We think the Babolat Veron Counter is great for counter-attacking play, allowing you to respond to your opponent’s shots with speed both in front of the net and behind the baseline. You also get an extra long grip, which helps those who want to be able to play a two-handed backhand.
We’ve tested the Babolat Veron Counter and you can watch as we review the racquet in the video below. Don’t miss out on following us on YouTube.
We have tested the racket!
Micke at Elitepadel has tested the racket. In this video you can see us test play and review the racket.
Table of contents
Babolat Veron Counter characteristics
When you first see the Veron Counter, you can’t help but notice its distinctive shape, which could be described as angular in shape. It has a matte finish that we like and a nice color scheme, but it feels a bit wasteful that the design is exactly the same as the previously released Viper Counter.
According to manufacturer Babolat, the Veron Counter is designed to turn you, the player, into a living wall, capable of returning all of your opponent’s shots while harnessing their power to more easily win the points. A very stable racket that works well in all facets of the game, whether you prefer to hit from the back of the court or to be in front of the net, you will enjoy the playing experience it provides.
Babolat has recently dedicated itself to producing rackets with a particular type of player in mind, which we think is a great move that is very timely. This is meant to be a perfect fit for the counter-punching player who is looking for good speed on the stroke, but without having to compromise control. You also don’t have to put in as much effort yourself to get the desired power.
The high balance makes it a racket for those who like a lot of overhead play, but if the smash is your weapon of choice, you might find that it lacks a little extra punch in this particular stroke. It has a pretty good-sized sweetspot that sits centrally in the hitting area. Players who like to go for a double-handed backhand will like the extra-long grip.
Specifications
Information about the racket-
Brand: Babolat
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Shape: Round
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Balance: High - 270 mm
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Game type: Counter
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Player performance level: Intermediate-Advanced
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Weight: 365 g (+/-10)
Return the balls like a champ
The Babolat Veron Counter, according to manufacturer Babolat, is designed to turn you, the player, into a living wall, capable of returning all of your opponent’s shots while harnessing their power to help you win points. A very stable racket that works well in all phases of the game, whether you prefer to hit back from the back of the court or to be in front of the net, you will enjoy the playing experience it provides.
Babolat has recently dedicated itself to producing rackets with a particular type of player in mind, which we think is a great move that is very timely. This is meant to be a perfect fit for the counter player who is looking for good speed on the stroke, but without having to compromise control. You also don’t have to take in as much yourself to get the desired power.
Extra long grip
Players who like to use a double-fisted backhand will like the extra long grip.
Good for those who like the overhead game
The high balance makes it a racket for those who like a lot of overhead play, but if the smash is your weapon of choice, you might find this particular stroke lacking a little extra punch. It has a pretty good-sized sweetspot that sits centrally in the hitting area.
Material
The Veron Counter’s 38mm core is made from Babolat’s Black EVA technology and a hitting surface made from the brand new Carbon Flex technology, just like the other models in the Veron range. What they’ve achieved with Carbon Flex is a great combo of hard and soft.
The hitting surface of a padel racket is usually made of either carbon fiber or fiberglass, where carbon fiber is a stiff material that provides good power in the strokes, while fiberglass is softer and therefore provides comfort and control. What has been achieved here is to carefully weave the two materials together to get the best of both worlds – dynamic and controlled speed. In addition, the hitting surface is covered by a grooved 3D layer, which Babolat calls 3D Spin, which gives you a really good grip and awesome spin on the ball.
The Vibrasorb System, a new and advanced vibration dampening system, is integrated into the racket’s neck just above the handle. This provides much better comfort in the strokes by reducing the vibrations in an impressive way, but above all, it helps to prevent the risk of injuries to the wrists and elbows.
Another technical finesse the Veron Counter has is HPS-Technology. HPS stands for Hole Pattern System and means that the size and placement of the drilled holes are adapted to the shape and sweetspot of the racket. The result is a much better grip and more power in the strokes, providing an ultimate ball feel in every hit.
Vibrasorb system
Vibrasorb System, ett nytt och avancerat vibrationsdämpande system, är integrerat i rackets hals precis ovanför handtaget. Detta ger en betydligt bättre komfort i slagen genom att vibrationerna reduceras på ett imponerande sätt, men framförallt hjälper det till att förebygga skaderisken på handleder och armbågar.
En annan teknisk finess Veron Counter har är HPS-Technology. HPS står för Hole Pattern-System, och betyder att man anpassar de borrade hålens storlek och placering efter rackets form och sweetspot. Resultatet är ett mycket bättre grepp och mer effekt i slagen, en ultimat bollkänsla i varje träff.
Balance
The balance is high, we’ve measured it at 270mm, making it a racket for those who like a lot of play in the air, the Veron Counter is great for overhead shots and volley duels. If you prefer to determine points with powerful smashes, this probably won’t be your dream racket, it will lack a little extra pressure in these particular shots as the hitting surface is more flexible and therefore absorbs a small amount of the force.
Racket shape
This is a round racket with a high balance which is a bit unusual as most round rackets have a low center of gravity and therefore become extremely easy to handle which makes it the shape recommended for beginners looking to develop their game. The high balance of the Veron Counter places a little more demand on technique and is particularly well suited for a lot of play in the air. Round rackets have a larger sweetspot (forgiving part of the hitting surface) which increases the margin of error when you don’t get a clean hit in.
Hard or soft?
