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Babolat Pure Strike Review: Compare Different Models & Other Tennis Racquets

Will Boucek · June 25, 2024

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The Babolat Pure Strike is one of the best tennis racquets for control on the market. Below, we’ll review the Babolat Pure Strike, including pros, cons, and different models of the racquet. Then, we’ll compare it to other tennis racquets to help you decide if the Pure Strike is right for you.

Review Summary & Ratings for the Babolat Pure Strike

The Babolat Pure Strike tennis racquet is not quite as well-known as Babolat’s other racquet lines. However, this racquet is one of the most balanced and popular player’s racquets in tennis today.

Used by Dominic Thiem, the Pure Strike is Babolat’s best racquet for players looking for better control and feel. Below, we will review the Pure Strike in detail, including the specifications, different versions, and the best alternative racquets. Our goal is to help you decide if the Pure Strike is the best tennis racquet for you.

See our ratings, plus the pros and cons of the Babolat Pure Strike below for a quick glance at how it performs compared to other tennis racquets.

Our Ratings for the Babolat Pure Strike

• Groundstrokes: 8
• Very balanced racquet for advanced players
• Great control and feel on both groundstrokes & volleys
• Generates spin easily (depending on the model)
• Very stable racquet against fast serves & volleys
• Good maneuverability at net
• Not great power on groundstrokes or serves
• Not a good beginner racquet

Different Versions of the Babolat Pure Strike Tennis Racquet

The Babolat Pure Strike tennis racquet comes in several versions that vary in weight and size. Below is a list of the different Babolat Pure Strike racquets on the market today.

• Babolat Pure Strike 16×19
• Babolat Pure Strike 18×20
• Babolat Pure Strike 100 16×20
• Babolat Pure Strike 100
• Babolat Pure Strike Team
• Babolat Pure Strike EVO
• Babolat Pure Strike 97

We’ll review each version in more detail below.

What did Babolat Update with the 2024 Pure Strike?

Overall, Babolat made subtle changes to the Pure Strike racquets for the 2024 versions.

• Babolat dropped the Pure Strike Tour from the lineup.
• New Pure Strike 100 16×20 added to the lineup.
• Babolat Pure Strike VS changes name to Pure Strike 97.
• Pure Strike 100 is softer and offers greater feel.

The main updates with the 2024 Pure Strike are the removal of the Pure Strike Tour and the addition of the Pure Strike 100 16×20. The new racquet offers a little more control than the regular Pure Strike 100, while also being more head light and softer. This makes the Pure Strike 100 16×20 move very fast through the air and more arm-friendly.

Other than the new racquet added to the lineup, Babolat didn’t change very much with this update. The specs are almost identical, with the exception of the Pure Strike 100 going down in stiffness. However, all of the racquets feature a slight increase in control and a more direct feel.

Babolat Pure Strike Review: A Control-Oriented Racquet

This is the 3rd generation of the Pure Strike, and Babolat has made some relevant updates you should know about. First, we’ll take a look at the specifications and show you how they will affect the performance of this tennis racquet.

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Babolat Pure Strike Racquet Specifications

The technical specifications of this 3rd generation are similar to previous versions. However, there are a few updates we will show you below.

There are several versions of the Pure Strike. We will be reviewing the most popular version (98 square inch, 16×19) here, and show you the other models below.

• Weight: 11.4 oz. strung
• Head Size:  98 square inches
• Length:  27 inches
• Stiffness:   64
• Balance:  330.2 mm
• String Pattern:  16 x 19

This racquet is slightly heavier than the other Babolat tennis racquets . It will offer better stability against pace and on your volleys.

The 98 square inch head makes this a high-performance racquet for advanced players who can generate their own power. If you need more help with control, the Pure Strike is a great choice.

This racquet has a 16×19 string pattern which will help players generate spin from the baseline and when serving. However, this racquet can’t offer the same spin or power as the Babolat Pure Aero . The Pure Strike makes up for that with better control and feel.

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The Pure Strike Offers Excellent Control & Feel

Perhaps the biggest advantage you get with the Babolat Pure Strike is the control and feel on your shots. It is one of the best 8 tennis racquets for control .

The narrower beam, smaller head size, and frame technology all help to increase your ability to move the ball around the court with precision.

This 3rd generation incorporates a new dampening technology that helps you feel the ball on the racquet longer. This may sacrifice a bit of power, but improves your ability to place and control the ball. The frame design makes this racquet great for both groundstrokes and volleys.

This Racquet is Great for Returns, Groundstrokes, and Volleys

The added control mentioned above will help players change direction and feel confident in their shots.

However, the extra stability helps even more. Players will be able to defend more easily against fast-paced balls like returning big first serves or reflex volleys.

If you already have a good serve, but need help with the returns and groundstrokes, the Pure Strike can help. It’s also a great tennis racquet for doubles players seeking more control and stability on their volleys.

The Pure Strike is for Players Who Create Their Own Power

Advanced players with good technique and strength will get the most out of the Pure Strike. ATP player Dominic Thiem uses the Pure Strike 18×20 version. If you’ve watched him play, then you know that he has no problem hitting with pace.

Strong intermediate players should also consider the Pure Strike. It’s certainly one of the best tennis racquets on the market for this group of players.

While the Pure Strike does have good power for a 98 square inch racquet, it is not for beginner to intermediate level players who need help creating power. See the Babolat Pure Drive for Babolat’s best racquet for power.

This Racquet has Good Mobility & Spin

Because this racquet has a 98 square inch head with a narrower frame and isn’t too heavy, the Pure Strike is easy to handle. Singles and doubles players will have no issue moving around the court and recovering for the next shot with this tennis racquet.

The 16×19 string pattern will help generate extra spin as well. Babolat actually uses FSI Technology in the strings, which means there is added space in the crosses towards the end of the racquet. This extra space will grab the tennis ball more and help you create even more spin.

However, for an even more spin-friendly racquet, see the Babolat Pure Aero used by Rafael Nadal.

Reviewing the Different Models of the Babolat Pure Strike

There are several different versions of the Pure Strike 3rd Gen tennis racquet. Depending on your playing style and skill-level, one version might be better for you than another.

The table below outlines each Pure Strike model and its benefits.

For most players, the Pure Strike 16×19 is the best option.

• Only more advanced players should consider the Pure Strike 18×20 or the Pure Strike 97.
• Intermediate tennis players, or advanced players who don’t play too competitively, may consider the Pure Strike 100 or the Pure Strike 100 16×20. They are more forgiving racquets than the other versions, but will still offer excellent control and feel.
• Lower-level intermediate players who aren’t as physically strong and need something more lightweight can consider the Pure Strike Team.
• The Pure Strike EVO is for beginner or intermediate players on a budget. However, our best beginner tennis racquets and best intermediate tennis racquets have better choices.

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The Best Alternatives to the Babolat Pure Strike

Below are other tennis racquets similar to the Babolat Pure Strike that you may want to consider.

• Wilson Blade – Similar in terms of power and control with a bit more comfort due to a flexible frame.
• Head Radical – A racquet with slightly more control and stability, but a bit less spin than the Pure Strike.
• Solinco Whiteout – More comfort thanks to a more dampened feel with just a touch less power.

Is the Babolat Pure Strike Tennis Racquet Right for You?

Ultimately, you have to decide if the Pure Strike is the right racquet for you.

If you’re a high level intermediate or advanced player who can generate power easily, this is a great tennis racquet. It’s a player’s racquet for people with big swings who play fast-paced, competitive tennis.

The Babolat Pure Strike has an excellent combination of control, feel, and stability making it a very popular tennis racquet among elite players.

My Experience with the 2024 Pure Strike

The Babolat Pure Strike has always been a mixed bag for me. I have always enjoyed getting the chance to hit with any racquet from the Pure Strike line, but something always feels a little off, so I have never purchased one.

This time around I was able to practice and play some matches with the 2024 Pure Strike 97, which is the new version of the Pure Strike VS. It is actually the same head size as my current racquet of choice, the Yonex Vcore Pro 97HD with a similarly dense string bed.

I enjoy the extra stability and easy depth I get when using the Pure Strike. It is particularly helpful on the serve return and on defense. It still provides above-average control as well, and offers a very direct feel.

However, I was left wanting a little more comfort and maneuverability.

At net and on serve, I found that the Pure Strike could use a little more maneuverability. It felt a little slow through the air, which made it difficult for me to find the sweet spot consistently. 

The direct feel gave me extremely crisp volleys that devastated my opponents. But that same feel made the racquet feel a little jarring when playing against big hitters. While I don’t like a racquet to feel muted, I do prefer a little bit of dampening technology to help increase comfort.

