Let's go tests the famous ViborA Rattlesnake with a well-known player in Alsace: Jérôme Arnoux.

What strikes you first when hitting your first balls with a Yorara Vibor-A is its very particular and exhilarating noise, coupled with an immediate sensation of power and precision. In terms of sound, this racket evokes the automotive world, giving the feeling of driving a Ferrari 550 Maranello, with its V12 engine.

As for comfort and power, we switch to the animal kingdom, as this "pala" is capable of going from the softness of the coat of a big wild beast to the most brutal savagery. As a bonus, it also has the deadly venom of "Yarara", a snake from the family of vipers and rattlesnakes ...

With its semi-hard feel and its soft EVA rubber, the Yarara allows the ball to be returned with relatively little effort, the playing comfort being reinforced by a very large centering area. In other words, this racket is very tolerant of off-center, while offering remarkable precision and control. With a little practice, it becomes easy to find areas close to the fence or to make millimeter lobs, without the ball escaping you.

Par 3 and par 4 become easy

However, be careful not to hit too much in return for service or on balls that come quickly to the baseline, because the power of the Yarara risks offering a ball too high for opposing volleyball players or even propelling the ball directly into the window of the background…

On the other hand, at the time of smasher, this power makes it an absolute “tear” - this racket being in the shape of a tear and not of a diamond. Performing a par 3 or a par 4 becomes almost easy, as well as bringing the ball back on your side, as long as the conditions are fast and you put a little lift thanks to the rough surface of the pala.

On the fly, it will be easy to make incisive strikes either flat or with a cut effect so that the ball crashes. In defense, the large centering area ("sweet spot" or "punto dulce") can compensate for approximate placements. On the other hand, the handling is not the best asset of the Yarara, especially if your model is heavy.

Choose the right weight

Both models we tested weighed 377 and 380 grams (strap included), so close to 400 grams with added over-grip and racquet head protection. An ideal weight to finish the points in a smash but not necessarily to give the saving wrist in a defensive situation. However, the Yarara exists in a light version, with a mass of around 360 grams.

It is therefore important to choose the weight of your racket according to your playing profile. Although the Yarara is comfortable and not very vibrating, a racket that is too heavy will be difficult to control if the match lasts a long time, with a risk of injury. If, on the other hand, it is too light, you will have trouble getting the ball out of the field.

But if you make the right choice, the Vibor-A Yarara can become your (l) absolute weapon. Provided, however, to break the bank: its average price is more than € 250 and never drops below € 200, even for older models!

The brand's website: https://viborapadel.com/

[Update January 13, 2021] The two Yarara that I was lucky enough to own died after six months of play, with two games per week on average. They both cracked at the top. You have to believe that they did not like my “nag” smashes or the harshness of the Alsatian winters and the game outdoors in zero degrees. Pity…

After 40 years of tennis, Jérôme falls into the pot of padel in 2018. Since then, he thinks about it every morning while shaving… but never shaves pala in hand! Journalist in Alsace, he has no other ambition than to share his passion with you, whether you speak French, Italian, Spanish or English.

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