honest 4. But at $109 for a control-first game, nothing else comes close.
Check Price on Amazon →Specs at a Glance
| Shape | Round |
| Weight | 355–360g |
| Core | Soft EVA |
| Surface | Fiberglass Weave |
| Frame | Fiberglass |
| Price | $109.00 |
How It Scores
A 4 for power next to a 10 for comfort is the widest spread on any score card we publish, and it is not an accident — it is the same material choice showing up twice. Carbon is stiff, so it returns energy to the ball and sends shock back up your arm. Fiberglass flexes, so it does neither. Wilson used fiberglass for the face and the frame, which is unusual even among soft rackets, and the result is a frame that dampens impact more thoroughly than anything else we have hit.
The 9 for control comes from the round shape rather than the material. A round head puts the balance point low and the sweet spot dead centre, which is where a placement player makes contact anyway. Spin is the detail that keeps this from being a purely defensive racket: Wilson's Sharp Hole Technology modifies the drilling pattern through the face so the ball grips on the way off, and you can put real cut on a slice or a lob without needing the head speed a stiffer racket would demand.
Who It's For — and Who Should Skip It
Buy the Optix V1 if your game is built on placement, or if your elbow has started making decisions for you. It is the top pick in our best control padel rackets guideand the racket we recommend first to anyone dealing with arm pain — the all-fiberglass build does more for that than any grip or dampener will. It is also a genuinely good first racket: the centred sweet spot is forgiving on the mishits every new player makes, and $109 is a reasonable place to start.
Skip it if you finish points with your smash. The power ceiling is real and low — hard drives are entirely on your swing, and a fast improver will feel the limit inside a season or two. If you already know you want pace, start with a teardrop or diamond frame instead and save yourself the upgrade.
Alternatives Worth Considering
If you want the Optix's control but with more spin bite, the NOX ML10 Pro Cup ($169.99) matches its 9/10 control on a gritty sand-textured face — read our NOX ML10 Pro Cup review. If $109 is more than you want to spend on a first racket, the Babolat Contact at $89.95 is the round racket we recommend to nearly every new player. And if you like the round shape but want to see the full field, our best round padel rackets guide ranks them all.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Wilson Optix V1 good for tennis elbow?
It's the softest racket we've scored — a perfect 10/10 for comfort. The face and frame are both fiberglass rather than carbon, and the Soft EVA core absorbs impact before it reaches your arm. If elbow pain is your main concern, this is the first racket on our list to try. See our full tennis elbow racket guide for the rest of the shortlist.
What's the difference between the Wilson Optix V1 and V2?
The V1 is the model we tested and scored at 7.7/10, and it's the one currently available at $109. We haven't tested the V2 or the Optix Lite, so we don't publish scores for them — when we do, this review will be updated rather than replaced.
Is the Wilson Optix V1 good for beginners?
Yes. The round shape puts the sweet spot in the centre of the face where beginners actually make contact, and the all-fiberglass build is forgiving on mishits — it appears in our beginner racket guide for exactly that reason. The trade-off is a low power ceiling, a 4/10, which fast improvers will feel within a season or two.
What is Sharp Hole Technology?
It's Wilson's modified drilling pattern for the perforations in the racket face, designed to give the ball extra bite. On a soft fiberglass racket like the Optix V1 it's what lets you put genuine cut on slices and lobs despite the low power.