Wilson Bela LT V2.5

Fernando Belasteguin

Many new entrants to padel have only joined the sport when Fernando Belasteguin was on his way out. He was that old partner of 19 year old Arturo Coello…the guy with the smooth movements and the flat bandejas. But Bela is padel legend.
He is a father of the sport who has lived at the top for decades with the likes of Juan Martín Díaz and Miguel Lamperti…but one firm step above.
And in 2024, after 30 years of professional play, the best padel player in the world is…retiring.
A few more stats for the curious:
- He has played in 286 finals, winning 230 of them
- He has been ranked number 1 for 16 years
- This month (May 2024), he is turning 45 and ranked number 18

Wilson x Bela

Wilson and Bela have collaborated for years on the Bela line - a line of 5 rackets:
- Bela Pro: hardest and heaviest at 370g with a hard core
- Bela Elite: 5g lighter and softer than the Bela Pro
- Bela LT (light): 15g lighter than and softer than the Bela Pro (this model)
- Bela Team (not present in 2024): slightly lighter than the Elite
- Bela Junior: small, lightweight, kids version

2024’s Bela LT V2.5

The Bela LT is a lightweight versatile racket designed for players seeking comfort, control without losing much power. It delivers on this mission way more than I expected.

Specifications

Let’s cover the specifications first. It is a teardrop weighing 355g (test model weighed 360g) with a soft core and carbon fiber surface. It is designed to balance at 26 cm, and my test model balanced at 25.8cm. The handle is ~12cm and leads to a signature Bela double winged bridge that continues to a 3D textured surface.

At the back of the court

My first few tests of this racket were on the right side, and I can see some reviewers calling this a “right-side player racket”, but I think that would imply that because it weighs less than the monster Bela Pro, it’s a pushover.
In the back of the court, it does really shine though. It comforts you with its big sweet spot, easy maneuverability, and ability to generate easy bajadas when you ask it.

At the net

The thing about this racket, is it somehow does volleys as well as corners. While at the net, I felt it was as fast as it was powerful. I never arrived late, yet, I also felt comfortable in blocks. Volleys are surprisingly good with it.

Aerials

Bandejas were way better than expected. The sweet spot is big. The spin is strong. And the weight in the head helps you with depth. Bandejas are my favorite shot in padel, and bandejas are my favorite shot with this racket. It feels like you can do them while talking to your friends over coffee.

Smashes

While I was surprised all around the court when playing with this racket, in smashes, I was surprised the most. It has an accessible power that provided me more than I needed to accelerate my swing speed and smash the ball…and with the relaxation of knowing that I had time for intelligent shot selection.

In conclusion

At no point while playing with this racket did I think, “this is what a light racket plays like”. I felt fast and agile. Yes. And then when I had an opportunity to smash, I brought the ball back to my side of the court with ease.
In many ways, I think the LT, or “light” monicker diminishes this racket more than it helps it. In fact, I think padel would be better if more players played with white Wilsons than red Wilsons.
I suggest we take this racket in isolation for what it is, which is a super versatile racket that works for more players than it doesn’t. This is not something I’d say about many rackets. The fact that my biggest problem with it is the padded wrist strap says a lot.
I’m very happy I was able to try this racket because, like the Bela Pro, I truly enjoyed it more than I expected. As someone who hates light rackets, I loved this racket. It’s not light and papery or uncomfortable like most light rackets I’ve tried.