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round, 365 g, built for a club player

Babolat Counter Viper review

The control member of the Viper family. Manoeuvrable, precise, and it still has enough in the overhead to finish a short lob.

How this review is made: from the maker's published specs and the finder's scoring for power, control and the arm, checked against the specialist shops. It is not a lab test.

Shaperound
Weight365 g
Balancemedium
Coremedium
Facecarbon
Built forclub
Power5 of 10
Control8 of 10
Kind to the arm7 of 10
Street price€180 to €260

What the finder says about it

  • Built for a club player. The finder keeps it away from a beginner player: a racket two rungs above you is a mistake, not a stretch.
  • Arm 7 of 10: fine for an arm that aches after long sessions; for an elbow that is already a problem the finder wants something softer.
  • Control 8, power 5: for the patient player who lobs and builds, and what the finder calls a defender's racket for the right side.
  • 365 g, close to the 360 g the finder assumes for a player with no weight preference.
  • Round: the sweet spot in the centre and the balance in the hand. The finder nudges squash and badminton players this way.
  • €180 to €260 in the shops, so it is in play from the €100 to €180 budget up.

Power, control and arm are the finder's own 0 to 10 scores, from playing the rackets and the specialist shops' consensus. Prices are the usual street band and move with the season.

The closest alternatives

On the lists: control, a first carbon racket, intermediate players, round, Babolat padel rackets.

Before you buy

Hold it in the ready position for a minute: if the head wants to drop, the balance is too high for you. Most rackets ship with a handle a size too thin, and one overgrip fixes it. Not sure it is the one? The finder asks twelve questions and gives three.

Questions people ask

How much does the Babolat Counter Viper weigh?

About 365 g in the standard edition, with a medium balance.

Is the Babolat Counter Viper good for beginners?

It suits a player past the first season. A complete beginner does better with a round, soft racket from the beginners list.

Is the Babolat Counter Viper good for tennis elbow?

It is fine for most arms, 7 of 10 on the finder's scale, but for an elbow that already hurts a softer, lighter racket is the safer choice.

What shape is the Babolat Counter Viper?

Round: the sweet spot big and central and the weight near the hand: control first, and the kindest shape on the arm.

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