Babolat Pure Drive racquets have been the staple of the Babolat family since they were introduced in 1994. The racquet has been popular because of its ability to generate power and spin easily. Babolat created this racquet with extensive input from tennis players and it shows.
Previous versions of the Babolat Pure Drive were very stiff. To address this, Babolat has added special materials to reduce vibrations. The racquet has diamond-shaped grommet holes and wider string spacing which gives players impressive power and spin. The wider 16 x 19 spacing also allows players to hit a heavy ball from the baseline. The contact point for the Babolat Pure Drive is shifted more towards the top of the racquet.
This 100 sq. in racquet weighs 11.2 oz and should work well for both beginner and intermediate players. The larger head offers a bigger sweet spot for your shots. Even with the recent changes, some players may find the racquet a little stiff.
Racquet Specs
- Weight: 11.2 oz.
- Head Size: 100 sq. in.
- Length: 27 inches
- Stiffness: 71
- Balance: 12.99 in 33 cm (4pts Head Light)
- String Pattern: 16 mains x 19 crosses
It’s an ideal racquet for players who like to hit big shots from the baseline. The racquet has good maneuverability and allows players to hit a big serve. Andy Roddick used this stick to serve 140 mph serves. Kim Clijsters also used this racquet with good success from the baseline. Among the current players, Karolina Pliskova, Fabio Fognini, and Garbine Muguruza use the Babolat Pure Drive.
This racquet does not offer the same level of control as the Babolat Pure Strike. But beginner and intermediate players will have a lot of power and spin to work with from the baseline.