Babolat Counter Viper Padel Racket vs Bullpadel Vertex 04 Hybrid Padel Racket — Padel Rackets Comparison UK 2026

Different beasts despite both leaning advanced — and the value equation has turned upside down. The Counter Viper at £170 is Babolat's all-levels Viper variant, less aggressive than the Technical Viper, designed for players who want Viper DNA without the brutal diamond unforgiveness.

The Vertex 04 Hybrid at £129 is Bullpadel's flagship: 360-380g, hybrid shape, MultiEva core, carbon face, Medium-High balance. Power output and vibration dampening are both excellent, but you need solid technique to use it.

My advice: - Vertex 04 Hybrid if you're tournament-bound and your strikes are dependable — it's now £40-odd cheaper than the Counter Viper, which makes the flagship the bargain of the pair. - Counter Viper if you genuinely need the forgiveness on off-centre hits. Just be clear that the friendlier racket is now the more expensive one — you're paying roughly £40 extra for mercy.

For the average UK club player who plays once or twice a week, that's an awkward trade: the racket that suits your level costs more, and the one that punishes you costs less. Don't let the price lure you into the Vertex if your technique isn't ready — a cheap racket you can't use is still wasted money.