Babolat Counter Vertuo 2.6 (2026)

Modest, with a low ceiling. The soft face lifts slow balls and sends lobs and bandejas deep off a short swing, but flat smashes and viboras lack bite, so players who want to end points have to supply the pace themselves.

Good for placing the ball, less so for precision at speed. Blocks against fast balls, defensive lobs and resets off the glass come out deep with little swing. Control fades when the swing gets long or the rally speeds up, and spin is adequate rather than a selling point.

Quick and easy to bring into position. The even balance and 340 to 360 g weight keep it fast on reaction volleys and easy to set early for overheads, with no sluggish head to drag around.

Large and forgiving, the best thing about it. The round head puts the sweet spot in the middle of the face, and mild off-centre hits keep their depth. Hits near the frame twist the face and lose direction, and stability under heavy pace is only moderate.

Soft and muted at impact, and easy on the arm. The fiberglass face over a Black EVA core, with vibration damping, filters out harsh feedback, so long sessions stay comfortable. The flip side is a less lively, less rigid response when the swing is fast.