{"product_id":"babolat-viper-soft-juan-lebron-3-0-2026-padel-racket","title":"Babolat Viper Soft Juan Lebrón 3.0 2026 Padel Racket","description":"\u003cp\u003eJuan Lebrón's signature frame with the edge taken off — the same diamond mould as the Technical Viper, built with a softer face so it punishes you slightly less when the contact isn't perfect.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe name oversells it, and we'd rather say so.\u003c\/strong\u003e \"Soft\" here is relative to the standard Viper, not to the market. Independent testing rates its comfort 7\/10 — near average — and describes it as clearly calmer than the standard Viper but still much firmer than a genuinely comfort-oriented hybrid. If you are shopping for a soft racket because your elbow is complaining, this is not it. Look at the NOX ML10 Ventus Control instead.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow it actually plays.\u003c\/strong\u003e The one independent test we could find scores it 73\/100, ranking it 26th of 34 advanced diamond frames reviewed in 2026 — mid-pack among serious attacking rackets rather than a standout. The numbers behind that are lopsided in a way worth understanding: power ceiling 9\/10, power on demand 8\/10, control 7\/10. It hits enormously hard and asks you to supply the precision yourself.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe sweet spot is medium and sits above centre, which is what a diamond does. The reviewer's finding is that it's clearly larger and less punitive than the standard Viper — the real reason to choose this one — but still smaller than any round or hybrid control frame. Off-centre stability is rated average, and lateral mis-hits stay firm.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWho it's for.\u003c\/strong\u003e Strong high-intermediate and advanced attackers who already prepare early. The 270mm head-heavy balance is the trade: mass out at the tip is where the power comes from, and it's also what slows your preparation when you're pushed onto the back glass. It is explicitly not a racket for beginners or for control-first defenders.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe construction.\u003c\/strong\u003e The face is Soft Carbon — Babolat's softer carbon lay-up, which is the single change that separates this from the Technical Viper. The core is Black EVA at medium hardness. Dynamic Stability System reinforces the frame against twisting on off-centre contact, and 3D Spin+ is a raised surface texture, so the bite on the ball comes from the surface itself rather than a sprayed coating that wears smooth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eShape\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiamond\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWeight\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e365g stated (355–375g measured range)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBalance\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e270mm — head-heavy\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eProfile\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e38mm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFace\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSoft Carbon\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCore\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBlack EVA, medium hardness\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTechnologies\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDynamic Stability System · 3D Spin+\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLevel\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHigh-intermediate to advanced\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ePlayed by Juan Lebrón. Babolat's sponsored professionals may compete with frames that differ from the retail model.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003csmall\u003eSpecifications from the manufacturer, verified 2026-09-02. Play characteristics are summarised from an independent published test, not from manufacturer marketing copy. Manufacturer weights vary by around ±10g on every brand.\u003c\/small\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Babolat","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":64591787721075,"sku":"APS-BA-0012","price":431.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1015\/6287\/6275\/files\/150178-VIPER_SOFT_JUAN_LEBRON_3.0-100-1-Face_471c6a6e-25ab-4fcc-92dd-4ee409f15868.jpg?v=1789511362","url":"https:\/\/australianpadelshop.com\/products\/babolat-viper-soft-juan-lebron-3-0-2026-padel-racket","provider":"Australian Padel Shop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}