Overall, the Pure Strikes are great racquets, they just aren’t for me. I would recommend this racquet to intermediate to advanced players looking for a racquet with a great combination of control and stability that don’t mind sacrificing a little maneuverability.

About Will Boucek

Will Boucek is the Founder & CEO of Tennis Tribe. With over two decades of experience playing & coaching tennis, Will now works as a doubles strategy analyst for ATP & WTA tour players and coaches. Will helps tennis players at every level play better doubles through smarter strategy. He also has expertise in tennis racquets & gear, testing the latest products from Wilson, Babolat, Head, Prince, and other tennis brands.

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• The new Babolat Pure Strike VS – maximum control with full confidence

The new Babolat Pure Strike VS – maximum control with full confidence

The set is now complete! The launch of the Babolat Pure Strike VS means that all three of Babolat’s signature racquets – Pure Drive, Pure Aero, and Pure Strike – now have a specialist ‘VS’ version, offering enhanced advantages to those best suited to playing with them.

The VS series is designed to take the regular model of the racquet but make subtle changes that performance players will benefit from. The series began with the Pure Drive VS in 2019, the Pure Aero VS followed in 2020, and now the set is completed with the Pure Strike VS, aimed at high-skilled attacking players whose game is built around taking the ball early and looking for maximum control and precision.

Compared with the Pure Strike, the VS model has a slightly smaller head size. The head is 97 square inches instead of 98, which brings the extra precision, but it is better protected from scrapes with the court surface.

Babolat’s Tennis Group Marketing Manager Olivier Carlier says, “Every racquet has a protective ‘bumper’, a piece of plastic that protects the frame from damage if the player plays a low shot and the racquet scrapes against the ground at high speed. If you think of a racquet frame as a clockface, most bumpers are fitted from 10 o’clock to 2 o’clock, but on the Pure Strike VS we have extended it to running from 9 to 3 o’clock, to protect more of the frame and strings from abrasions, and maintain a high performance level.

“We worked on the stability of the racquet to offer maximum responsiveness,” he adds. “Responsiveness is the capacity of the ball to fly off the string, so the increased stability compensates for the small reduction in the sweet spot. The Pure Strike VS is the racquet in the Babolat range that gives most control, and with these adjustments, attacking players who hit with large swings will be able to play with full confidence.”

Added benefit for competitive players

The ‘VS’ label emerged over the first 50 years of Babolat’s history. The French family-owned company began making strings for racquet sports in 1875, and each experiment at improving the gut was accompanied by two letters to denote the material and the trial number. In 1925 the VS emerged as the highest quality of gut string, and Babolat has used the name ever since, mainly for its original product of high-quality gut strings, but more recently for other top-of-the-range products, like racquets.

The Babolat Pure Strike VS has a recommended retail price of €279.95. It comes with a leather grip for greater feel, and players wanting to buy two racquets can buy them in pairs with a guaranteed maximum weight difference of 1 gramme between the two – most tennis racquets (from all makers) can have a 7g variance across the same model, so the 1g guarantee helps the player know that if a string breaks during a match, the replacement racquet will be effectively identical.  

“Obviously we hope that players at all levels will adopt the Pure Strike VS,” says Olivier Carlier, “but during the two years we researched and tested it across the world, we realised we needed it in our range mainly for the competitive players. We have the three main Babolat models – the Pure Drive for baseliners who need to call on explosivity, the Pure Aero for those who play with a lot of spin, and the Pure Strike for attacking players who like to make the most of the opponent’s power to generate their own.

“By making the frame more flexible, we have given the Pure Strike VS a bit more precision than the standard Pure Strike by enhancing the responsiveness. We call it ‘sharp control’ as it gives even more precision with a perfect power/control balance.”

Babolat’s ‘most beautiful racquet’?

Visually, the Pure Strike VS will be as striking as its stablemates. Like the Pure Drive and Pure Aero VS models, it is a shiny chrome, but with the distinctive red of the standard Pure Strike colour scheme appearing as two stripes on the chrome. One brand ambassador has described it as “the most beautiful racquet Babolat has developed for many years.”

Another visual feature is the string pattern. Whereas the standard Pure Strike has either 16 main and 19 cross strings, or 18 mains and 20 crosses, the Pure Strike VS has a 16/20 pattern which Babolat’s research and testing showed was the best combination to create the optimum balance between control and power.  

So what kind of player will most benefit from the latest addition to Babolat’s range of quality racquets? Olivier Carlier sees a very clear spec: “If you play frequently, compete in tournaments, want a high level of performance and precision from your racquet, then you should certainly look at our VS range. And if you play with a large swing, hit generally flat, stay close to the baseline in order to take the ball on the rise, and often want to go to the net, the Pure Strike VS is the racquet that will allow you to hit freely with full confidence.”

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After going on hiatus for the second generation, Babolat is bringing back the Pure Strike Tour for its new 3rd generation of the line. The heaviest model in the Strike family, the new version now has a 16 x 19 string pattern and the latest in Babolat Tech. In the hoop the frame uses C2 Pure Feel (a mix of Cortex and a viscoelastic rubber called SMAC) to provide improved dampening and a softer response. The racquet also uses signature Pure Strike designs like Control Frame Technology , a blend of square beam stability and elliptical beam responsiveness. It also has FSI Power which widens the cross strings in the top of the pattern for easier power and spin generation. Having hit with the mainline 16 x 19 Pure Strike, I was eager to get my hands on the heavyweight version to see how it would measure up.

Groundstrokes

The new Pure Strike Tour essentially took all the positives of the regular 16x19 and ratcheted them up a notch. The 21/23/21 mm beam provided solid power without ever feeling too overpowered. The 12 oz strung weight put more mass behind my shots and gave me a heavy, penetrating ball off either wing. It was incredibly rewarding to crush backhands down the line with this frame. The increased mass and beefy swingweight did require some adjustment and I was lagging behind the ball a bit early on until I made the proper adjustments to my timing. The relatively thin beam width allowed for precision targeting from the baseline. I had no trouble lining up aggressive targets and hitting them with consistency. Spin production was more than adequate from the 16 x 19 pattern and I was appreciative that Babolat moved the Tour away from an 18 x 20. At times when I was getting tired, I think an 18 x 20 would have resulted in more balls in the net because of the launch angle. The 16 x 19 gave me some cushion to still get the ball over even if my swing speed slowed. Stability on the frame was outstanding. It was rock solid when dealing with big hitters and was able to consistently send balls back with interest. I never felt overmatched in rallies and appreciated the frame’s ability to avoid twisting or fluttering when I needed it to soak up pace.

Volleys & Serves

The Pure Strike Tour was a finisher at the net. It’s mass and power level made quick work of anything I got a good look at when I came forward. Even just a simple block volley was offensive because the frame’s mass just drove the ball through the court. Control was also very solid, and I had no issue placing volleys wherever I needed to, whether ending the point or setting myself up for an easy next ball. The frame’s outstanding stability also paid off at the net. I was able to consistently deflect high pace balls and extend points. At times I did miss having something a bit lighter overall, but the Tour was the most headlight of the Strike family, so it still played with a healthy dose of maneuverability. The slightly softer feel on contact also made it a bit easier to execute touch volleys but I’d love to see the Tour get a bit more flex for that extra bit of ball pocketing and finesse.

Serving with the Pure Strike Tour was like deploying field artillery. The increased mass allowed me to hit serious first serves with pace and a heavy feel that pushed returners back. The key was for me to relax and let the racquet do the talking when swinging. The weight and swingweight did catch up to me in long matches and I lost a bit of speed over time but that’s more a product of fitness and being used to the weight than any fault of the racquet itself. The excellent control of the frame was present on serve as well. I was able to guide the ball to the corners and serve with confidence under pressure. My kick serve didn’t have quite as much movement but again, it was likely my lack of necessary racquet head speed. I had a lot of fun with my slice serve. I was able to paint the T on the deuce side and go way wide in the ad court. I even started using it as a first serve tactic because of how effective it was at opening the court and giving control from the first ball.

Feel/Comfort

Many racquets that are new for 2019 have had their improvements centered on feel and the Pure Strike Tour was no exception. I felt prior versions of the frame were fairly harsh and unforgiving outside the sweet spot. The addition of C2 Pure Feel in the hoop alleviated much of that complaint. The new Tour played with clean feel on contact and minimal vibration, even on off center shots. It still had a modern, crisp feel but with a shiny layer of dampening spread on top now. I appreciated the uniform response across the string bed as it made it easy to predict how the ball would react off the strings. The racquet was more comfortable for me than prior iterations. I had some arm fatigue, but that was more tied to the swingweight of the frame. It’s still a firmly built frame so sensitive players could pair it with lower tension or softer string to maximize the comfort.

