Two Bullpadel diamonds, both built to finish points, separated by 0.4 points of grade and one decision about your elbow.
VS
8.9
Power
8.8
8.2
Control
8.0
7.4
Forgiveness
7.4
Not comparable
- Durability 8.5 — measured only on the Vertex 04, so there is nothing to compare it to.
- Comfort 6.2 — measured only on the Hack 04, so there is nothing to compare it to.
The verdict
The Vertex 04 wins on the numbers, 9.0 to 8.6, and it wins on the thing that matters most between two rackets this similar: comfort. The Hack 04 scores 6.2 on comfort, the lowest figure in our database. The Vertex is not a soft racket either, but it is the one that will not end your season early.
Where they are the same
- Both are diamond heads at 365–375 g with a high balance and a MultiEVA multi-density core.
- Power is effectively tied: 8.9 against 8.8. Nobody will feel that gap.
- Forgiveness is identical at 7.4, and both figures carry wide source disagreement. Neither is a racket for someone who mishits often.
- Both demand established technique. Every source we read says so, unanimously, about both frames.
Where they differ
- Control: 8.2 against 8.0. Marginal, and in the Vertex’s favour.
- Comfort: the Hack 04 measures 6.2. That is the lowest comfort score we have recorded on any racket, and it is the reason a Hack 04 Comfort version exists at all.
- Sweet spot behaviour: the Hack 04’s 2026 revision adds the Total Channel, a perimeter channel that cuts air resistance. It makes the frame faster through the air, not more forgiving.
- Price: both sit in the £100–150 band for the standard version, so cost is not the deciding factor.
Choose the Vertex 04 if…
- You want the better all-round racket and the higher grade.
- You play often enough that arm fatigue is a real consideration.
- You want the option of the Comfort or Hybrid versions, which are the most-rated in the range.
Choose the Hack 04 if…
- You specifically want the faster frame through the air.
- You have no history of elbow or shoulder trouble.
- You already play a Hack and want the current generation.