Racket review: Babolat pure drive

 

Originally published on: 06/05/12 00:00

Frame: Babolat Pure Drive
Suitable for: Advanced (top club, county and professional) players
tennishead award: Testers’ choice Serve-Volley Star
Used by: Li Na, Kim Clijsters
RRP: £159.99
Head size: 100sq.in
Unstrung weight: 300g
Length: 27 inches
String pattern: 16×19
Balance: 32cm
Beam: 23-26mm

Hold off on the technical jargon – what will this frame do for my game?
Babolat has hit the nail on the head with this update to the Pure Drive family. Although traditionally a power-based racket, this new model – as used by Li Na and Kim Clijsters – provides much more control and accuracy than its predecessors. Power is still easily accessed on serve and groundstrokes but the feeling of security when striking the ball is heightened. That makes it a real asset for the attack-minded players among you. With its 100-square-inch head and, in places, 26-millimetre beam, the Pure Drive offers heaps of power from the back and, most crucially, on serve as well. The decent-sized face has an ample sweetspot and we found the racket to be very much on our side when up at the net too. Get the strings behind the ball and you’ll get real penetration on volleys.

Go on then, give us the technical bit:
GT Technology incorporates tungsten filaments and carbon fibers through the entire frame to deliver 10% additional energy recovery. Babolat’s patented Woofer technology makes the frame and strings interact when striking the ball and delivers 25% more contact time between the ball and strings. Cortex Damping System above the grip ensures seamless transmission of the most essential information to a player’s hand with every strike of the ball.

In English? 
Very nice feel and control.

Where can I find out more? www.babolat.com

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