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Counter Viper for committed attackers; PR 990 for anyone still finding their game and unwilling to gamble 170 pounds.
These two land at completely different points on the padel ladder, so the choice is more about ambition than feature-matching. The Counter Viper at 170 pounds is a Babolat performance frame aimed squarely at players who already know which side they prefer and want a punchier response on volleys. The Kuikma PR 990 sits at 50 pounds with a documented 360-370g weight, hybrid shape, soft EVA core and 38mm thickness, all of which make it a sensible first-or-second racket rather than a long-term project. Honestly, if you are still working out positioning at the net or returning lobs deep, the Babolat will punish miscued contact in a way the Kuikma's softer fibreglass face simply will not. Buy the Counter Viper if you are an attacking intermediate-plus who plays at least weekly and wants a frame to grow into for two seasons. Otherwise go for the Kuikma PR 990, save 120 pounds, and put it towards balls and court hire.
Hand-written editorial — not auto-generated. By Gary, RacketRise.
| Product | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Padel Rackets | Padel Rackets |
| Sport | Padel | Padel |
| Skill Level | Advanced | Beginner |
| Weight | 365-380g | 360-370g |
| Shape | Diamond | Hybrid |
| Balance | High | Medium |
| Core | Hard EVA | Soft EVA |
| Surface | Carbon fibre | Fibreglass |
| Thickness | 38mm | 38mm |
| Pros |
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| Cons |
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The main differences are: Weight: Babolat Counter has 365-380g vs 360-370g. Shape: Babolat Counter has Diamond vs Hybrid. Balance: Babolat Counter has High vs Medium. Overall, the Babolat Counter Viper Padel Racket is best for advanced players while the Decathlon Kuikma PR 990 Padel Racket suits beginners.
The Decathlon Kuikma PR 990 Padel Racket is the better choice for beginners thanks to its forgiving design and accessible price point. The Babolat Counter Viper Padel Racket is aimed at advanced players and may be more demanding to use effectively.
The Babolat Counter Viper Padel Racket (£170) costs more than the Decathlon Kuikma PR 990 Padel Racket (£50). Whether the premium is worth it depends on your skill level — if you are advanced players, the extra investment in the Babolat Counter Viper Padel Racket can pay off.