Having been skipped over in the Project 17 version of the Strikes, fans of heavier frames can rejoice in the return of the Pure Strike Tour. It boasts point ending power and control, precise maneuverability at net and the artillery to make quick work of service games. With improved comfort and feel, it makes a great all court weapon for advanced players. The new Pure Strike Tour is an outstanding option for those who want the mass to dictate and the responsiveness to play from anywhere on court.

About the Reviewer: Matt Locke formerly served for 3 years as the Junior Programs & Development Coordinator for USTA-Idaho. He is a PTR certified coach and is an active USTA 4.5 League and Tournament player.

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Product Comparison: Babolat Pure Strike vs Babolat Pure Strike Tour

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• Has a nice steady plow for its lighter-weight and is stable while volleying surprisingly!
• Great racquet, slightly stiff but gives good ball feel.
• I moved from the previous Pure Strike 18x20 and I'm absolutely loving it.
• Wife loves this racquet. I use a pro staff...i tried the pure strike...pretty sweet!
• I play varsity tennis at my local high school and I felt that I quickly mended into this racquet and was able to instantly improve my game.
• Love this racket. Its the perfect specs for my game. It might not be for everyone since its a little on the heavier side but great build and great access to power and spin.
• Lot of plow through and very good control. Although it's very hefty.
• A great racquet with excellent drive and spin...
• Good Racquet. A bit on the heavy side but i like it
• If you're a player with good technique, able to prepare for shots early and have good physical strength over long periods then i would definately suggest giving this a try.
• Flexibility
• Most likely strung to the upper range for control. Spin is satisfying. Great all court racquet.
• The racquet itself is very high quality. After using mid-price racquets for many years, I decided to splurge on a top-of-the-line racquet and this definitely fits the bill.
• I'm an intermidiate player and this raket improved my game by giving more power and control.
• My groundstrokes were much more accurate and felt much more powerful than my old racquet.
• I am in love with this one, I am a powerfull player and the Pure Strike 16/19 is the best buy I ever done.
• Chose the Pure Strike Tour due to the overall specification and was initially pleased with the performance.
• String this with RPM blast at mid tension and you'll be in near tennis heaven (if your technique is good!).
• Stability against big hitters was near perfect and serves gained more power.
• Very well balanced and feels solid even when striking off center.

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Pure strike 3rd Gen vs Ezone Tour Questions

• Thread starter Khoiifish
• Start date Sep 9, 2020
• Sep 9, 2020

Hey long story short I'm using a blade 98 v7 16m. (5.0 player, 23 years old) Definitely looking for a bit more free power and spin against strong players since Im 5'7. Currently comparing the Pure strike 3rd Gen 98 16m with the Ezone Tour. Played a session with the Strike and man did it feel easy and awesome. Had another session with the Ezone Tour, awesome too but it definitely wasn't as easy. Does anyone have comments on the comfort of the Pure Strike stiffness wise, especially compared to ezones and the previous project one 7. Is anyone successfully using the Pure Strike 3rd gen with full polys while playing 2-3 days a week? I can't really know myself as I can only demo the Strike once a week at my local league so I can't gauge its effect on my elbow long term. Any help with the comparison between these two frames would be awesome too. Please no suggestions on hybrid setups, I've tried and I just can't run away from full poly as I've played with it my whole life.  

Deleted member 766578

Holdfast44ID

I'm curious for more comparisons as well. I used the previous version of the Pure Strike 98 16x19 a couple of years ago and I tweaked my elbow. I had to go down from 52 lbs. with poly to a softer poly at around 46 lbs. before getting rid of the frames. I'm wondering if the latest version of the Strike is easier on the arm? I'm going to be testing out the Ezone 98 Tour this weekend as an alternative to the Blade 98 v7 18x20 that I've been using. They have almost identical specs (other than string patterns) but the Yonex "looks" like it has a larger sweetspot (due to the racquet head shape), a little added power, perhaps better stability as well (although the Blade 18x20 is much more stable in stock form than the Blade 16x19).. I guess I'll also search around for comparisons of the current Strike vs the previous generation.  

• Sep 10, 2020

The Gen3 Pure Strike is much more comfortable than the Gen2 - plays similar, but has a slightly more dampened feel. I don’t think it is an elbow-killer anymore. I play with both poly (HyperG) and poly/gut (VS/HyperG, VS/ALU Power) hybrids everyday on a Pure Strike Tour G3 strung in the high-forties and it is a great racquet for my all-court game. I could never use full poly on previous generations of the Pure Strike - had a Gen 1 Tour and a Gen2 VS Tour. The Pure Strike Tour is better than the 16x19 as it has a similar SW, but is more stable and more head-light - better against heavy balls and much better at the net. So, I would suggest demoing the 18x20 and the Tour versions.  

The 3rd Gen Pure Strike isn't as stiff as Babolat rackets generally go, but man that thing is overpowered. Even at high 50's tension. Stiffness comparison, hands down Yonex is lower. I'm a full poly guy myself.  

dkshifty said: The 3rd Gen Pure Strike isn't as stiff as Babolat rackets generally go, but man that thing is overpowered. Even at high 50's tension. Stiffness comparison, hands down Yonex is lower. I'm a full poly guy myself. Click to expand...

socallefty said: Everything is relative…what racquet are you comparing it to when you say it is overpowered? The OP wants to compare it to a Blade v7 and it will give an appreciable power boost which is what he is looking for without feeling like it has clearly less control. If he compares it to a Pure Aero or Pure Drive, the Strike will seem underpowered. Also, the 18x20 PS will have less launch angle and perceived power than the 16x19 version in case he wants to try both. Click to expand...

Hall of Fame

I did the TW playtest for the PS16x19 3rd gen. At the time my main stick was the v7 Blade 18x20. The PS was definitely more muted than the 2nd gen but still very powerful and firm. I didn’t really love the high launch angle either. Maybe I could have solved that with a stiffer stringbed or poly main/gut cross but I didn’t spend too much time with the stick. I would take a look at the 18x20 pattern. I think the layup is softer and the denser string pattern should both help decrease the power. Should have plenty of stability and plow with stock 330+ SW.  

@dkshifty Wow..…I wonder if you had dead strings or major tension loss when you demoed the Pure Strike. I’ve demoed the Prostaffs, Speed, Volkl VFeel, Blades, Prestige, VCore etc. and many 11.7-12.5 oz (strung) weight racquets released in the last 15 years and I don’t think the Pure Strike is so different in power than most of those racquets. Also, the TWU Power zone and Power potential charts for the Pure Strike don’t show a huge variance from most other players racquets with similar stiffness in the mid-sixties. For me, the RF97 was way more powerful for example. I guess that’s why the OP should demo and make up his own opinion than depending on the experience of others as everyone’s experience varies so much depending on what they are used to previously and their swing styles. All opinions are valid and are subjective when it comes to equipment.  

socallefty said: @dkshifty Wow..…I wonder if you had dead strings or major tension loss when you demoed the Pure Strike. I’ve demoed the Prostaffs, Speed, Volkl VFeel, Blades, Prestige, VCore etc. and many 11.7-12.5 oz (strung) weight racquets released in the last 15 years and I don’t think the Pure Strike is so different in power than most of those racquets. Also, the TWU Power zone and Power potential charts for the Pure Strike don’t show a huge variance from most other players racquets with similar stiffness in the mid-sixties. For me, the RF97 was way more powerful for example. I guess that’s why the OP should demo and make up his own opinion than depending on the experience of others as everyone’s experience varies so much depending on what they are used to previously and their swing styles. All opinions are valid and are subjective when it comes to equipment. Click to expand...

Most of the time I demo racquets just to be able to talk about them and make recommendations to my buddies. Whenever I’m serious about changing to a new racquet model which happens only about once in five years, I make sure that I demo the new racquet I like with at least two different string jobs before I select it. I’ll usually get a demo from TW and one from my local pro shop and try to get a feel for how much the racquet behaves differently with different strings.  

Oh yeah, definitely. Its amazing how different full poly feels versus a full bed of multi or a hybrid. Then you increase or decrease tension and now you could be all over the place. Its part of the tennis evolution. The important thing is to keep your strokes the same and don't adjust. Then you can truly fine tune it to your needs.  

dkshifty said: Oh yeah, definitely. Its amazing how different full poly feels versus a full bed of multi or a hybrid. Then you increase or decrease tension and now you could be all over the place. Its part of the tennis evolution. The important thing is to keep your strokes the same and don't adjust. Then you can truly fine tune it to your needs. Click to expand...

dkshifty said: That's probably the most powerful racket i've ever tested. Ive owned Wilson PS97, RF97, and Yonex Ezone DR 98, Ezone 98 (2020), Vcore Pro 97. If directly comparing with a Blade v7, I've tried both the 16x19 and 18x20. I'm biased towards 16x19 but both those rackets did not provide as much uncontrollable power as the 3rd Gen Pure Strike. Click to expand...

