Comments: When I first picked up this racquet and played, I beat my opponent so badly he was left scratching his head. This frame has easy power and easy spin. It is stiff, light weight, and powerful... almost too powerful. It can lull you into lazy form and footwork because it's so easy to just smash the ball back. They really are pushing the boundary on how stiff you can go... I can say that playing extensively any length of time with it will start to wake up your tendons, ligaments, and muscles. It's not arm friendly I can say that. It also feels brassy or tinny. The racquet feels hollow and stiff as well, the feel is crisp but numb. There is virtually zero dwell time or ball pocketing feel. Just springs right off the string bed.
From: Daniel, 11/9/18

Comments: Very good racquet. Just enough weight and plow through for me. From the baseline, it is real cannon. Very precise cannon. The serve is less penetrating if compared to Pure Aero. The same with the grip - Aero Pro has more convenient grip. At net it is pretty much solid and yet precise. I strung it with MSV Focus-Hex at 24/23 kg. Though it is stated in review that it lack some feel and touch - I didn't notice that. Nor it is that firm. Very much comfortable for wrist and elbow. Control is above my expectations. At the moment I am playing with stock configuration. Surely I can recommend it for demo.
From: Andrey, 3/3/18

Comments: First strung with Kirschbaum Pro Line X 17 at 52 lbs, have to say, a lot of power. Despite all the power, it was still pretty easy to control and keep within the baseline with the easy access to spin. It feels more solid than a Graphene Instinct MP but not as much as a Vcore Tour G, but it was enough to not twist in the hand for most shots. Depth on groundstrokes and volleys were almost free and it was easy to hit any type of serve without much effort. The stiffness was there, so it certainly wasn't the most comfortable racquet to hit with, but it didn't bother me very much. The Pure Drive was a lot of fun to hit with from anywhere on the court, only complaint would be the comfort.
From: SN, 2/5/18

Comments: Great stick. Switched from my Prince EXO 3 Black 100. No problem with the stiffness. I use a 17g Prince Synthetic Poly at 57 pounds. I am a 4.0/4.5 serve and volley doubles player.
From: John, 1/6/18

Comments: I played a match today with this racquet and I was able to bludgeon the ball. However, the best word I can use to describe this stick is that it felt "numb." I didn't feel anything at all. I guess that's because of the stiffness. To me, it felt like a wood paddle, no strings. When I'm playing tennis I like to be able to feel the racquet if that makes sense. Don't get me wrong, I was absolutely bludgeoning the ball and I won so I can't really complain. But those are my thoughts.
From: Jake, 6/25/17

Comments: This racquet has changed the face of recreational tennis, and the game itself. Powerful and lightweight from being super stiff. The physics are simple. However, within hitting 5 balls my arm hurt and they all flew 5 feet out. No surprise to see many of the pros who use the Pure Drive on tour have the stiffness reduced to low 60s by Babolat. There's a saying in tennis "wizard not wand." This is "all wand." At some point, Babolat will make a playerless racquet!
From: Louis, 2/16/17

Comments: Outstanding! This past May, I tried this tennis racquet out as a demo from somebody in one of the local tennis clubs I play out of from time to time. First off, it was one of the best racquets I've ever tried. I'm a big fan of Babolat tennis products. I got excellent topspin and power with this racquet. Was able to generate spin with this racquet especially on the serve and the forehand. If you are a singles tennis player, this racquet should produce very positive results in my opinion because of the spin potential. In fact, most of the locals I play tennis with use this tennis racquet and they have some 2, 3, or 4 of these tennis Pure Drive racquets in their tennis bags. That's how good this tennis racquet is. This would have been my tennis racquet of choice, but it was out of my budget price range. Hope the price comes down in the near future. Definitely worth a demo and highly recommend this tennis racquet.
From: Anonymous, 12/16

