The Babolat Alkes is one of the lightest rackets Babolat has ever made: a round racket at 335 g (plus or minus 10 g) and only 36 mm thick, with a fiberglass surface, a carbon frame and an EVA core. Babolat calls it a defensive, unisex racket built around lightness, comfort and effortless power, and it costs $99, the same as at Babolat’s own US store.
The Babolat USA Energy is the same racket in a US-flag design with a Carbon Flex surface, at about $105. This review covers both: the build, the specs, how they should play, how they differ and who should buy one.
See also our best Babolat padel rackets guide, or browse all our padel gear reviews.
Babolat Alkes at a glance
Why it wins: One of the lightest rackets Babolat has made: round, 335 g, 36 mm thick, with a fiberglass face and MicroPerf micro-perforations, at $99. (~$99)
- Round shape with a balance of 270 mm
- Fiberglass surface, carbon frame and EVA core
- 335 g (+/- 10 g) and only 36 mm thick
- Same price at Babolat’s own US store
Main features of the Babolat Alkes
The Alkes is built to be as light and as easy to swing as a Babolat racket gets:
- Round shape with a balance of 270 mm and a generous sweet spot
- MicroPerf technology, micro-perforations in the surface that make the racket lighter and enlarge the sweet spot
- Fiberglass surface with soft, flexible fibers that Babolat says give effortless power with comfort and forgiveness
- 36 mm thickness, thinner than the usual 38 mm, which is part of how the weight is kept down
- Vibrasorb System, powered by SMAC, a new elastomer in the graphite of the core that absorbs vibration
- Holes Pattern System, which Babolat says optimizes power transmission and precision on returns
Specification of the Babolat Alkes
Here are the full specs of the Babolat Alkes:
- Shape: Round
- Weight: 335 g (+/- 10 g)
- Balance: 270 mm
- Beam thickness: 36 mm
- Frame: Carbon
- Surface: Fiberglass
- Core: EVA
- Recommended grip: Xcel Gel
- Player typology: Defensive
- Player level: Intermediate
- Type of play: Control and comfort
Our review of the Babolat Alkes
The Alkes is about weight. At 335 g it is at least 20 g lighter than the typical 355–375 g racket, and a 36 mm thickness is where some of that saving comes from. A round head and fiberglass faces are the usual recipe for comfort and forgiveness, and Babolat describes the racket as giving the perfect balance between comfort, effortless power and freedom of movement.
The MicroPerf micro-perforations are the distinctive feature. They take weight out of the surface and, according to Babolat, enlarge the sweet spot, while the Vibrasorb System adds vibration damping. The frame is carbon and the core is EVA, so the racket should feel stable for its weight rather than flimsy.
We have not played it ourselves, so this is an assessment of Babolat’s spec sheet and descriptions. On paper it is a light, defensive racket for an intermediate player, or a beginner who wants something more capable than the cheapest options.
Pros
- Very light at 335 g
- Round shape with a generous sweet spot
- MicroPerf and Vibrasorb for lightness and comfort
- US price matches Babolat’s own store
Cons
- Low power, because of the light weight and soft faces
- Less feedback than a carbon face
- Thinner 36 mm profile feels different
- Not built for attackers
Who is the Babolat Alkes for?
The Alkes suits intermediate players who defend, build points and want a very light racket, and players with arm or shoulder trouble who find 365 g rackets tiring. It also suits beginners who want a more capable light racket from a major brand.
Who the Babolat Alkes is not for
Skip it if you win points with smashes, because a 335 g round racket gives little head weight, and the Technical Origin+ or the Technical Viper Soft are better for attack. Advanced control players may want the Counter Viper.
What to know before you buy the Babolat Alkes
Alkes or USA Energy?
The Alkes has a fiberglass surface and costs $99. The Babolat USA Energy has a Carbon Flex surface, a weave of carbon and fiberglass that Babolat says adds dynamic power, and a US-flag design, and costs about $105 after Babolat’s own 30% reduction from $150. Weight, thickness and balance are the same.
Weight and balance
Babolat lists 335 g (plus or minus 10 g), a 36 mm thickness and a balance of 270 mm. A 270 mm balance on a light racket is still slightly head-biased, which helps the racket feel solid despite the low weight.
Special editions
Babolat describes the Alkes as a special-edition cosmetic update of a racket designed for everyone, and the USA Energy as an exclusive edition for players making their competitive debut. The specs suggest they are the same underlying racket with different surfaces and graphics.
How the Babolat Alkes plays
Defense and lobs: A round head, a light weight and a soft face make deep defense and lobs easy, which is how Babolat classes the racket.
Volleys and net play: The low weight helps reaction speed at the net, and the Vibrasorb System takes some of the sting out of hard balls.
Smashes: Limited power, so the kick smash and the bandeja suit it better than a flat smash.
Comfort: The light weight, the flexible fibers and the damping are the main comfort features.
Babolat Alkes vs the alternatives
Inside Babolat, the Counter Origin and the Air Origin are the other entry rackets, the Technical Origin+ is the diamond and the Counter Viper is the premium round racket. Outside Babolat, the Wilson Blade LS V4 and the Bullpadel Ionic Light are light rackets. Our best rackets for intermediate players guide compares the wider field.
Is the Babolat Alkes worth it?
At $99, the same as Babolat’s own US store, the Alkes is good value for a light, comfortable round racket, and at $105 the USA Energy is about the same. They are poor value for an attacker, who will get more from a diamond.
Conclusion
The Babolat Alkes is a very light, round, comfortable racket with a fiberglass surface and MicroPerf technology. Its strengths are weight, comfort and price. Its weaknesses are low power and limited feedback.
Choose it if you want a light, defensive racket. If you want to attack, see the Technical Origin+, and browse our best padel rackets roundup for every level.
Frequently asked questions about the Babolat Alkes
How heavy is the Babolat Alkes?
Babolat lists 335 g (plus or minus 10 g) with a 36 mm thickness and a balance of 270 mm. It is one of the lightest rackets the brand has developed.
What is the difference between the Babolat Alkes and the Babolat USA Energy?
The Alkes has a fiberglass surface and the Babolat USA Energy has a Carbon Flex surface and a US-flag design. Both are round, 335 g and 36 mm thick with a balance of 270 mm.
Is the Babolat Alkes a good racket for beginners?
It can be, because it is light, round and forgiving. Beginners who want the cheapest option can look at our beginner racket guide, but the Alkes is a more capable light racket.
What is MicroPerf technology?
MicroPerf is a Babolat design with micro-perforations across the surface of the racket. Babolat says it makes the racket lighter and gives a larger sweet spot.
Is the Babolat Alkes good for arm pain?
It is a good candidate. It is light, round and soft, with a Vibrasorb System for vibration damping. Our tennis elbow racket guide lists rackets chosen for comfort first.
Is the Babolat Alkes a power racket?
No. Babolat classes it as defensive, and a 335 g round racket with soft fibers gives limited power. The racket is built for control, comfort and freedom of movement.
Why is the Babolat Alkes only 36 mm thick?
A thinner profile removes weight, and Babolat uses it together with MicroPerf to make the racket one of its lightest. Most rackets are 38 mm.
Is the Babolat Alkes worth $99?
Yes for a light, comfortable round racket, because the price matches Babolat’s own US store. It is poor value for an attacker.
Isabella Torres is originally from Madrid, Spain, and has been playing Padel as a semi-professional for the past five years. After completing her education as a journalist, she discovered her true passion in life was writing about Padel.
She loves staying up late watching intense rallies on YouTube, and is excited to share her knowledge about the sport with SimplePadel’s readers.