The Babolat Counter Vertuo is Babolat’s round-shaped control racket — a ~350g frame with a medium-soft EVA core and wide sweet spot, built for defence-first players who win points with placement and consistency.
The ‘Counter’ shape is Babolat’s round, control-oriented profile, and in the soft-cored Vertuo line it’s all about comfort and forgiveness. The round head centres the sweet spot and the medium-soft EVA core keeps the strike gentle, making this one of the most forgiving palas in Babolat’s performance range.
This review covers its build, specs and on-court feel, and who it’s for. See also our best Babolat padel rackets guide, or browse all our padel gear reviews.
Babolat Counter Vertuo at a glance
Why it wins: A round control racket with a wide, central sweet spot and soft EVA core — comfortable, forgiving and made for counter-attacking players who lead with placement. (~$150)
- Round shape — wide, central sweet spot
- Medium-soft EVA core — comfortable
- ~350g, mid-low balance — agile
- Control and defence first
Main features of the Babolat Counter Vertuo
The Counter Vertuo is engineered for comfort-first control:
- Round shape with a wide, central sweet spot
- Medium-soft EVA core for comfort and forgiveness
- 100% carbon frame with fibreglass faces
- Mid-low balance (~265 mm) for agile handling
- 3D Spin surface for grip on the ball
Specification of the Babolat Counter Vertuo
Here are the full specs of the Babolat Counter Vertuo:
- Shape: Round
- Weight: ~350 g (±10)
- Balance: Mid-low (~265 mm)
- Core: Medium-soft EVA
- Faces: Fibreglass (carbon frame)
- Player level: Intermediate
- Type of play: Control / defence
- Pro: —
Our review of the Babolat Counter Vertuo
The Counter Vertuo is a control player’s racket. The round head puts the sweet spot dead-centre where most shots land, the medium-soft core keeps the strike comfortable, and the mid-low balance makes it quick and easy to handle at the net. It’s forgiving on off-centre contact and rewards steady, accurate play.
Power isn’t the priority — you won’t blast winners the way a diamond does — but for a counter-attacking baseline player who builds points and defends well, that’s the right trade. Comfort and consistency are its strongest cards.
Pros
- Wide, forgiving sweet spot
- Comfortable, soft strike
- Agile and quick at the net
- Great for defence and control
Cons
- Limited put-away power
- Not for aggressive attackers
- Round shape lifts smashes less
Who is the Babolat Counter Vertuo for?
The Counter Vertuo is for intermediate, control-minded players who build points from the back and value comfort and forgiveness. Attackers who want power should look at a diamond like the Technical Veron instead.
How the Babolat Counter Vertuo plays
On defence and control it’s excellent — the round head and soft core make blocks and resets reliable.
On smashes the round shape gives less lift than a teardrop or diamond; placement beats power here.
Babolat Counter Vertuo vs the alternatives
It’s the most control-focused of Babolat’s soft Vertuo frames — rounder and more defensive than the teardrop Air Vertuo. Against the Counter Origin it offers a similar round, forgiving profile with the Vertuo line’s soft-core comfort.
Is the Babolat Counter Vertuo worth it?
For a control or defensive player, the Counter Vertuo is good value — a comfortable, forgiving round racket from Babolat at a mid-range price. If you want power it’s the wrong tool; if you want consistency and comfort, it delivers.
Conclusion
The Babolat Counter Vertuo is a comfortable, forgiving round control racket that suits counter-attacking and defensive players. It trades power for consistency and a wide sweet spot, which is exactly what a placement-first player wants — just don’t expect it to finish points like a diamond.
A forgiving control racket for baseline players. See how it compares in our intermediate padel rackets guide and the full best padel rackets roundup.
Lucas Sánchez is the founder of SimplePadel. Born and raised in Spain, Lucas has been living in the US and UK for the last 20 years and currently calls Miami his home. While he’s never played professionally, the dream is still alive.
Lucas loves nothing more than playing (and talking) about padel, and he considers himself lucky to have a wife and family that share his love for the game.