Babolat Counter Veron Padel Racket

On paper the two are close: both are round, both weigh 365 g on Babolat's sheet, both are head heavy and both carry a counter-striker label. The difference is in the materials. The Counter Viper 2.6 has a 3K carbon face over an X-EVA core and feels hard. The Counter Veron swaps in a Carbon Flex face and Black EVA and feels medium.

Padelful's scores bear that out, though they compare the 2025 Veron with the 2026 Viper, so read them as a guide rather than a lab test. The Viper scores higher for control (10 against 9.0) and power (8.1 against 7.4). The Veron scores higher for rebound (8.3 against 7.4), manoeuvrability and, by a hair, sweet spot. Which would you rather have in your hand at 9-all in a third set? Most club players pick the softer one.

Comfort is the first thing people mention. The medium feel and the Vibrabsorb system in the core and handle take the sting out of off-centre hits, so a long session leaves your arm in a better state than a hard 3K racket would. The big sweet spot keeps the ball landing where you aimed it, even when your footwork has packed up.

Power is the honest weakness. A 7.4 for power means smashes and bandejas will not carry on their own, and you will find yourself generating pace with the swing rather than the frame. That suits a patient game and counter-attacking; it will frustrate anyone who wants the racket to finish for them.

One naming wrinkle. Babolat lists the 2.6 as round. Some retailers have called the Counter Veron a hybrid, which is a loose way of describing the slightly higher weight in the head. We follow the maker's wording and would still call it a round racket.

The 2.5 was sold through 2025 and the 2.6 through 2026. Babolat's published specification for the 2.6 and Padelful's figures for the 2025 racket describe the same recipe: round head, 365 g, Black EVA, Carbon Flex. We could not find an independent review of the 2.6 itself, so we do not claim a measured difference between the two.

If you can find a 2025 racket at a better price, you are unlikely to lose much. If you want the current colours and Babolat's current sheet, buy the 2.6.

The Veron family is Babolat's middle tier, softer and cheaper than the Viper but more capable than the Vertuo line (the round Counter Vertuo 2.6 is the softer, more forgiving alternative). All three current models share the Black EVA core and Carbon Flex face; the choice is the shape. For a lighter, teardrop option look at the Air Veron 2.6, and for the attacking diamond the Technical Veron 3.0.

Attackers. If you play the left side and win points with the smash, the diamond padel rackets page is a better place to shop. And if you are brand new to the game, Babolat's Counter Origin or a lighter, softer racket from the best padel racket for beginners list is kinder to the arm than a head-heavy 365 g frame.

Babolat recommends its Syntec Evo grip. A tacky overgrip such as the Babolat VS overgrip is the usual top-up, and the padel grips page explains when to replace instead. Protect the frame with tape from the racket protector range, because a round frame still gets scuffed against the glass.

A tube of Babolat Court balls keeps the bounce lively, which matters when the racket supplies little pace; the padel balls page explains how quickly pressure fades. The Babolat RH Pro bag will hold it, the padel bags page has more, and our padel shoes page covers courts with sand-filled turf.

To compare with other brands, the full padel racket range is on one page, the best padel racket for intermediate players list sets it among its rivals, and our guide to choosing a padel racket explains shape and balance from the start.