Padel Racket Review - Babolat x Lamborghini BL003 Blue 2026

What the reviewers say

Pete Mills (PDH Sports / The Bandeja) tested the BL003 at Babolat's Madrid HQ and was clearest about the net game: "At the net it was a dream. The racket comes through the air so easily that you can get set early and really go after your volleys." He credits the TPS surface for its character: contact is on the softer side, yet the ball still leaves with pace. In his view it suits players who like Babolat's Air range and spend a lot of time at the net.

Aladdin of Total Padel played it at the Babolat Padel Studio and described the same two sides: "The racket feels soft. But when you want to accelerate, when you want to hit your smash, the materials react differently and suddenly you have a very explosive, reactive racket." He also pointed to the centred hole pattern, which keeps mass near the frame and helps shots stay on line.

In the PDH Sports interview, Fred, Babolat's global padel expert, explained where the power comes from: arm speed rather than weight. A lighter racket lets you swing faster, and the Koridion foam channels that speed into the ball.

The Padel Gang reviewed the BL002 and BL003 together on UK indoor courts and named the trade-off: "If you hit off-centre, the racket is unforgiving. But find the sweet spot, and the ball exits with explosive velocity." They also found that the aerodynamic profile, drawn from Lamborghini's side vents, reduces drag through the swing compared with a standard Viper.

Actu-padel's French analysis reads the head-heavy balance as a finishing tool for the flat víbora and the driven volley, with the Multi-EVA core and TPS surface keeping the feel from turning too stiff. Their verdict is a racket that sets the tempo and belongs in attacking hands more than patient ones.

Our take: Lars's summary

The BL003 is built to accelerate, and volleys and drive smashes are where it earns its price. Point builders who work at the net get direction from the centred holes and the stiff Koridion frame without needing a full swing. Right-side players who reset from the back wall and rebuild the point should note the cost: the head-heavy balance gives less help on resets and defensive lobs than a balanced teardrop.

Defense is its weakest area. The head-heavy balance makes it slower to get the racket up on high lobs and tight wall balls. Resets are manageable, but a balanced or head-light racket helps more in passive exchanges. When you are stretched wide, the TPS layer softens mishits a little, which is not enough to make this a defensive choice.

In attack, the BL003 is direct. It swings easily, and the stiff Koridion frame turns that speed into ball speed. The sweet spot sits slightly above centre, so smashes and víboras struck in the upper third of the face come off with real pace. Contact stays soft thanks to the TPS layer, and the power response does not suffer for it. What it asks for is clean contact: the medium sweet spot punishes off-centre hits more than rounder, more forgiving shapes do.

Net play is where it is strongest. The racket is quick enough to set early even in fast exchanges, and the head-heavy balance puts pace on the volley without a big backswing. Pete Mills found he could drive the ball deep into the corners from mid-court without effort. On wider reaches the centred hole pattern reduces twisting, so the ball keeps its direction. Both the bandeja and the víbora benefit from how fast the head comes through.

How it compares

The Babolat Technical Viper is the natural reference. It uses the same 3K carbon but plays heavier and firmer, with no TPS layer. Players who want maximum power and accept the harder feel should start there. The BL003 is the better choice when comfort and swing speed matter as much as raw output, and the budget allows it.

The Adidas Metalbone 3.2 offers a similar mix of power and comfort. It is easier to find, much cheaper and has a more forgiving sweet spot. Advanced players who want an everyday racket without a collector's price get more value from the Metalbone, while the BL003 wins on swing speed and exclusivity.