Babolat Air Origin 2026 Padel Racket

The Babolat Air Origin is the lighter of Babolat's two entry rackets: a teardrop at 345g (335–355g) with an even 265mm balance, a fibreglass face, a hybrid carbon and fibreglass frame and an EVA core. Babolat aim it at players taking their first steps or moving up a level, including those who come from other racket sports, and promise tolerance, manoeuvrability and versatility.

How it plays. Padelful rates it 8.2/10 (September 2026): rebound 9, manoeuvrability 8.8, sweet spot 8.7, control 7.7 and power 7. Its write-up praises forgiving blocks off centre, easy depth from the baseline and quick hands at the net, and lists limited power on flat smashes, a smooth face with little bite and soft volleys that lack penetration. padel.how scores it 66/100 (September 2026). That total adds up ten categories, including spin and power ceiling, so entry rackets score low on it: comfort and manoeuvrability are 8.5 and sweet spot 8, while stability is 5 and spin and power ceiling 4.5.

The technology. Oversize Sweetspot enlarges the hitting area. The Improver Heart is a bridge design that Babolat say helps you sense the racket's position and spreads its weight. The Hybrid Frame combines carbon's stiffness and low weight with fibreglass flex. The face is smooth, with no texture technology, so there is less spin than on Babolat's 3D Spin rackets, and nothing to wear off.

Where it sits. The round Counter Origin is the other half of the pair, and the more forgiving one for players who mostly defend. The next step up is the Air Veron 2.6, with a carbon frame, a Carbon Flex face, 3D Spin and vibration damping. From NOX, the NextGen Pro Hybrid 12K is the step up to a full carbon face, if you swing fast enough to make your own power. Other first rackets: the adidas Match Light and the Dunlop FX Start. Our beginner racket guide compares them all.

Is this the racket for you?

• Yes if you are in your first year or two of padel, or you come from tennis or squash, and you want a light racket that is quick at the net and forgiving when you miss the centre.
• No if you mostly defend from the back glass (the Counter Origin), or if you already hit hard and want spin and more power (the NextGen Pro Hybrid 12K or the Technical Origin+).

Specifications from Babolat's product pages (babolat.com, US and UK), checked 11 October 2026: teardrop, 345g ±10g, balance 265mm, 38mm, fibreglass face, hybrid frame, EVA core. Ratings are quoted from the sites named, with their dates where the site gives one. Those sites score from specifications, published reviews and their own judgement rather than lab measurements, and we have not court-tested this frame ourselves. Manufacturer weights vary by around ±10g.