OP, if your only worry about the PS is whether it is more comfortable than previous versions, it definitely is. I’ve played every day since May 4th using either poly or a poly/gut hybrid. I’m 52 and previously always played with gut with other racquets due to having a sensitive elbow. In fact, I would get elbow twinges even after demoing other racquets for one day with poly in the past. But, I would definitely demo a PS Tour before buying a 16x19 as I think the PS Tour is much better and I have converted many others at my club after they tried my racquet  

• Sep 11, 2020

socallefty said: But, I would definitely demo a PS Tour before buying a 16x19 as I think the PS Tour is much better and I have converted many others at my club after they tried my racquet Click to expand...

warney said: Any difference in comfort level that you or your friends found between 16x19 V3 vs PS tour V3? Click to expand...

ichaseballs

Professional.

these are my top 2 picks, the PS and ezone tour. looking for some more comparisons.  

• Sep 12, 2020

ichaseballs said: these are my top 2 picks, the PS and ezone tour. looking for some more comparisons. Click to expand...

@Khoiifish Have you tried the regular EZONE 98? The Tour is a bit heftier - so if you like it but find it is harder to use, the EZONE 98 might be a good option and you can lead it up later. I found the 2nd Gen PS to be more comfortable than the current gen PS. If I were to be pushed to Wilson, I'd definitely be a Blade v7 player, but that grip is just too darn short for a 2HBH player (or just me). I really enjoyed that racquet except its short grip.  

Power Player

Bionic poster.

• Oct 9, 2020
• Oct 17, 2020

Power Player said: I used the Blade v7 18x20 for a year, the 2015 Blade and recently the Ultra Tour. The PS 16x19 has more power than all those frames. I'd say it's fairly significant over the UT and V7 and a good amount more than the 2015 Blade. The feel is muted like the v7 Blade, but the stiffness of the Strike really compliments that muted sensation well. I think a crisper poly in it is the best way go to, but after an hour or 2 of hitting hard with Hyper G at 52#s, the string bed opened up a lot and felt great. I am going to try these strings in it, since I have them: Hyper G- plays great, not many complaints here except it looks awful and is a bit muted. I can easily play with this string though if needed. Solinco Confidential, Tourna Silver 7 tour, Vokl Cyclone and RPM Blast will all get a shot in this racquet. My early impressions are very high with this racquet. It's the best balance of power and control that I have experienced. If you like modern power and spin but don't want to use a thick beamed tweener like a Pure Aero this is a must demo. Click to expand...

• Nov 13, 2020

Don't go with the full poly in the Strike. I played 4-5 days a week with it and needed a break to heal the elbow. 4.5 player here on a good day.  

• Nov 14, 2020

The vibration frequency (VF) on the TWU racquet spec database is 139 for the Pure Strike Tour G3 while it is 7 to 8 points higher for the lighter standard versions. So, it is possible that the Pure Strike Tour is more comfortable than the other PS models. if comfort is a big issue for you, I would suggest checking the VF of the different racquets you are considering as for me, it has a closer correlation to elbow comfort than the RA stiffness value. I think the v7 Blades are in the low 130s and might be a touch more comfortable than the PST and way more comfortable than the standard PS models.  

• Nov 15, 2020

Since this thread got a bit going again, I've still stuck with my blade V7 16 x 19, played with the Ezone Tour for a bit but as @XFactorer suspected, it was a bit heftier in my opinion (I'm a small guy) and I lost a bit of my much-needed racket head speed. Felt great but it didn't solve my need of wanting something a bit easier. With this in mind, I probably cannot take up @socallefty 's suggestion of the PST as well. I may take up the suggestion of trying an Ezone 98 but the 317 SW deters me a bit as I would definitely add a bit of lead (and I'm not super keen on going down a rabbit hole right now). I've played with the PS 16x19 Gen 3 here and there as well from my local shop and every time I feel like it's exactly what I'm looking for. Still hesitant with stiffness concerns so I think I might undergo an extensive demo of it this Summer.  

FuzzyYellowBalls

Khoiifish said: Since this thread got a bit going again, I've still stuck with my blade V7 16 x 19, played with the Ezone Tour for a bit but as @XFactorer suspected, it was a bit heftier in my opinion (I'm a small guy) and I lost a bit of my much-needed racket head speed. Felt great but it didn't solve my need of wanting something a bit easier. With this in mind, I probably cannot take up @socallefty 's suggestion of the PST as well. I may take up the suggestion of trying an Ezone 98 but the 317 SW deters me a bit as I would definitely add a bit of lead (and I'm not super keen on going down a rabbit hole right now). I've played with the PS 16x19 Gen 3 here and there as well from my local shop and every time I feel like it's exactly what I'm looking for. Still hesitant with stiffness concerns so I think I might undergo an extensive demo of it this Summer. Click to expand...

• Nov 17, 2020

I've played with latest PS 16x19 for about 7 months until I developed golfers elbow. Tried to make this racket work with softer strings etc. Best poly for me was alu power soft thin gauge. When compared to the blade v7 16x19 which I'm currently using PS had more power but for me it was harder to use. I had to use a lot of top spin to keep the ball in the court. So for me PS was harder to use. O the blade I can fully and naturally swing.  

mohammed_saad401

• Jan 18, 2021

Go low on the tension on the new PS 16x19. I have a sensitive wrist and elbow, and the last PS P07 gave me issues until i went down on the tension. After different setups i landed on using a full poly, Singum Pro Poly Plasma 1.33mm at 48lbs. Was working decently for me. Then i switched to RPM Blast (15L) 1.35 at 48 and it gave serious elbow pain. Stopped using the racket all together. Switched to the new PS, and now i'm using RPM blast (15L) 1.35 (very very thick and stiff) at 42lbs and i have no words on the beautiful comfort that the racket is now offering. Not loosing any control as the RPM blast is stiff as hell.  

I played 354 times and 603 hours in 2020 with the G3 Pure Strike Tour mostly against 4.5 players and an occasional 5.0 - zero elbow issues for my 52-year old arms even though I have a sensitive elbow. It is a great 12 oz, thin-beam (21mm) players racquet with SW of 335 suitable to play with poly or poly hybrids in the low-mid forties (lbs) tension. For most of the year, I played with VS17/HyperG 18 at 48/45 lbs or tried VS mains with other poly crosses like ALU Power, Tour Bite Soft, Cyclone, Cyclone Tour etc. When HyperG Soft came out. I became an immediate convert. For the last three months, I have been playing with VS17/HGS18 at 47/44 lbs outdoors on hard courts with temperatures in the forties and fifties. I play daily with a mix of 70% singles and 30% doubles and cannot recommend this racquet more for 4.5+ players with good technique.  

socallefty said: I played 354 times and 603 hours in 2020 with the G3 Pure Strike Tour mostly against 4.5 players and an occasional 5.0 - zero elbow issues for my 52-year old arms even though I have a sensitive elbow. It is a great 12 oz, thin-beam (21mm) players racquet with SW of 335 suitable to play with poly or poly hybrids in the low-mid forties (lbs) tension. For most of the year, I played with VS17/HyperG 18 at 48/45 lbs or tried VS mains with other poly crosses like ALU Power, Tour Bite Soft, Cyclone, Cyclone Tour etc. When HyperG Soft came out. I became an immediate convert. For the last three months, I have been playing with VS17/HGS18 at 47/44 lbs outdoors on hard courts with temperatures in the forties and fifties. I play daily with a mix of 70% singles and 30% doubles and cannot recommend this racquet more for 4.5+ players with good technique. Click to expand...

P17 did hurt after a while but not this 3rd gen. You should try the Tour version  

• Jan 20, 2021

I'm still in no big rush to switch and I'm recovering from an ankle sprain but yeah I agree, not much elbow pain at all compared to the P17. I'm about to give the Tour a go and a Yonex Vcore 98 2020 as well. The 3rd Gen Pure Strike is definitely a beast though.  

