Smash off: Siux Electra ST1 vs. ST2. Which should you buy?
Intro
With the success of the Superpibes, Franco Stupaczuk and Martín Di Nenno, and Stupa’s style in general, a lot of players have been asking me about the Siux Electra ST2 and how it plays compared to the previous model, the Siux Electra ST2.
Well, let’s talk about it!
The Siux Electra ST1 was introduced in 2022 when Franco Stupaczuk switched from playing with a Starvie Raptor Evolution. This top-of-the-line racket has the premium finishings that Siux's professional-level rackets have, such as the ShockOut Dual Pro vibration-reducing under grip as well as the ShockOut dampeners for vibration reduction and balance customization.
{{racket-card="/racket-reviews/electra-st1"}}
{{racket-card="/racket-reviews/electra-st2"}}
Similarities
Both the Siux Electra ST2 and the Siux Electra ST1 are hybrid-shaped between a round racket and a teardrop.
Both rackets have relatively high balances at nearly 27cm - neither are particularly maneuverable rackets, and they will play similarly to diamond-shaped rackets. Next time you watch Stupa play, you'll notice that he contacts the ball on aerial shots very close to the top of the racket face.
Both are good for right-side players. Despite these having high balances, these rackets are not really smashers. They suit Franco’s aerial game which leans on rulos and viboras more than Arturo Coello's style, which leans on flat smashes.
Differences
The only difference in the makeup between the Siux Electra ST2 and the Siux Electra ST1 in terms of construction is that the ST2 uses 15K carbon fiber instead of 12K carbon fiber. This number refers to the threads of carbon per strand - as the thread count increases, the carbon fiber softens, so the ST2 is noticeably softer than the ST1.
A softer surface:
- slightly increases the sweet spot,
- greatly increases ball output on slow defensive shots,
- reduces power in smashes, and
- slightly reduces control in volleys or blocks of fast shots
Learn more in our recent Best Control Padel Racket article or in our Glossary entry on Touch.
As a result, the Siux Electra ST2 will be slightly more playable, and easier to defend from the back of the court with its high ball output, which will help defend against difficult balls. Also, its sweet spot will be slightly larger than the ST1’s. While the Siux Electra ST1’s maximum power is noticeably higher.
In conclusion
Go for the Siux Electra ST2 if you have a softer, more precise aerial game.
Go for the Siux Electra ST1 if you have a powerful aerial game or if you can find a great deal.
Hello and welcome!
I'm Timo, and I'm here to help you find the right padel racket. And if you want weekly padel news and tips, sign up for my newsletter.
Why trust us?
Padel FYI is the Metacritic for padel rackets. To help you find the best padel racket, I have cataloged 360 reviews of 106 of the most popular padel rackets to create the most comprehensive padel racket database.
We're also linking to deals from the most popular shops across the globe to help you find the best place to get your gear!