Babolat announces its first investment in a Padel Racquet Studio located in Spain

After over 20 years of development in the padel industry, Babolat, the leading sport racquets brand in the world, has announced investing in its first padel racquet technical center in Spain, near Barcelona (Sant fruitos de bages). The first premium racquets will be tested and produced in limited series and introduced to the European market in 2024. The announcement was made today in Madrid with the attendance of Eric Babolat, CEO of Babolat, with the padel world’s champion Juán Lebrón. The Spanish player does play with Babolat since 2017 and he is the first athlete to have a fully dedicated Babolat footwear and apparel line (launched in 2023).

As part of a constant process of moving with the times, Babolat has become one of the growing names in the increasingly popular sport of padel, being active and innovative since more than 20 years in this sport. Babolat has now decided to invest in a padel studio near Barcelona, Spain, with the intention of using it as a studio for testing and developing its own padel racquets. The Babolat Padel Studio has been designed as a pilot project that will enable Babolat to explore new manufacturing methods. For Babolat, this is a step towards local production for local markets.

Eric Babolat, CEO of the company, said: “Babolat Studio is a real place of innovation, with several key objectives: to test innovative ideas for padel players, focusing on the practice of the game and players’ needs; to serve as a model for more responsible racquet production and the invention of new manufacturing methods; and finally, to manufacture high-end, high-performance racquets in limited quantities. Together, we are determined to shape the future of padel and offer players exceptional equipment.”

The Babolat Padel Studio will have 4 missions :

Innovation: The creation of this unit is accompanied by the acquisition of unique technological and industrial know-how (including 4 patents) that will enable us to create products that are very different from what is offered on the market today which will also include a sustainable approach;
Player’ service: This studio will also help us better serve the needs of our players (champions and club players) and keep us ahead of the game in the evolution of Padel racquet sports;
Taylor made manufacturing: The aim of this studio is to be able to produce racquets in small quantities, custom made, limited series, in short runs, in a flexible and agile way;
Made in Spain: Being located in Spain means being at the heart of the Padel culture, understanding the sport's DNA and helping to detect and feel its future development.”

Team babolat pro players may play with a customized or different model than the equipment depicted.