• Apr 3, 2021

To get more pop, spin, and still have comfort on a 98 racquet, I just demoed the PS 3rd gen 16 x 19, and 18 x 20. I noticed that the racquet went through the ball so much easier than my head flexpoint radical MP's s that I customized to 9 pts head light and 332 grams. I switched back to it from the I played with the PD Roddick GT for sometime with a soft poly, but I no longer like the "fry pan" feel of a 100 frame.) Loved the spin, but I was no longer satisfied with it around the net. (I used to play all the prestige lines with an all court game 4.0 and some 4.5.) At first I found the 18 x 20 more desirable being it seemed more stable than the 16 x 19, but the longer I demoed the racquets with all the different types of shots, I liked the 16 x 19 more because of the added spin. It appeared to have power than the the 18 x 20, but it was hard to tell, e.g. different strings. Part of the initial issue with that 16 x 19 racquet was the inexpensive strings in that racquet model as opposed to the 18 x 20 racquet. I was getting the spin and power of the PD with a 98 frame. My dilemma , should I take the 16 x 19 (323 gm), and customize it to 8 pts head light that is possible to keeping the weight 340 gms or so or buy the PS 3rd gen Tour at 6 pts. HL that also has a lower RA factor. On the tour, I can perhaps add a little more to handle to bring up to 8 pts HL. I have had tennis elbow in the past with really stiff racquets. I am very comfortable with a 332 9 pt HL racquet - easy to maneuver, but getting too much over 340 causing me some concern. If the Tour is the best selection, which will be better: 6 pts HL at 340 gm or 8 pts HL adding another 6 gms bringing the total weight to 346? Your thoughts would be appreciated.  

Buy the PS Tour. I love it after demoing all three models. It is more stable and more comfortable - vibration frequency of 139 is 7-8 points less than the standard weight models. I have three of the Tours and have been playing with them in stock form since they came out in Fall, 2019. It is a lot easier to fine tune a racquet’s performance with strings and tension than to customize them with added weight for me - I like my stock racquets about 12 ozs with SW between 330-340. I play the PS Tour with VS17/HyperG Soft 18 at 47/44 lbs - get about 18-20 hours. It plays well with fullbed soft polys at low-mid forties tension also - I‘ve tried it with Cyclone, Cyclone Tour, HyperG and ALU Power also.  

ChanterRacquet

Frankly, I believe you must demo the Blade 104 v7. I’ve played a PS 18x20 3rd gen for over a year now with enough elbow soreness when strung with full poly to switch to multis. I hated the PS 16x19 when demoed. About to switch to the 104 v7, it’s that good. I’ve demoed tons of other racquets trying to find something better and nothing comes close to the all around playability of the 104 v7. The Prince TT100P was close, but the plush of the 104 v7 with no sacrifices wins out. It’s easy to swing, good power, way bigger pocket than the 98 v7 16x19, and tons of spin potential. This ain’t your granny’s racquet. ...and I just realized this thread is 7 months old, haha.  

SkateboardBackhand

• Apr 4, 2021

The Blade 104 v7? Interesting. I demoed the Blade 98 V7 and enjoyed it, just that it was a bit heavy and low-powered. If the blade 104 has 10% more power and the same control as the 98, it would be the perfect racket! At tennis warehouse, 2 reviewers compared it to a pure drive, which catapults it out of the control category.  

Thank you for your input. I hit more with 18 x 20 and 16 x 19. I definitely will go with a 16 x 19. I also hit with the Pure Strike 1st version of 16 x 19 with soft poly strings at 44, and it felt like I was cutting into butter with a hot knife. (Your string recommendation.) The demo strings on my 3rd gen 16 x 19 were so cheap it really detracted from the racquet performance. The only drawback that I felt on the racquet is the lower response with hits closer to the top of the hoop. (Perhaps a little lead tape at the tip.) My old head flexpoint radical MP hit with a little better pace in this hoop area - it typically occurs while serving being on occasion I strike the ball a little high, too soon, but the FXP could not come close to managing the fast baseline low shots as the Pure Strike. Also what was really easy was the high one hand back hand shots. Perhaps the much higher twist weight, added stability, made these shots surprisingly easy. I am definitely going to demo the Tour and 16 x 19 side by side. Not sure about the Wilson 104 v7 other than comfort, but that may change in the future. Thank you for recommending it.  

SkateboardBackhand said: At tennis warehouse, 2 reviewers compared it to a pure drive, which catapults it out of the control category. Click to expand...

Review - Tennis Warehouse

Wilson Blade 104 v7 deaaammmmmmmm

socallefty said: Buy the PS Tour. I love it after demoing all three models. It is more stable and more comfortable - vibration frequency of 139 is 7-8 points less than the standard weight models. I have three of the Tours and have been playing with them in stock form since they came out in Fall, 2019. It is a lot easier to fine tune a racquet’s performance with strings and tension than to customize them with added weight for me - I like my stock racquets about 12 ozs with SW between 330-340. I play the PS Tour with VS17/HyperG Soft 18 at 47/44 lbs - get about 18-20 hours. It plays well with fullbed soft polys at low-mid forties tension also - I‘ve tried it with Cyclone, Cyclone Tour, HyperG and ALU Power also. Click to expand...

• Jul 23, 2021

Just in case anyone see this , try finding and underspec PS 16x19 3rd gen via matching service. Got one at 321 swingweight strung and it feels like cheating  

TomTennis495

• Dec 21, 2023

Khoiifish said: Hey long story short I'm using a blade 98 v7 16m. (5.0 player, 23 years old) Definitely looking for a bit more free power and spin against strong players since Im 5'7. Currently comparing the Pure strike 3rd Gen 98 16m with the Ezone Tour. Played a session with the Strike and man did it feel easy and awesome. Had another session with the Ezone Tour, awesome too but it definitely wasn't as easy. Does anyone have comments on the comfort of the Pure Strike stiffness wise, especially compared to ezones and the previous project one 7. Is anyone successfully using the Pure Strike 3rd gen with full polys while playing 2-3 days a week? I can't really know myself as I can only demo the Strike once a week at my local league so I can't gauge its effect on my elbow long term. Any help with the comparison between these two frames would be awesome too. Please no suggestions on hybrid setups, I've tried and I just can't run away from full poly as I've played with it my whole life. Click to expand...

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• babolat pure drive vs pure aero vs pure strike

Babolat Pure Drive vs Pure Aero vs Pure Strike

Trying to compare the Babolat Pure Drive vs Pure Aero vs Pure Strike?

Choosing the right racket can make a big difference to your game, so we’ve researched Babolat’s most popular racket models to give you the complete guide.

Here’s our in-depth guide to Babolat Pure Drive vs Pure Aero vs Pure Strike.

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Pure Drive vs Pure Aero vs Pure Strike: Everything You Need to Know

Babolat is one of the oldest and most well-recognized brands in the tennis world. They started out producing tennis strings back in 1875, and the French brand has been in the tennis business for nearly 150 years! 

It may be a surprise to know, therefore, that Babolat only started producing tennis rackets in 1994, and up until then had only focussed on tennis strings. They have a few different models out there, and we will be focusing on the Pure Drive, Pure Aero, and Pure Strike in this article. 

We will take a closer look at the models in detail, considering which type of player would suit each racket, the range of models in each racket line, and the merits and drawbacks of each model.

Babolat Pure Drive

The Babolat Pure Drive has been hailed as one of the most powerful rackets ever. This stiff, thick, beamed stick is the perfect companion for a powerful player who wants to stamp their authority onto the court with big hitting and aggression! 

Players like Kim Clijsters, Andy Roddick, Fabio Fognini, and Carlos Moya have all enjoyed the large sweet spot and insane power of the Pure Drive. 

The pure drive range is aimed at pure ball strikers who want to maximize their effortless power and command the court.

A Quick Summary of Babolat’s Pure Drive Range

Pure drive tennis rackets have paved the way for many other big racket brands to shift their focus from control to power, suiting the modern game. Over the past couple of decades, technology in tennis has evolved, courts have gotten slower, and players have gotten physically and mentally stronger. 

This has meant that players now demand more power and spin from their rackets to keep up with the modern game! This is where the Pure Drive comes into its own. It offers effortless power for players that want to blast their opponents off the court in one fell swoop!

The Different Rackets in the Pure Drive Range

Here is the full suite of Babolat’s Pure Drive rackets and a short description of each specific model.

The original Pure Drive is a powerful racket but strikes a good balance between power and spin, with a hint of comfort in newer models to mellow out the feel of the racket. 

Pure Drive Team

The Pure Drive Team is a slightly lighter and easier-to-swing version of the original. This is perfect for players that want additional power and something easier on the arm. This offers a good middle ground between usability and performance. 

Pure Drive VS

The Pure Drive VS is the slightly more control-orientated, spin-friendly version of the original pure drive. This is an easy-to-swing racket with a slightly smaller head than the original, perfect for performance players who want to rip up the court with racket head speed and RPMs! 

Pure Drive Plus

The Pure Drive Plus  is a more forgiving, extended-length version of the original powerhouse! It is perfect if you want a bit more reach, leverage, and comfort from your pure drive racket.

Pure Drive Tour

The heaviest and most performance-orientated racket in the pure drive range is the Tour . This stick is perfect for strong, athletic players that can generate most of their own racket head speed and want a heavier racket to act as a sledgehammer! 

