Babolat Counter Origin 2025 Review: Babolat's Own First Racket

The Babolat Counter Origin is the racket Babolat builds for people stepping onto a padel court for the first time. Babolat's own words: "the control padel racquet you need to step onto the padel court for the first time and start discovering the sport." It is round, head-light, and built around what Babolat calls an oversize sweetspot — which is the single most useful thing a first racket can have. At €89.95 against Babolat's €99 RRP, here is what the specifications and the independent testers say.

Specifications

All figures below are Babolat's own, from babolat.com.

Review scores

Scores are Padel Racket Lab's published independent metrics for this racket. They are an independent review platform's ratings, not our own — and Padel Racket Lab scores each racket against its intended player level, so a 7.8 here means "7.8 as a beginner racket", not 7.8 against a tour frame.

Source: Padel Racket Lab.

What reviewers praise

Forgiveness. The oversize sweetspot is the headline. Padel Racket Lab's testers found shots struck slightly off-centre "still travel over the net with reasonable direction" — which is what keeps a rally alive for someone who hasn't yet learned where the middle of the face is.

Control. The round head and 260mm head-light balance give a steady, predictable ball exit at normal rally speeds. New players can think about placement rather than fighting the racket.

Comfort and handling. The fibreglass faces and soft EVA core produce a cushioned impact with little harsh vibration, and the head-light balance makes it quick to reposition — useful at the net and when a ball is coming straight at you.

What reviewers criticise

Power. The lowest score on the card at 6.4. Overheads and attacking shots rely on the player's effort rather than anything the racket adds. That is the correct trade for a first racket, but it is a trade.

Response at pace. As swing speed rises the racket's response flattens out. It is built for controlled rallies, not for hitting through people.

You will outgrow it. Every reviewer says the same thing, and it's true: once you start attacking, you'll want a frame with more in it. That is what the Counter Vertuo 2.6 is for.

Irish conditions

Soft, forgiving frames like this cope better with cold than stiff carbon rackets — the EVA core stays reasonably comfortable and the round head keeps things predictable even when your hands are cold and your timing is off. That makes it a sensible choice whether you're starting at an indoor club or on an outdoor community court. If you're brand new to the sport, pair it with our What is Padel? and Padel for Beginners guides, and find your nearest venue on the Ireland court finder.

It is also the racket in our Babolat Starter Kit — with balls, three Babolat overgrips and a frame protector, for €11.85 less than buying the four separately.

Head-to-head comparisons

vs Bullpadel Indiga W 2025

The other sub-€100 beginner racket on the site. The Indiga W is lighter, cheaper (€69.95) and designed specifically for women, with a Polyglass build; the Counter Origin brings a hybrid carbon-and-fibreglass frame and Babolat's Improver Heart, and scores higher on sweet spot. If you're a woman starting out and price matters most, the Indiga W is the pick. If you want the frame with a bit more in it, the Counter Origin. Read our Indiga W review.

vs Babolat Counter Vertuo 2.6 2026

The step up in Babolat's own range — still round, still control-first, but with a full carbon frame, Vibrabsorb damping and a 3D Spin face. It scores 8.3 against the Origin's 7.8, and it's the racket Babolat expects you to move to once you've stopped missing. Read our Counter Vertuo 2.6 review.

vs other beginner rackets

Against most sub-€100 first rackets, the Counter Origin's combination of an oversize sweetspot, head-light balance and a hybrid frame from a major brand is hard to beat. If you specifically want free power as a beginner, look at a teardrop like the Babolat Air Origin instead — but for learning clean technique, control-first is the smarter start. Browse the full Babolat range.

Who should buy this racket

Who should avoid it

Babolat Counter Origin 2025

Round. Head-light. Oversize sweetspot. Babolat's own first racket.

€89.95

The bottom line

The Babolat Counter Origin does exactly what Babolat designed it to do: make the first few months of padel easier. The oversize sweetspot forgives the mistakes you'll make while learning, the head-light balance keeps it quick, and the soft EVA core looks after your arm. It is deliberately not powerful, and you will move on as you improve — but for someone starting out in Ireland who wants a major-brand racket at €9 under the manufacturer's own price, it's the sensible place to begin.

Browse all Babolat rackets, see the best beginner rackets, or step up to the Counter Vertuo 2.6.