Babolat BL.002 Bronze Padel Racket

Padelshop says the Bronze is only a colour change from the main racket, and the specification lists we saw match on the face, frame, foam and technology. The BL.002 page covers the black version and the details where its sources disagree, so read it for the full picture. There is also an orange version, which the same shop calls technically identical, although its model number is inconsistent.

If you want the bronze for the look, that is a perfectly good reason, since this is a collector racket as much as a performance one.

One retailer lists 355 to 375 g with a middle balance for the Bronze, Padelshop lists 355 g and a 265 mm balance, and a black BL.002 listing at Tennis Nuts gives 360 g with a 10 g tolerance and 265 to 270 mm. Padelgids calls the black racket about 365 g and head heavy. The spread is not large, but the balance word is, and a head-heavy racket and a middle-balance one feel different in the hand.

We would trust the millimetre figures over the adjectives, which puts it near the middle of the range, and ask the seller if it matters. The Viper Juan Lebron 3.1 is the head-heavy attacker in the same brand if that is what you want.

Anyone who wants a tested, stock racket for the money. This is a limited edition aimed at advanced players, and we found no independent review. If you want a similar spec without the collector label, the advanced padel rackets page is the place to look.

Start with a fresh overgrip from the padel grips page and frame tape from the racket protector range, since a limited edition is worth protecting. Balls come from the padel balls page, shoes from the padel shoes page, and the full padel racket range is on one page. Our guide to choosing a padel racket explains weight and balance.