Pure Drive Tour Plus

Grand slam champion Andy Roddick used this extended-length, weighty version of the pure drive. The Pure Drive Tour Plus is perfect for players who want even more power, plow through and leverage out of their pure drive racket. 

Pure Drive 107

This oversized version of the pure drive is the most forgiving version of the power-friendly line. The Pure Drive 107 ’s large sweet spot and lighter weight make it incredibly accessible for players with shorter swings. 

Pure Drive Lite

The Pure Drive Lite is perfect for beginner or junior players looking to maximize their racket head speed and power. As the name suggests, this light version of the pure drive is a real featherweight!

Is the Babolat Pure Drive the Right Racket for Me?

Since the Babolat pure drive is a very powerful racket well suited to big hitters looking to maximize their power, players who like to dominate from the baseline and blast their opponents off the court will really like it. 

If you need more support finding the perfect racket, check out our custom fitting service . We offer expert advice and guidance to give you the perfect racket, string, and tension combinations to suit your game.

Start playing the best tennis of your life and win more matches!

Babolat Pure Aero

Despite Babolat only coming into the tennis racket game in recent years, the Pure Aero is actually the best-selling model of all time!

Since Rafa Nadal , the king of clay, has endorsed it for so long, it is clear to see why. The spin that pure aero rackets can generate is unlike anything else, and with spin being such an important part of the modern game, no wonder the pure aero is so popular.

A Quick Summary of Babolat’s Pure Aero Range

The Babolat pure aero is aimed at the modern player who wants to boss their opponents around with plenty of heavy topspin.

Just like Nadal dominates players with his weighty topspin forehand , you too can push your opponents back with heavy spin thanks to the Pure Aero’s unique, spin-friendly design.

The Different Rackets in the Pure Aero Range

Here is the full lineup of rackets in the pure aero range! 

The original Pure Aero appeals to the player who wants a well-balanced racket, focussing more on the spin side of things. Some people say the pure aero is too stiff, but Babolat has made a conscious effort to make recent models more supple and arm-friendly . The pure aero offers a great blend of power, spin, and control.  

Pure Aero Lite

The Pure Aero Lite is the perfect racket for junior players or beginners new to the game. It is incredibly easy to swing and therefore will help generate as much racket head speed as you need. 

Pure Aero VS

The Pure Aero VS is an even more spin-orientated version of the original spin machine! The smaller head size makes it even more geared towards control, feel, and performance, making this a great choice for intermediate to advanced-level players that compete a lot.

Pure Aero Tour

The Pure Aero Tour is the heaviest and most performance-focused racket in the lineup. This weighty stick offers a tonne of spin and plenty of plow-through, perfect for big baseline hitters.

Pure Aero VS Tour

The Pure Aero VS Tour is a fantastic racket for players who need control, spin, and plow-through all in the same racket! For intermediate to advanced-level players, this racket is not for the faint-hearted!

Pure Aero Plus

The Babolat Pure Aero Plus  is the perfect racket for players who want the spin of the original but also want a bit more power and leverage. The extended length is great for additional reach and offers a bit more forgiveness. 

Pure Aero Team

Babolat’s Pure Aero Team is a great option for a beginner to intermediate player who likes the original but just wants something slightly more manageable to swing.

Is the Babolat Pure Aero the Right Racket for Me?

If you are an all-round baseliner who loves to rip balls with plenty to spin, the pure aero is your racket! It is perfect for players who want to maximize their racket head speed and push their opponents around with angles and heavy groundstrokes.

Personalised racket and string recommendations to supercharge your game!

Babolat Pure Strike

The Babolat Pure Strike is one of the newer models in the line up. It replaces the pure storm, which is Babolat’s answer to the very control oriented Wilson Pro Staff and Blade models.

A Quick Summary of Babolat’s Pure Strike Range

The Babolat Pure Strike has become a popular racket amongst players with attacking game styles. Its stiffness, controlled frame, and optimum balance make it perfect for a player who likes to take big cuts at the ball but also get up the court and dominate at the net whenever possible. 

Players like Dominic Thiem, Jo Wilfred Tsonga, and Brandon Nakashima have all used the pure strike to their advantage, making the most of its control and crisp feel.

The Different Rackets in the Pure Strike Range

Here is a breakdown of the Babolat pure strike models so you know exactly what you’re searching for!

Pure Strike

The original Pure Strike is a well-balanced tennis racket that focuses on control and offering feel above power and spin. The pure strike comes in 16×19 form for more spin and a lively feel or an 18×20 string pattern for a more controlled experience. 

Pure Strike VS

The Pure Strike VS is arguably the most control-focused racket in the whole Babolat lineup. Whilst it is not the heaviest version of the Pure Strike, it does have a smaller frame and is easier to swing than the weighty tour version, so it is perfect for precision players who like to dominate at the net. 

Pure Strike Tour

The heaviest version of the pure strike is the Tour version . This is perfect for players that have big swings and need a bit more weight in their racket to contain their raw power!

Pure Strike Team

The Babolat Pure Strike Team is a slightly lighter, easier-to-swing version of the original racket. This makes it perfect for improving beginners or intermediate players that just want a racket that is a little easier to handle! 

Pure Strike 100

The Pure Strike 100 is a slightly more forgiving version of the original stick, as the head size is slightly more generous. The larger sweet spot this offers makes it a more comfortable, powerful, and well-rounded racket to play with without compromising on feel or control. 

If you are an aggressive player who likes to hit a few big shots from the baseline and then attack the net at any given opportunity, the Babolat pure strike is the racket for you!

This racket’s feel, control, and spin makes it perfect for an all-court game.

Pure Drive vs Pure Aero vs Pure Strike: Struggling to Decide Between the Three?

The Babolat Pure Drive, Pure Aero, and Pure Strike models are all fantastic tennis racket choices for players at the beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels of tennis. Each model suits different game styles, and there are plenty of variants to choose from based on your specific needs. 

However, finding the right tennis racket is hard at the best of times. With so many different models, brands, and variants to choose from, sifting through them all can be a challenge. Not to mention pairing your chosen racket with the right strings and then knowing what tension to use!

That’s why we wanted to make the process of choosing the perfect racket easier.

It’s why we developed our custom fitting service . We offer expert advice for players of all ages and experience levels all over the world. 

Once you have filled out our detailed questionnaire, we will hand-pick three rackets, string combinations, and tension recommendations based on your specific requirements. 

Why not check out our custom fitting service today?

Now Take Your Game to the Next Level

Overall, there isn’t exactly a perfect racket in the world. The truth is, the perfect racket is the one that fits your game best!

However, Babolat is an incredibly popular brand in tennis, so it makes sense that we offer an overview of their most popular models. 

The Pure Drive, Pure Aero, and Pure Strike all have their merits for different reasons:

• Pure Drives are perfect for power players
• Pure Aeros are spin-friendly for heavy hitters
• Pure Strikes are precision tools for attacking players. 

That being said, here are some more free resources for you to help find your perfect tennis racket:

• 7 Best Tennis Racket Brands: Discover Your Excalibur! (2023)
• Best Women’s Tennis Rackets 2023 (Reviews: 5+ Top Racquets)
• Best Tennis Rackets For Power
• How to Choose Your Perfect Tennis Racket

And remember, we can do all the research for you.

Get a custom fitting today !

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Jan 4, 2024 • Babolat Pure Strike

Babolat Pure Strike Tour 3rd Gen Tennis Racket Review

A Powerful and Precise Weapon for Advanced Players Babolat's Pure Strike is one of our favorite racket families, celebrated for delivering exceptional control and the potential to unleash tremendous power. During our playtest, we experienced firsthand how this racket is tailor-made for advanced players with aggressive, full swings who want…

Nov 7, 2023 • Babolat Pure Aero

Babolat Pure Aero 98 (2023) Review

Looking for a high-performance tennis racket that will take your game to the next level? The Babolat Pure Aero 98 (2023) might just be the answer. In this review, we'll dive into the features and benefits of this popular tennis racket, helping you make an informed decision before your next…

Babolat Pure Strike VS 2022 tennis racquet review

Here is my review of the Babolat Pure Strike VS tennis racquet (2022), a "control" racquet for good players who are rather powerful.

I tested the racquet with a Head Sonic Pro string, tension 23 Kg.

The racquet will be available at the end of January 2022.

Babolat Pure Strike VS 2022 video review

Babolat Pure Strike VS 2022 specifications

Here are the characteristics of the Babolat Pure Strike VS 2022, for an unstrung racquet :

• Weight : 310g
• Balance : 31cm
• Swingweight : ?
• Head size : 626 cm² / 97 in²
• String pattern : 16x20
• Beam width : 21/22/21 mm
• Stiffness : 66 Ra
• Length : 68.5 cm

The grip size

The grip of the racquet I tested was in size 3 (4 3/8), my usual size, however I was surprised by the size of the grip which bothered me a bit because I found it rather large, more like a size 4 (4 1/2).

