Babolat Technical Origin Plus Padel Racket

Babolat describes a racket designed for offensive players who want to maximise power, with a large sweet spot and a light build for manoeuvrability. The face is fibreglass, which Babolat calls Soft Fiber, and the frame is a hybrid of carbon and fibreglass. Inside is an EVA core, and the recommended grip is the Syntec Uptake.

Babolat classes the player as a technical striker. The page says offensive players, and adds that the wide sweet spot suits intermediates. A fibreglass diamond is an unusual combination: the shape pushes power towards the head, and the soft face keeps the price and the harshness down.

Babolat's table says even balance, while its own description speaks of a high balance. Padel Market says high, one listing gives 270 mm, and other sellers say neutral. A diamond is normally head-heavy, so a high balance would be unsurprising, but we cannot give you a measured figure.

If balance matters, the safe approach is to assume it is on the head-heavy side of even and test before buying. A fibreglass diamond at 355 g is forgiving enough that it is unlikely to hurt, but it may feel heavier in the hand than the weight suggests.

The Origin line has three shapes, all fibreglass-faced with an EVA core. The Counter Origin is round and the control choice, the Air Origin is a 345 g teardrop for all-round play, and the Technical is the diamond for power. Babolat's own sheets list 355 g for the round and diamond and 345 g for the teardrop.

If you are new to padel, the round racket is the more forgiving start. The Technical suits a player who already hits a decent smash and wants a racket that helps. Our best padel racket for beginners page lists friendlier rackets.

Players with a sore arm, and anyone who wants a proven, tested racket. Diamonds put the weight in the head, which loads the elbow, and we have no independent scores for this one. If you are still learning, the best padel racket for intermediate players page covers the next step, and the diamond padel racket page covers the heavier hitters.

Babolat recommends its Syntec Uptake grip. A fresh overgrip from the padel grips page helps a head-heavy racket stay in the hand, and frame tape from the racket protector range is worth fitting before the first match. A tube from the padel balls range completes the basics.

A bag with a shoe pocket keeps sand off the rest of the kit, such as the Babolat RH Pro, and the padel shoes page covers court shoes. The wider padel racket range is the place to compare, and our guide to choosing a padel racket explains shape and balance.