Best Babolat Racquet For Me
Babolat racquets are great for players of all levels looking for power, spin and even control! But how do you know which is best for you, your game and your ability level? Take a closer look at the 3 main families so you can choose the best racquet for your game!
Pure Aero
The Pure Aero line of racquets is one of the most popular families in production and we're sure you recognize it since many top players including, Rafael Nadal, endorse these yellow and black frames. While the standard Pure Aero is a great racquet loaded with spin and power, it is best for intermediate and advanced players. Beginners will want to take a look at the Pure Aero Lite and Pure Aero Team as they are lighter and easier to swing. Are you an advanced player? Then you will want to check out the Pure Aero 98 or the extended Pure Aero Plus as these racquets are stable and will load your shots with mass if you have the right technique. One thing is for sure, all of the Pure Aero racquets come with an aerodynamic beam and are ideal for players looking to add vicious spin and power to their game.
Pure Aero 98
"I had more RPMs on my groundstrokes but hit the ball lower over the net, so while my shots looked 'flat,' my balls were tighter with spin, and I could spit them out fast, hard and deep to attack my opponents."
-Michelle, TW Playtester
The Pure Aero 98, officially endorsed by Carlos Alcaraz and widely used on both tours, is in many ways the benchmark for a modern frame. While its aerodynamics reward more vertical swing paths, this racquet is exceptionally well-rounded, making it accessible to pretty much all styles of play, including more traditional, linear strokes. Earning one of the highest overall scores to date for a single racquet, the Pure Aero 98 launched to critical acclaim here at Tennis Warehouse, with both our flatter hitters and more spin-oriented players quickly becoming smitten by what this versatile weapon offers. It utilizes the increasingly popular, slightly denser 16x20 string pattern, which balances more control with plenty of spin capability still. Its 305 gram or 10.8 ounce weight is stable yet fast, and the beam has been updated to cut through the air faster than ever before.
Pure Aero
"I felt I could really be aggressive on my returns, and this created some extra confidence. I was able to step in even against a first serve, get the Pure Aero into position and attack it."
-Brittany, TW Playtester
The Pure Aero is one of the most beloved franchise frames over the last few decades, and for good reason, thanks to its unique combination of spin and power, not to mention speed through the air. It's hard to go wrong with an evergreen 16x19 string pattern, 300 gram or 10.6 weight, and 100 square inch hoop these days, but this Pure Aero has that extra special something that makes it work wonders in the hands of juniors and pros alike. Especially conducive for whipping up heavier topspin, the standard Pure Aero is one of the best options for those who play a spin-heavy game, looking to shape shots that jump up off the court with extra venom. If you spin to win, look no further than the racquet that helped usher in the "modern forehand."
Pure Aero Plus
"Best of all, I was getting good consistency to go along with the extra pace."
-Chris, TW Playtester
There aren't too many extended length frames with this much of an emphasis on spin. For serious, competitive players who need some extra help with reach, power, or on serve especially, it is well worth considering an extended length racquet to boost your game in all areas except maneuverability typically. This Pure Aero Plus packs a surprising amount of feel, and our team noted the higher swingweight as helpful for stabilizing the shot through the swing path. Factor in the Pure Aero's inherent spin capabilities, and all of a sudden you've got a hammer from the baseline, capable of whipping up heavy, arcing line drives from wherever on the court.
Pure Drive
The Pure Drive family of racquets is known for its speed, power and spin for the modern game. These cool, blue racquets are all user-friendly, but there is a wide range of weights (and a couple extended versions) giving players of every ability level a powerful option. If you are a beginner and newer to tennis, you will love the array of lighter choices such as the Pure Drive Team and Pure Drive Lite, which are great entry level racquets that will be quick and easy to swing. And players looking for an even bigger sweetspot can check out the Pure Drive 107 and Pure Drive 110, which are slightly oversized, light and speedy. Aggressive intermediate and advanced players will find the standard Pure Drive to be a good place to start. Craving more weight or length? Then you should definitely explore the heavier or extended options including the Pure Drive Plus. Lastly, players who crave a bit more control with their power will want to take a closer look at the newest addition to this family, the Pure Drive 98. It has a thinner, more flexible feel along with a nice blend of speed and power, which makes it a solid choice for experienced hitters.
Pure Drive
"It does everything you would want a Pure Drive to do, except a bit better."
-Zsofi, TW Playtester
The Pure Drive is one of the most iconic racquets over the last thirty years for good reason. It emphasizes power above all else, but make no mistake, this racquet packs plenty of feel and touch too, viable from juniors to professionals and everyone in between. The racquet's mains are fairly densely spaced in the center, providing some necessary control to help balance out the pop from the racquet's thicker, rounded beam. It uses the classic recipe of a 300-gram (10.6 ounce) unstrung weight, paired with a 100 square-inch hoop and a 16x19 string pattern. The Pure Drive remains of those racquets you can recommend to most anyone, especially now that its been rebuilt to offer more comfort without compromising on performance.
Pure Drive 98
"I felt very connected to the ball and found a lot of ease in opening up the court."
-Munish, TW Playtester
When Babolat finally released a smaller, more control-oriented version of the Pure Drive, many fans rejoiced, as there was now finally an answer to their want for a more precise option of one of the most powerful racquets in the game. Babolat squared off the beam's profile towards the top of the hoop, providing the user with more feel and control through what is understood to be a more traditional geometry for more classic sensations upon and through contact. Additionally, the Pure Drive 98 utilizes the modern sensation 16x20 string pattern, 305-gram or 10.8 ounce unstrung weight, and (of course) a 98 square-inch head size for more precision. Our team really enjoyed what a more precise version of the Pure Drive unlocked for them on court, and most of them noted the improved feel compared to prior, limited options like the Pure Drive VS. For fans of predictable power and those with a flatter game, the Pure Drive 98 is an excellent option.
Pure Drive Plus
"It was easy to crank up the spin and hit sharp angles. Not only was the spin generation easy, but the power also comes easily with this racquet."
-Troy, TW Playtester
There's power, and then there's an extended length Pure Drive Plus power. If reach, leverage, and power are the foundations of your game, then you'd be hard-pressed to find a better power-based option for extending your capabilites on court. Some of our hardest serves to date here at Tennis Warehouse have been rifled off with a Pure Drive Plus. For the competitive player looking for power above all else, the Pure Drive Plus is calling your name.
Pure Strike
Looking for a bit more control and feel, but still enough power to dictate points? Then the Pure Strike racquets might be perfect for you! This family has great options for modern players who crave control, feel, power and spin! We've found they have a more flexible feel and offer better feedback than the Pure Aeros and Pure Drives. Beginners will want to start by looking at the Pure Strike Team as it is the lightest, and easiest to swing model in the line up. From there, intermediate and advanced players have a plethora of options -- whether you are looking for more power, both the Pure Strike 100 and Pure Strike 98 16x19 will work well; or if you crave a bit more control, then try the Pure Strike 18x20 or the Pure Strike 100 16x20. If you want the most feel from this line of racquets and you have developed groundstrokes, there is the Pure Strike 97 with a thinner, more flexible beam. Now available in a sleek, Carbon Grey cosmetic finish.
"With the Pure Strike 98 I could be very precise with my targets and go for higher risk shots at times to make up for the lower speeds on my forehands and backhands."
-Brittany, TW Playtester
"Crisp and clean is how I would describe the Pure Strike 98 18x20 on volleys."
-Mark, TW Playtester
"With the Pure Strike 97 I had lots of fun moving the ball around the court to get my opponents on the run and had the pleasure of feeling fully confident in all of my shots."
-Chris, TW Playtester
