Quick Answer: The Babolat Reflex was Babolat’s long-running beginner padel racket — a 350-375g, diamond-shaped frame with a carbon-and-fiberglass face over an EVA foam core, priced around $95. It’s no longer part of Babolat’s current US padel lineup, per the brand’s own site; the Babolat Alkes ($99) has taken its place as Babolat’s entry-level frame. If you’re buying new in 2026, the Alkes is the racket Babolat is actually behind — the Reflex is only worth chasing as discounted leftover stock.
Search “Babolat Reflex padel racket” and you’ll still find it recommended across plenty of padel buying guides, including three other pages on this site. We went to verify the current price and availability for this review and found something worth flagging: Babolat’s own US padel racquet page no longer lists a Reflex at all. This review covers what the Reflex actually was, what real retailer spec sheets say about its shape (it’s not round, despite the reputation), and which racket to buy today if you want Babolat’s current beginner frame.
By the numbers
- Babolat’s own US padel racquet page (babolat.com, checked August 2026) lists 19 current models spanning $99 to $420 — the Alkes is the only sub-$100 entry, and the Reflex isn’t among them at all.
- Third-party retailer spec sheets for the Reflex (padelgang.co.uk, TradeInn) list it as a diamond-shaped head at 350-375g with an EVA foam core and a carbon/fiberglass face — not the round, low-sweet-spot shape it’s often described as on beginner buying guides, including elsewhere on this site (corrected below).
- Every racket discussed here fits the same International Padel Federation cap of 45.5 cm long, 26 cm wide, and 38 mm thick — beginner and flagship frames alike compete on materials and core foam, not size.
Reflex vs. Alkes at a glance
| Spec | Babolat Reflex | Babolat Alkes |
|---|---|---|
| Status (2026) | Discontinued from Babolat's US lineup; third-party stock only | Current, sold directly by Babolat and on Amazon |
| Shape | Diamond | Round-leaning beginner shape |
| Weight | 350-375g | Beginner-weight range |
| Core | EVA foam | EVA foam with Vibrasorb System damping |
| Face | Carbon + fiberglass | MicroPerf perforated face |
| Price | ~$95 (last listed) | $99 |
Babolat Reflex — what it actually was
Babolat Reflex
- Diamond-shaped head, not round — a detail several buying guides (including ours, until this review) get wrong.
- Carbon-and-fiberglass face over an EVA foam core, aimed at tennis switchers wanting a familiar brand.
- No longer sold on Babolat's own US site; only found through third-party retailers on remaining stock.
Comparing rackets before a big equipment order takes a while — start a free Audible trial and queue something up for the reading you’d otherwise be doing on spec sheets and retailer listings.
For years the Reflex was the honest answer to “what’s a Babolat I can afford as a beginner” — real carbon-and-fiberglass build quality at a step-up price. The catch, confirmed against current retailer spec sheets while researching this review, is that it was always a diamond-shaped frame, which is a power/attack shape, not the low, centered sweet spot a true round beginner racket gives you. It worked as a “grow into it” pick because of Babolat’s build quality, not because the shape itself was especially forgiving.
Babolat Alkes — the current beginner pick
Babolat Alkes
- Babolat's own US site places it directly in its beginner category at $99.
- MicroPerf face perforations aim for a lighter frame and a larger effective sweet spot.
- Vibrasorb System (SMAC-derived elastomer in the core) targets softer mishit feel and less vibration.
- Sold new, in stock, and backed by Babolat — unlike chasing down remaining Reflex stock.
If you want a Babolat in your first season and you’re buying new, this is the one to check out — same roughly $99 price the Reflex held for years, current Babolat support, and it’s what shows up when you search Babolat’s own site for a beginner frame today. For the full round-shape, low-sweet-spot beginner comparison across brands, our best padel racket for beginners guide ranks the Nox X-One Evo, Head Zephyr, and Bullpadel Indiga alongside it.
The bottom line
The Babolat Reflex earned its reputation honestly — solid build quality at a beginner price — but it’s not the racket Babolat is selling in 2026. If you’re buying new, the Alkes ($99) is the current entry-level pick with Babolat’s backing, and if you specifically want the Reflex, know going in that it’s a diamond shape, not a round one, and that you’re buying discontinued stock. For the rest of Babolat’s current lineup, from the Alkes up through the flagship Viper JL 3.0, see our best Babolat padel racket guide, or compare Babolat directly against the world’s top-selling brand in our Babolat vs Bullpadel comparison.