Comments: I'm a classic head case when it comes to racquets. I'll hit with a racquet once and fall in love with its positive attributes and ignore its shortcomings. This makes it hard for me to be satisfied enough with a racquet to stick with it. I always think the grass is greener on the other side. I'll think I'm satisfied but a few days later, my babies are tucked away in my bag while I'm in "cheat mode" roaming around the local park looking to get my hands on something else. Well, that was the old me. I have decided to put a ring on this Pure Drive. It's just a solid racquet across every category. The weight and distribution of the weight just feels right. If i need to play aggressive, this one has plenty of pop and the mass to get the job done while I'm on top of the baseline dictating play. If I'm having an off day and need to retreat behind the baseline, this racquet is plenty maneuverable and offers the kind of easy power i need to get the job done. There's plenty of spin to be had if you need some margin in your game. It also works great for flat hitters because of the amount of power you can get on a short, flat swing-plane. Volleys? very easy. big sweetspot, maneuverable, with lots of easy power. It's hard not to feel comfortable with this one up at net. Serves? Check. So much pop and control. I've tried them all folks and this is the one racquet I feel comfortable with in every category. If you are on the fence, just know that you can't go wrong with a pure drive. Don't fall for the, "but the pure drive is so stiff!" cliche. Yes it is. But with the Pure Drive, the high stiffness benefits every type of player. It will take some trial and error to find the right string setup. I have found the following setups to perform best: Cyclone Tour at 50 lbs, Tourna Big Hitter Black 7 at 50 lbs, multi- feel/4G at 54/50 lbs, Red code/multi-feel 50/53 lbs. Start with a hybrid and go from there. Hope this helps a potential buyer.
From: Drew, 12/16

Comments: I have been a classic racquet user for over two decades. Pro Staff and Prince Graphite were the only racquets in my bag until I demoed this racquet. The Pure Drive has so much power that I can still hit winners even if I'm out of position. I might consider switching to this racket now that I'm older and can no longer handle the weight of classic racquets.
From: Chang, 11/16

Comments: Great racquet, but I found it to be too stiff. This new Pure Drive really killed my elbow the first day. Strung with a poly at 59 lbs. Will try it at a lower tension.
From: Alejandro, 11/16
Note from TW: Hi Alejandro -- We would definitely suggest finding a softer poly and dropping the tension to avoid future issues with your arm. Let us know if we can suggest some soft polys!

Comments: A great, powerful, and smooth racquet. Great swingweight for the aggressive baseline player. As far as string tension goes, for those who can control their power, 50 lbs is a good tension. As a long time customer of Babolat, it means quite a bit to say that the Pure Drive is one of my favorite racquets.
From: Aiden, 11/16

Comments: Great racquet. Works well for aggressive baselines.
From: Marco, 11/16

Comments: I am Volkl fan. Over the last 5 years, I've played with PB10 Mid. Before with a Wilson KPS 88, Head Prestige Mid or Yonex RDTI50. All great frames with great feel power and arm friendly. I never had anything good to say about Babolat frames. I just moved to a bigger town with better players and gues what? More chances to play against guys with Nadal's Babolat at full swing. Everything under 100 square inches in head size is in past. I like the Pure Drive more than the Aero. Better feel and serve for me. I will never go back to retro racquets. If you are thinking about a new frame, you cannot go wrong with this racquet. If you play with a grip size 3 order a 2! See you on the court.
From: Jan, 9/16

Comments: I play regularly and have been playing tournaments since I was ten. I have recently switched from Wilson Pro Staff 95S to Babolat Pure Drive. The change is quite noticeable but in a good way. Babolat provides more power and I can play bigger groundstrokes with it. I like hitting heavy balls from the baseline and PD enables that. However I miss control which is bad in comparison to Pro Staff 95S. It is strung with Babolat RPM Blast and with those string offer enormous spin potential.
From: Andrej, 7/16

Comments: I enjoyed this racquet during my demos -- good power and spin. But the stiffness is the only thing that was somewhat concerning to me as I've had elbow and shoulder issues in the past. Any recommendations on an arm friendly, yet durable strings and tension?
From: Brad, 6/16
Note from TW: Hi Brad -- If you are looking for a multi -- we would suggest NRG2 or XCel. As for polys, TCS and Double AR Twice Shark are two of our favorite soft polys. Try it at 54 lbs and go from there! Hope that helps.