I also had in hand a Babolat Pure Aero Rafa, size 3, which gave me the same impression.

If purchasing a Babolat racquet, I recommend that you check the grip size to make sure it fits you.

Protection band of the frame

Upon receiving the racquet, I immediately noticed the particularly present frame protection band, interesting for protecting the frame when the racquet hits the ground.

The protective band covers the upper half of the frame.

Babolat Pure Strike VS 2022 power level

The Babolat Pure Strike VS, without being one of the hardest racquets to play, is still in a demanding and low power racquet category.

On my topspin backhand, which is my best shot, I had a good level of power and control.

On my forehand, I had overall decent power at the start of the session, but the weight of the racquet a bit high for me (310 g unstrung) combined with the relatively low power of the racquet, meant that over of training, I found it difficult to produce power.

On the serve, as on the forehand, I had decent power, but I would be more comfortable on this shot with a racquet that gives more power easily.

To sum up when it comes to the power of the Babolat Pure Strike VS 2022, it is clearly a control oriented tennis racquet, intended for players of a good level, who are able to produce power with their technique and their physique and who are looking for a racquet with which they can let go of the arm without being afraid of making mistakes.

Here is a comparison in terms of power with other racquets :

More powerful rackets

• Head size >= 645 cm²
• Head Extreme Tour, Radical
• Babolat Pure Drive, Pure Aero, including VS versions
• Babolat Pure Strike 100, 16x19
• Tecnifibre TFight 300
• Wilson Clash 98, Blade 98
• Prince O3 Beast 98
• Yonex Vcore 98, Ezone 98

Similar power :

• Wilson Pro Staff 97
• Yonex Vcore Pro 97
• Head Gravity Pro, Tour
• Babolat Pure Strike 18x20

Less power :

• Head Prestige Tour, Pro
• Tecnifibre TF 40
• Yonex VCore 95
• Prince Phantom 93P

Babolat Pure Strike VS and spins

Regarding the backhand slice, I had excellent feelings in terms of touch and control.

On my top spin backhand it was okay, and I had more difficulty with top spin on the forehand and on the serve.

The 626 cm² head size and 16x20 string pattern reduce the space between the strings, which explains these sensations.

Access to top spin will be fine for players who use light top spin, on the other hand, be careful if you are looking for very easy access to top spin.

Maneuverability and stability for the Pure Strike VS 2022

The racquet is relatively head light, with its balance located at 31 cm, which helps to give the racquet a good maneuverability.

The average head size of 626 cm² and the rather thin profile of the frame also help to have maneuverability.

The racquet is therefore easy to swing and stable, but you have to be sure that you can play with a 310g racquet.

Indeed, playing with a raquet whose weight is too heavy for you, regardless of its other characteristics, will produce a lack of maneuverability and swing speed.

Some may find a little lack of stability due to the fairly light racquet head.

In this case, it will be possible to add lead tape, provided that you can play with this additional weight.

Comfort and forgiveness for the Babolat Pure Strike VS 2022

I found the Babolat Pure Strike VS comfortable, yet less smooth than what I felt with the Babolat Pure Strike 100.

The sensations for me are different from those we have with other Babolat Pure Strikes; the vibration damping is correct but less marked than with the other models, we find sensations a bit old-fashioned.

Regarding tolerance, one should not expect extreme indulgence from a racquet with a 626 cm² head size, however, I found it to be correct given this reduced head size and the slightly narrowed 16x20 string pattern.

Summary of my review of the Babolat Pure Strike VS version 2022

The Babolat Pure Strike VS 2022, while not the hardest to play tennis racquet, falls into the category of control oriented racquets, which do not give much power.

It is intended for good, powerful players who play flat or with slight top spin, who are looking for control and a little old-fashioned feel in terms of vibration damping.

The maneuverability is very good, access to top spin is average, the racquet is comfortable and it offers good forgiveness for this type of racquet.

Players I would advise the Babolat Pure Strike VS 2022

I would recommend this racquet to players :

• of a good level, mainly advanced players
• who are able to play without problems with a relatively heavy racket (310 g),
• who have rather ample and loose swings,
• with a powerful game style, flat or light  top spin, who seek a good level of control,
• who want a maneuverable "control" oriented racquet with correct forgiveness.

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Babolat Pure Strike Tour Racquet Review

The babolat pure strike tour is a lethal weapon for the attacking player. this 2nd generation pure strike packs power, precision, but lacks some feel..

Before I move on with this Babolat Pure Strike Tour racquet review I want to thank All Things Tennis for the demo racquet. Since I have difficulty getting demo racquets from Babolat, it is great to have an alternative. If you purchase a racquet from All Things Tennis you can use the code TENNISNERD and get 5% off on your purchase.

The Babolat Pure Strike Tour took a break for the 2nd generation of the Pure Strike but is now back in generation number 3. And we should be happy it is back because it actually plays like a proper weapon for advanced players. Power, precision, stability, they’re all there. The missing ingredient is the feel and that is likely due to the dampening tech involved in making this racquet more comfortable.

Babolat Pure Strike Tour – Specs and Tech

Weight: 320 grams Head size: 98 sq inches Balance: 31.5 cm or 9 pts HL Stiffness: 68-ish Swing weight: 300 String pattern: 16×19 Grip: Synthetic

I strung the racquet with Babolat RPM Blast at 24 kg / 54 lbs and added an overgrip. The strung specs were:

341 grams, 32.2 cm balance (6-7 pts HL) and a swing weight of 343.

The racquet comes with Control Frame Technology which is: “Developed to ensure maximum control, this technology combines the stability of a square beam frame with the dynamism of a regular elliptic structure.”

And C2 Pure Feel which Babolat describes like this: “Powered by SMAC, this is the latest generation of the Pure Feel technology, a cutting-edge vibration filtration lay-up system that brings a pure feel on every shot.”

Read about the new Pure Strike on Babolat’s official website .

How does it play?

Like most Babolat racquets, the Pure Strike Tour packs a lot of power and spin. Compared to the Aero and Drive series, the Strike is more about directional control and less about spin, which makes it more suitable for players who hit flatter shots. It really is a series perfectly suited to aggressive baseliners.

The Tour version is stable, powerful and precise. It allows you to really go for the lines and attack the ball with aggression and intent. I liked it a lot from the back of the court but struggled with touch shots. The feeling is a bit too muted and you lose the ball a bit on drop shots and touch volleys. The comfort is improved over the previous version, but you need to be careful when you work with dampening technology so you don’t lose that precious connection to the ball.

If it had offered a bit better touch, I would seriously have considered this as a racquet of choice because it is a lot of fun to hit with and I really enjoyed hitting with it. But I just like a bit more feel.  This does not mean that a lot of players won’t fall in love with this racquet. If you like a bit of extra weight and want to really make the ball explode on impact – the Pure Strike Tour is a must demo.

Jonas Eriksson

Jonas has been known as "tennis nerd" mainly for his obsessing about racquets and gear. Plays this beautiful sport almost every day.

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Great review Jonas! Was wondering if you could give more details on how the Strike Tour compares to the latest Vcore Pro 97 330? What would have more power and would be easier to use? Also, which do you prefer of the two? Thanks!

Interesting! I’m getting addicted to the heavy RF97 but I suspect this is because I grew up with the old school technique with not so much open stance and high racquet speed. Trying to re-learn and switch to modern mechanics so a faster stick with the same feel sounds good. At least until I have increased muscle mass to > Nadal levels :)

Anyone tried the 315 gram Pro Staff 97 ? Is it like the autograph or something different?

I have one “standard” (315 gm) Pro Staff 97 in the 2018-19 black on black colorway.

I really like the stick: stiffness, ball feel (where it is on the stringbed), power is all great for my game.. I just wish it was 18×20. I have one Ultra Tour which supplies the string pattern I prefer but it’s a little soft for me.

The Pure Strike 18×20 is like a blend of the two. You may prefer the 2017 gen (still available) over the 3rd gen as it is pre C2 Pure Feel, but either way it’s a frame that you might like if you are a fan of the Pro Staff line. And, yes, I’m switching , or at least, “cohabitating” with my trusty Tfight 315 XTC Ltd. 18×20, my current primary weapon.

(me: I’m a former 5.0+ getting back into the game after a couple decades away.)

Thank for the info! The spec of Pro Staff 315g says Counterveil. Is the response not muted compared to the autograph? I now have a Pure Strike 16×19 on order. I hope I get to try it before i die in CV19… I guess I can customize a bit with strings and balance. Starting with Luxilon Alupower at 24kg. I can’t seem to decide what I like. I like all racquets in some way it seems and I now have a bag full of different ones. Surprisingly, Wilson Clash was the only disappointment so far.