The Veron Counter is a medium-hard racket. Babolat’s aim here is to give as many players as possible the opportunity to play with carbon fiber. In the past, this has been a difficult challenge for those who haven’t yet perfected their technique, but here the core is Black EVA foam and the hitting surface is a mix of carbon fiber and fiberglass which gives a good elasticity and a combination of stiff and soft which we think is a good move. Today’s modern padel demands speed and therefore rackets that generate speed, and it is important that every player can find a racket that is suited to their level and style of play.
Brief information about the Babolat brand
Babolat started manufacturing padel rackets about 20 years ago, at the same time as the sport started to become popular around the world, especially in the Spanish-speaking countries that, along with Brazil, have long dominated the sport. Today, they work very closely with players and clubs to help the sport develop and improve. Babolat is an official sponsor of the World Padel Tour (WPT), and recent Spanish world champion Juan “El Lobo” Lebrón has been a loyal user since 2016.
Babolat is the world’s oldest brand focused on racket sports, it was founded back in 1875 in the French city of Lyon by Pierre Babolat. Their original business idea almost 150 years ago was to produce strings of natural sinew for the newly invented sport of tennis and then also for badminton. They quickly became a world leader in the market and most of the top players in racket sports still use their strings today, but nowadays Babolat also has a highly developed product range that makes them an obvious favorite for all kinds of sports equipment such as shoes, balls, clothing, and caps.
| Babolat rackets | Shape | Balance | Game type | Player level | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Babolat Viper Technical | Diamond | Top Heavy | Offensive | Advanced | 365 g (+/- 10) |
| Babolat Viper Air | Hybrid | Neutral | Offensive | Advanced | 355 g (+/- 10) |
| Babolat Viper Counter | Round | Top Heavy | Offensive | Advanced | 365 g (+/- 10) |
| Babolat Veron Technical | Diamond | Top Heavy | Offensive | Intermediate - Advanced | 365 g (+/- 10) |
| Babolat Veron Air | Hybrid | Neutral | Offensive | Intermediate - Advanced | 355 g (+/-10) |
| Babolat Veron Counter | Round | Top Heavy | Counter | Intermediate - Advanced | 365 g (+/- 10) |
| Babolat Defiance | Round | Neutral | Defensive | Beginner - Intermediate | 350 g (+/-10) |
| Babolat Viper | Diamond | Top Heavy | Offensive | Beginner - Intermediate | 360 g (+/-10) |
| Babolat Revenge Carbon | Hybrid/Drop Shape | Neutral | Mixed | Intermediate - Advanced | 365 g (+/-10) |
| Babolat Revenge W | Drop Shape | Neutral | Mixed | Intermediate - Advanced | 350 g (+/-10) |
| Babolat Contact | Round | Neutral | Mixed | Beginner - Intermediate | 345 g (+/- 10) |
| Babolat Vertuo Counter | Round | Neutral | Control | Beginner - Intermediate | 350 g (+/-10) |
| Babolat Vertuo Air | Hybrid/Drop Shape | Neutral | Allround | Beginner - Intermediate | 345 g (+/- 10) |
| Babolat Vertuo Technical | Diamond | Top Heavy | Offensive | Intermediate | 355 g (+/-10) |
| Click here to read about all Babolat padel rackets. | |||||
Babolat is operated in Sweden by:
Racketdoktorn AB
Ryssvägen 2
131 36 Nacka
E-mail: kundservice@racketdoktorn.se
Organisationsnummer: 556948-6144
PLAYER LEVEL AND TYPE
What level of player is the Babolat Veron Counter suitable for?
This is a racket that is well suited to skilled intermediate players and players at a more advanced level. Particularly round rackets are usually recommended to beginners as they tend to be easy to handle and forgiving with a larger sweetspot, but due to the high balance, you should have a decent technique at the base to get the desired result from the Veron Counter.
Is the racket best suited for attacking or defensive play?
The Veron Counter is designed for the counter-attacking player who is looking for good speed but without losing control. Being able to use the speed of the opponent’s balls for poisonous returns is the idea behind this racket – a bigger sweetspot helps a lot in pressured situations when you can easily hit off-center. It delivers a nice result at the net, generating good weight in the volley game. Bandejas and smashes are not shots that make the racket shine, but it still gets a pass.
Advantages of the Babolat Veron Counter
The Veron series is not as hard and difficult to play as the Viper series can be perceived. The Veron gives the broader audience the opportunity to play with more power, control, and comfort in their strokes without having achieved a perfect technique for that matter. In other words, it’s a slightly cheaper and easier-to-play version compared to its big brother the Viper Counter. The long grip is appreciated by anyone who occasionally resorts to a double-handed backhand.
A very stable racket that delivers a good combination of power and control thanks to the Control Flex hitting surface, without the need for a lot of grip.
Plus / Minus
Summary of our review-
Good for counterattacking
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Use your opponent's power
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Top-heavy balance delivers powerful blows
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A little difficult in defence
Disadvantages
It lacks that little bit of extra pressure in the smash, you sacrifice some power for better control and comfort. This racket has the same design as the Viper Counter. Why have they released two consecutive series that look exactly the same?
Our rating and review of Babolat Veron Counter after testing the racket
Our review for the Babolat Veron Counter is very good, especially for those who like to play a lot of counter games. It lacks some power in the smash but makes up for it with extra sweetspot and an easier counter game.
Below we collect ratings, reviews and opinions from other paddle sites:
Users of the racket have rated the racket 5,0 out of 5,0 on Tengo.se
Here you can buy the Babolat Veron Counter
We have tested the racket!
Micke at Elitepadel has tested the racket. In this video you can see us test play and review the racket.
