I have restung a Babolat racket and can tell you that it is French made and they use a different grommet hole system to most rackets. They have posistioned the gromments so that the racket can be strung one piece, sides then from top to bottom (whereas normal one piece stringing is sides then bottom to top).

The racket I had (I can find out if you like) was really light and whippy, was quite impressed with it. However, some of the grommet holes weren’t bang in the centre of the frame and it was noticeable and I’ve not seen anything like that before (apart from fake Yonexs but even then it looks different). I don’t believe there are fake Babolat rackets out there purely because they aren’t a big enough to be faked!  So it either leaves you with a one off racket, it’s supposed to be like that, or shoddy production work. Another thing I do know about Babolat, is that I knew two people who owned a Babolat racket before I met this bloke (who likes his racket), and the 1st bloke used it a few times and hated it and the other person seems to struggle with it (or could just be the player as he’s not that “great”). Why this is I can’t tell you, it may have a different sweet spot to other rackets?

Anyway, hope this helps, good and bad. Whilst we are talking about rackets, I’m having problems with the Carlton Vapour Trial rackets, mainly strings are breaking alot and people breaking the racket head. I don’t own this racket but theres something weird about it. I know the sweetspot is a cross between a normal sweet spot and an Isometric one. I mentioned about this to someone at my club who owns this racket and said he had no problems with it. Then the next week I said, “wheres your racket?”, and he said the frame had snapped! And he restrings his own racket so it’s not just me. Though he did say there was a small hairline crack in it and strung it anyway but I get the feeling the material used for this racket head is very fragile.

If your after a deal, Yehlex rackets are strudy and don’t chip as easy as Yonex rackets. You can also get two of their rackets for the price of a Yonex (don’t get me started on that!). Browning rackets are quite light and good as well, there is a e-bay seller (UK) who sells these rackets and they are very cheap cause they don’t make them any more but you can get two rackets for £60 including P & P, why not try them. Mind you, as with ANY racket, you may want to get strings redone as soon as you get a new racket so this boosts the price up already, for example you’d be looking at £95 to buy two Browning rackets, restrung and some grips.