Don’t confuse yourself: they still had the “standard” 315 gm Pro Staff 97 without Countervail, which is what I have. fwiw, I’d heard Wilson was dropping the CV version in 2020, which doesn’t break my heart in the least. When real players hit a crappy, off-center ball we want it to *feel* like a crappy, off-center ball, am I right ?

I’m with you with the “feel it all” strategy. I never really thought I would like RF97 much but figured it would be a good training tool to practice precision. Now, I can’t stop playing with it even though I can really feel the effect on my arm after an intensive session. I have only played with one CV racquet but it was the SW104 autograph so it’s not a normal stick. I can’t make it work well but I keep trying every now and then because it serves like a monster compared to everything else I tried. Confusing with the changes between model years and the lack of info around it.

I have now played a bit with the Pure Strike. Very easy transition from Pro Staff and I felt right at home. More plush feel. Maybe a bit more power and not quite the same connection.

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Babolat Pure Strike Tour review

The Babolat Pure Strike is the newest addition to the Babolat racquet line. This time around, the Babolat Pure Strike Tour will include some new technologies and is a completely new line of tennis racquets for 2014. I was lucky enough to get my hands on the heavier Babolat Pure Strike Tour for about a week. I practiced with it, did drills with it, played some points, and played a few sets with this new Babolat frame for 2014.

Babolat Pure Strike Tour technology for 2014

Babolat added a few new features for the Pure Strike line:

• Response Woofer (grommets) – Babolat added PEBAX to their grommet composition. PEBAX is designed to absorb the energy thus giving more dampening properties to the grommet and frame, allowing for a more comfortable experience. PEBAX is also 20% lighter than traditional materials used in other frames.
• X-Sider – The inside of the frame, at the 3 o’clock and 9 o’clock position, has been thinned out to give each player an expanded sweetspot, estimated at 10%. This is good for when ball contact is off center, the expanded sweetspot will be more forgiving.
• Stabilizer Technology – The Pure Strike frames have been constructed in a way to give more torsional stability. Basically, when you hit the ball off center, the racquet is less likely to twist in your hand and create an error.  Stable swings people!

Stringing the Babolat Pure Strike Tour

The Pure Strike frames come with a dense string pattern with 18 main string and 20 cross strings (also referred to as a closed string pattern). The Babolat Pure Strike 100 will come with an open string pattern, 16 mains and 19 crosses (more spin).

I got the Babolat Pure Strike Tour version, which has 18 mains and 20 crosses. I normally play with an open pattern that gives me more spin, so I opted to use a thin gauge tennis string, MSV Focus Hex 17L , this way I would still be able to generate some spin when/if needed. Installing the string was fairly simple, nothing out of the ordinary, pretty standard in my opinion. I tied off my final knot and was ready to hit the courts!

First impressions and hitting with the Babolat Pure Strike Tour

This frame is a beast! I like hefty frames, but I like them head light, this way I can maneuver and whip that racquet head around quickly when I need to. The Babolat Pure Strike Tour made me work…hard! The weight is listed at, unstrung, 324 grams (11.4 ounces), 7 points head light, and a RA rating of 66 (frame flexibility); nice looking specs. When I did my unstrung measurements, I got 328 grams (11.5 ounces) and 5 points head light; I don’t have a flexibility measuring tool at the moment, so I was unable to measure stiffness. Once I had all the string installed, Pete Sampras O dampener , and Tourna Grip Dry overgrip installed, the measurements changed drastically; 354 grams (12.48 ounces) and 2 points head light…a completely different frame.

Like I said, the frame is a beast; it’s hefty on the backswing and solid on the plowthrough. Once I dialed in my strokes, the court penetration was very impressive, I was hitting incredibly deep forehands and backhands. The stability of the frame was also impressive, incoming shots with weight and speed were easily absorbed by the Babolat Pure Strike Tour, with no twisting in my hands. I was impressed. I did not have to swing hard to get the depth I was getting off the groundstrokes, it was just a matter of getting the racquet head through the contact zone at the right time.

My volleys and backhand slices did come to life with the Babolat Pure Strike Tour! When I hit a well timed backhand slice, the ball would stay very low and would sail deep in to my opponents side of the court, only to skid and slide. It was a thing of beauty. I preferred hitting a slice on the backhand instead of my one-hander. The slice was just that easy to commit to and execute, it was a very effective tool when constructing an approach shot to finish with a penetrating volley.

My one-handed backhand suffered tremendously, I struggled to get the timing right with near even balance of the Babolat Pure Strike Tour. The takeback was fine; it was the swing that threw me off. I could not get the racquet head to come through fast enough to meet the ball at the right time. Generally I would find that my backhand was very late, so I had to make a few adjustments to my timing to swing a bit earlier. Once I started swinging earlier, I noticed an improvement in ball contact. I still struggled in getting the heft of the racquet through but I made due.

The Babolat Pure Strike Tour is not much of a servers tennis racquet. I can’t sugarcoat this, this frame is incredibly demanding when serving. If you are lazy in any aspect of your service motion, you will be disappointed. Like my backhand, I struggled to bring the racquet up quickly enough to ball contact. Head light frames are easy to whip the head into the contact spot but with the Pure Strike, it was something completely different. I consider myself somewhat strong, I can lift lots of weight and I have a powerful enough serve to muscle quick first serves; so I was a little shocked that I had to make so much effort in serving with this tennis racquet. Though, when I got the groove and timing down, the Babolat Pure Strike Tour serves quite nicely, it’s not a fast serve but it does add weight to the ball; so easy errors from unsuspecting receivers are easy to come by.

Because of the dense string pattern allows for a more controlled serve, for the corners and “T” serves. I didn’t quite get enough spin to hit some good kickers or slices, but I made due with what I had and was able to generate enough spin to roll the ball enough to come in for a quick put away or wait for a nice sitter to put into the opposite corner.

One particular characteristic I noticed about the Babolat Pure Strike Tour frame was that it didn’t have the traditional feel of a typical Babolat frame. If you’ve hit with a Babolat frame before, you know there’s a certain “ping” to it, sort of a hollow feel to the frames. The Strike Tour gave a very solid feel upon contact, this was a pleasant change from the other frames. The feel was more of a classic, graphite, frame; you know, the frames from yesteryear. I was happy with the construction of this new stick.

After three consecutive days of hitting with the Babolat Pure Strike Tour I noticed a bit of tenderness surfacing in my shoulder and wrist. The tenderness in my shoulder was likely due to the fact that the frame is heavier than what I normally play with and the muscles surrounding my shoulder were starting to feel fatigued. The pain in my wrist though, that’s something fairly new. I’m fairly certain that the pain was caused by two factors, the weight and the frame stiffness. Babolat claims to have a RA rating of 66, which is middle of the road in terms of stiffness; while I do believe the Babolat Pure Strike Tour is more flexible than the Pure Drive or Aero Storm, it’s still pretty stiff. If I had to say what RA rating I think it really has, I would feel confident in saying that 68/69 is closer to reality; it just didn’t have the plush feeling of a flexible frame.

Final thoughts on this Babolat Pure Strike Tour review

I spent quite a bit of time with this beastly tennis racquet, I like it for the most part but there are some characteristics that turned me off from buying one. I absolutely loved the depth penetration and plow through with this stick, I could put the ball where I wanted it when I needed. Changing directions were flawless, I could exchanged forehand cross courts and go down the line with little effort. Though I did struggle with the weight and balance of the Babolat Pure Strike Tour, I thoroughly enjoyed hitting groundstrokes with it. I had a hard time getting the timing of the weight with my serve so that proved to be the biggest challenge, though once efforts were made, I could put the tennis ball anywhere in the service box.

Ultimately, the Babolat Pure Strike Tour is for tennis players who absolutely revolve their game around control and placement (who also have flat strokes), and who don’t necessarily care too much about spin. Oh yeah, and you have to be physically strong to play with this thing…it will keep you on your toes and make you commit to timing and perfection.

Really though, the Babolat Pure Strike Tour is not a bad tennis racquet, it’s just very demanding. If I had the opportunity to spend a bit more time with the frame, I would absolutely put a leather grip on…to bring the balance back to the handle. By doing this I could get the racquet head speed that was lacking from the stock model. Oh and if you do plan on buying a Babolat Pure Strike Tour and you are coming from a 16×19 string pattern, lower your tension by about 5 pounds.

Babolat Pure Strike Tour specs:

Head size: 98 inches Length: 27 inches Balance: 7 points head light (printed) Flex: 66RA String Pattern: 18×20

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