Comments: I was also concerned about stiffness, but stringing with Volk Cyclone Tour (have played with 19g and 17g so far) at 52 lbs has really tamed much of the harshness I would have expected. The response is slightly "firmer" than my old stick (Pro Staff 100), but that hasn't been a bad thing for my game or my 53 year-old shoulder after 6 months of playing with the PD. The version I had demoed came with RPM Blast, and it played much stiffer. So the string and tension will make a difference. What's great about the PD compared to the PS100 I formerly used, is not only some free power on flat kill shots and serves but also tons of spin and control on baseline drives. I was skeptical that the new FSI "technology" was a gimmick, but I'm getting a surprising amount of control from the front court along with the power the Babolat is known for. With earlier PDs I had demoed, it was much harder to keep the ball inside the lines on put- aways; not so with this updated PD.
From: JD, 2/16

Comments: 2 words: tennis elbow. It's an amazing weapon but it will hurt your arm. Tried it for 2 hours and had shoulder pain but I loved playing with it, I gave it another shot and the result was the first ever tennis elbow. I'm playing with a Dunlop Max200g for 3 years now, which is heavier, and I have never had any kind of injuries.
From: Nuno, 2/16
Note from TW: Hi Nuno, This can be a stiffer racquet, however if you pair it with a soft string, you might be able to avoid any issues regarding arm soreness.

Comments: I'm a 3.5 all around player, but I hit heavy groundstrokes. I switched to this racquet from the Roddick because of the controllable power and spin. I noticed it was harder to block serves back deep and harder to put volleys away as time went on. I wish the tour version was out when I bought this. In addition, I noticed the grip size is different also. I have been on the sideline for six months due to severe elbow pain for the first time. I rushed to play with this racquet because it was a gift. I should have waited and tested this racquet more.
From: Ken, 1/16

Comments: This is my second review for the PD. I have now played 1 full year with this racquet and I have to say I still love this stick. Coming from a 'players frame' (I tried everything!). The big pluses to me in using this frame is not only the generous size of the sweet spot and the easy amount of power I can generate, but it has great feel and I haven't lost anything on the volley which is a big part of my game, particularly in doubles. Also, what really surprised me, was for a stiff frame it plays very comfortable and I have not had any arm issues whatsoever and I have a full poly in it. Volkl Cyclone Tour at 51 lbs. A really great racquet for all shots and all levels. I highly recommend it.
From: Ross, 1/16

Comments: Just the best of the best! I have demoed about 20 racquets of different brands, but this Pure Drive update beats them all. Compared to the previous model the FSI update gave me the same or even more power but with definetly more control and precise shots. You can really clean the lines with this amazing stick.
From: Robert, 12/15

Comments: Got the new Pure Drive in May and tried several different strings on it until now. I found Volkl Cyclone fits this racquet perfectly. I always play with huge topspin, but I prefer this one over the AeroPro Drive. Although the spin is not as good as the APD (but it's close), the Pure Drive plays better when returning flat shots and feels more powerful than the APD. The Pure Drive can always fit different playing styles easily, the only down side for me is the slice because of its thick beam and stiffness. But a spin string will fix it a little bit. If somebody is confused with different kinds of racquets or not, you can never go wrong with the Pure Drive.
From: Russell, 9/15

Comments: With this racquet, I get wicked power and spin on serves and forehands. It felt flimsy on backhands and volleys though. I prefer the tour version for every shot except for the forehand, which I prefer this one for.
From: Nicholas, 9/15

Comments: I recently bought a Pure Drive to test out for a while. I am 3 for 3 in my matches. It is the best form of "controllable power" a racquet can have. The sweet spot move is a great update to the racquets of previous years. This racquet reminded me why I started playing with Babolat racquets years ago. Previously, I was using the newest Head Graphene XT Speed Pro with natural gut/poly hybrid, but was being bullied off the court. This racquet is sort of like the APD but less topspin and more of an all-around racquet. The only real negative is it does lack some slight net play due to the string bed, but the best 16x19 racquet I have tried! I'm a 5.0 player. String this stick up with a full bed of 17G Pro Hurricane Tour at 60 Ibs and you will be right on the money. Arm friendly, string friendly.
From: Reuben, 9/15

Comments: I demoed a new Pure Drive for a week. In my opinion, it is not very different from the previous model. I could switch from my old PD 2013 and this one very easily. I do not agree with other comments about the raised sweetspot: I did not need to adjust my game at all, the racquet simply felt slightly more comfortable and stable. The feel is perhaps even more muted, while the previous model felt stiffer. I have tried it strung with RPM (good string), but ordered it strung with my usual Luxilon Original.
From: Fabio, 9/15

