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Drop Shot Explorer Soft Women vs Astra Hybrid
The Explorer Soft Women is the better racket, 77 to 68: more control and power. They cost about the same.
Our scores, updated 7 July 2026 · How we score
Score by score
How we score →The green bar wins the round. The Explorer takes 5 of the six, the Astra takes value.
Feel is read from the core and the face until hardness is measured.
What is different
Face and weight change between them; the rest is the same. Pick one to look closer.
Carbon against fibreglass: the Astra's carbon is stiffer and more precise, the Explorer's fibreglass is softer, gives the ball more pop at low speed and forgives more.
Edge: the Astra, for precision
* The feel starts from the core's rated hardness (estimated from the core material where there is no rating), then the face: carbon 12K and up is firmer, fibreglass softer.
The Explorer is about 15 g lighter: quicker to the ball at the net. The Astra puts a little more weight behind a smash.
Edge: the Explorer, for quick hands
The balance point is not listed for both.
No edge either way
* Drawn to scale: a 455 mm racket in its shape's outline (traced from a real racket of that shape), with the balance point the shops list marked on it. Real rackets vary by a few millimetres.
About the same price: €116 and €112.
No edge either way
Specs from the makers and the shops that sell them. Weights are the maker's figures, not measured by us.
Which one sounds like you?
Tap every line that sounds like you.
Explorer Soft Women
Our score 77 · €116Skip it if you want more racket for the money: the Astra has 74 for value against its 68.
Astra Hybrid
Our score 68 · €112Skip it if you want more control: the Explorer has 71 for control against its 64.
Our recommendation for most players
The Explorer Soft Women
The higher score, 77 to 68.
Not sure of your level? Padel DNA matches rackets to how you play.
What other reviewers scored them
Out of 100, each linked to its page.
Our score
Explorer +9
Padelful
Has scored only the Astra
PadelReference
Has scored only the Astra
We do not change ours to match.
Your shape
What players said
Players who own a racket tell us how it plays. It is their word: it is not a review and does not count towards Our score.
No player has told us about the Explorer or the Astra yet. If you own one, two minutes drawing your shape puts your word here, beside the other players who own it.
Our recommendation
Drop Shot Explorer Soft Women
The better racket, 77 to 68: more control and power.
- 5 of 6 scores
- About 15 g lighter
- Fibreglass face
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Before you buy
Questions
Straight answers.
Which is better, the Explorer Soft Women or the Astra Hybrid?
The Explorer Soft Women is the better racket, 77 to 68: more control and power. They cost about the same.
What is the difference between the Explorer Soft Women and the Astra Hybrid?
Carbon against fibreglass: the Astra's carbon is stiffer and more precise, the Explorer's fibreglass is softer, gives the ball more pop at low speed and forgives more. The Explorer is about 15 g lighter: quicker to the ball at the net. The Astra puts a little more weight behind a smash. The balance point is not listed for both.
Which is better for control?
The Explorer Soft Women: control 71 against 64.
What is the price difference?
About the same price: €116 and €112.
