Our rating and review of the Babolat Viper Technical after testing the racket lands in the fact that the racket gives you a very good pressure in offensive strokes above the head. Thanks to the diamond shape and the top-heavy balance, you get an extra good pressure in the smash. This is a very good choice for the skilled and offensive padel player, but at the same time gives you a little less control.
Watch the video below as we test the Babolat Viper Technical and Micke gives his verdict on the racket. He also compares the Babolat Viper Technical with the Viper Air and the Viper 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.
“This is definitely the most offensive oriented racket, and you can really feel it, especially in those heavy overhead shots and smashes.” – Micke on Elitepadel
Content of this page
Babolat Viper Technical characteristics
Our first impression of the Viper Technical is that the shape is recognizable from the Viper Carbon, and the color combination is really nice with a matte finish.
It doesn’t exhibit any new or special features compared to other attack-oriented rackets, but builds on a popular concept that has worked for a long time – in other words, a classic racket. The diamond shape makes it a perfect option for the experienced player who wants maximum power in their strokes, those who have a smash as their ultimate weapon on the court – this is arguably Babolat’s most powerful option.
The grip is long, which is a big plus for those players who use a double-handed backhand.
The Viper Technical is a racket that offers a popular and well-proven concept, you know what you’re getting. The offensive player gets the most power possible in their strokes with a decent spin thanks to the grooved hitting surface.
It’s not the best option for the defensive player due to the high balance, but it works very well with game turns and high bounces, which should give it an edge given that it’s a racket with a clear offensive orientation.
Specifications
Information about the racket-
Brand: Babolat
-
Shape: Diamond
-
Balance: Top-heavy - 270 mm
-
Game type: Offensive
-
Player performance level: Advanced
-
Weight: 365 g (+/- 10)
Good spin and power
The Viper Technical is a racket that offers a popular and well-proven concept, you know what you are getting. The offensive player gets the most power possible in their strokes with a decent spin thanks to the grooved hitting surface.
It’s not the best option for the defensive player due to the high balance, but it works very well at game turns and high bounces which should give it a plus in the edge given that it’s a racket with a clear offensive orientation.
Material
When it comes to padel rackets, there are generally two types of fillings: EVA and FOAM. In most cases, FOAM rackets provide a softer feel and absorb vibrations more effectively, which you should note if you are injury-prone. However, the most common filling is EVA because it comes in different densities and can therefore be used in many different types of rackets.
The core of the Viper Technical is made of X-Eva and consists of three different layers that together provide a perfect effect. The two outer layers are stiffer to give a really good response on hard shots, while the inner layer is softer to increase comfort and margin of error on softer shots.
It has a hitting surface that is made of 12k carbon fiber, this means that the Viper Technical falls between the Viper Air and Viper Counter models in firmness. Furthermore, the hitting surface consists of a grooved texture and a finish that resembles sandpaper, which Babolat calls 3D Spin+, all to maximize both grip and spin.
A new Vibrasorb System is integrated into the racket’s neck just above the grip, an advanced vibration dampening system that helps prevent the risk of injuries such as tennis elbow while increasing comfort. The Viper Technical, like previous models, is designed with HPS Technology. The Hole Pattern System should provide better grip and more power in the strokes because the drilled holes in the racket are adapted to the diamond shape of the racket.
Balance
An important aspect when choosing a racket is the balance, i.e. how the weight is distributed between the grip and the top of the racket. The Viper Technical is a racket with a high balance or center of gravity. This makes it the perfect option for those who have an offensive and aggressive style of play with a lot of smashes and heavy overhead play. The higher the balance, the greater the leverage, resulting in more power in your strokes.
Racket shape
A Viper Technical racket is diamond-shaped, which means a higher center of gravity and a smaller sweetspot. This is the shape you should go for if you have an offensive style of play and like to hit the net. They don’t offer the same control as other types of racket shapes, but in exchange offer more speed in smashes, volleys, and bandejas.
This shape is recommended for experienced players as it offers more power and more impact on the ball, but less margin for error and control. It requires a good technique to achieve the desired effect so it is not for the beginner.
Hard or soft?
Perhaps the most important factor when choosing a padel racket is how hard it is, but how do you know if a racket is soft or hard? It depends on the filling used in the core and the material of the hitting surface. Here you should consider that a softer racket will provide more speed on softer strokes while absorbing vibrations better and reducing the risk of injury. This makes soft rackets a popular option for beginners.
A harder racket provides more power in the strokes while improving control. However, it requires clean hits to deliver the desired result and is, therefore, best suited to the experienced player. Experienced players who hit hard will get more power in their strokes from a hard racket, but it also places higher demands on technique. When hitting soft shots, hard rackets do not generate the same speed on the ball because there is less elasticity.
In the case of the Viper Technical, the core is made of X-EVA in three layers and the hitting surface is made of 12k carbon fiber, which means that this racket is in the middle between the model variants Viper Air and Viper Counter in firmness.
PLAYER LEVEL AND TYPE
What level of player is the Babolat Viper Technical suitable for?
It’s all about explosiveness and power. As it has a small sweetspot and high balance, it requires a really good technique to get the most out of this type of racket, which undeniably makes it only recommended for very skilled exercisers, advanced level players, and competitive players.
Is the racket best suited for attacking or defensive play?
This is definitely a racket for the offensive style of play. In volleying situations and smashing positions, it performs at its best thanks to the new 12k carbon-fiber core and hitting surface that provides good rebound on hard shots – a great option if you like to decide points and hit balls out of the cage.
The Viper Technical has a fairly small sweetspot, when you hit it the feel of the ball is great and the sound it emits is really nice, but combined with the high balance it presents a challenge when playing defensively. However, it gets full marks for capitalizing on opportunities and high bounces, and given the racket’s focus, it deserves a good rating.
Advantages of the Babolat Viper Technical
We feel that the Viper Technical can provide a very positive playing experience in the cage, this model provides really good offensive power to the technically proficient player. The ball feel is very good, the grip is comfortable and the ball spins properly.
The weight is relatively light, so it makes it easy to move around the court. The power and impact this racket can bring elevate an already good game to an even higher level, the feeling when you find the racket’s sweetspot is really lovely and a game-changer.
Plus / Minus
Summary of our review-
Framtaget för kraft och offensiv
-
Extra good heavy overhead strikes
-
Difficult to play defensively in corners
-
Small sweet spot and relatively low control
Disadvantages
The disadvantages we find with this racket are that the defensive game can suffer somewhat due to the high center of gravity and the smaller sweetspot, the game requires greater precision and more technique. For those who do not have much experience in the cage, this is a racket that looks cool on the court but keep in mind that if our characteristics as players (style of play, skill) do not match the racket we have chosen, it will not improve our level. Unfortunately, It also doesn’t offer any surprises for those looking for a more innovative racket.
Brief information about the Babolat brand
Babolat is perhaps the world’s oldest racket sports-focused brand, founded back in 1875 in France and headquartered in the city of Lyon. It started manufacturing rackets produced with strings of natural sinew for both badminton and tennis almost 150 years ago and is now the world leader in all types of racket sports equipment such as shoes, balls, clothing, and caps.
When the sport of padel became popular in Spanish-speaking countries around the world more than 20 years ago, Babolat also began to make its mark in this new and exciting market. The brand has long been associated in padel sports with security, quality, and status. Babolat is the official sponsor of the World Padel Tour (WPT) and is used by the recent Spanish World Champion Juan “El Lobo” Lebrón, among others.
| 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. | |||||
Review for Babolat Viper Technical
Our verdict on the Babolat Viper Technical after testing the racket is that you get good pressure in the smash. The hard surface combined with a top-heavy racket gives you many advantages in the offensive overhead strokes to dominate the court. But at the same time, it’s a bit difficult to play defensively.
Summary: This racket is suitable for offensive and technically skilled players.
- The racket has received a 5 out of 5 rating from a product review on Rocketpadel.com
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.