Comments: I have sneered at the Pure Drive since I started playing, thinking this is a crutch racquet. Also, everyone else was using one, I didn't want to look like one of the minions. As a result, I've been drawn to the racquets that were the opposite of the Pure Drive -- smaller head, flexy, low-powered. Well you know how this ends. I had to try the Pure Drive (secretly) and see what all the fuss is about. Groundstrokes, power, spin, volleys, serves all were so effortless. The balance is right, weight is right. Not the most comfortable racquet in the world, but not particularly uncomfortable either. I play 3.5-4.0, singles and doubles. Strung with Volkl V-Star 18 at 50 lbs, which ain't half bad string. Anyway, at the end of the day, don't be somebody that hates the Pure Drive because it is a good racquet. Give it a shot, and give Babolat some props for coming up with such a well-designed stick.
From: N8, 7/15

Comments: Best racquet I have ever played with. My background -- I'm 38 years old, a 6.0 rated player, grew up as a serve and volleyer, use an aggressive small head/head light racquet player -- PS85, PS90, then the 6.1. Always resented big Babolat's as they allow players to play better than they can, plus I'm a shot maker, can't stand pushers. I've finally grown up, maxed out my power with the 6.1, then bought the Blade 98 to try to get even more controlled power, still not satisfied. I remembered I had an APD, but I didn't like it because it only seemed good for dropping bombs from the baseline. When I heard PD gave more directional control, I had to try it, here's the results: More control. More raw power, decent directional control, extremely forgiving. While I'm a 6.0 player and my friend is less, I have a hurt knee which takes away from ton of my movement, giving him the advantage, so he's been beating me lately. I crushed him today, the last shot was one inch over the net right down the line classic ending. Going to buy two of these and string them with Lux Rough, if they play this well with the strings they give you in a demo, Lux Rough will give extra control.
From: Mike, 7/15

Comments: Amazing racquet! I have played with the previous versions of the Pure Drives and AeroPro Drives and I have also tested many different racquets from Wilson, Yonex, Head. I can confirm that this Pure Drive update plays the best. I get more power and control compared to the previous versions. Compared to the APD, the spin is just on the same level, but the directional control is much, much better. I play with full poly without a vibration dampener and have no arm pain. Summarized -- it`s a nice looking racquet and plays the best.
From: Stefan, 6/15

Comments: Let me first start out with how I had the racquet set up. I had the 4 3/8 grip with a Tourna overgrip. It was strung up with Babolat RPM Dual at 52 pounds. I played with the previous 2012 version for a while. When I first got out on the court I didn't hate it but I didn't love it. You can really tell that they moved the sweet spot up more as I was shanking quite a few groundstrokes and vollies. What I loved about the new racquet immediately was serving with it. My serves were more consistent and had better depth and speed. My problems with this update is the dampened feel that comes with it. What I have always loved about the Pure Drive is the stiff feel and easy power. In my opinion the stiffer the better. With this update, every shot I hit felt very mushy and underpowered. Forehands that I normally put away were landing midcourt and leaving me vulnerable at net. All in all serving with this racquet was great, but returns and groundstrokes were less than par. I am going to be sticking with the older model and I am not complaining with the sales prices on the older models!
From: Jordan, 5/15

Comments: Just bought this new update. It took a while to adjust to the raised sweet spot. I'm dialed in now and have added a little weight to the 3 and 9. It's an all around weapon and in the hands of an aggressive player, deadly. It serves like a canon and volleys are so easy to perform. Groundstrokes are fun as well. The PD laps up pace and hits returns with interest. I would recommend adding just a little lead to give it more stability and plow through. Strung with a multi at 54 and enjoy!
From: Jon, 5/15

Comments: I played with the PD yesterday. I was in a match and using a Head Radical Pro. Well I was 4-0 down in the first set. So I picked up my old PD. Talk about game changer. I went on to win 7-5, 6-3. My PD is leaded on the 3, 6 and 12 to give it a bit of mass. This racquet is quite a weapon. It's the only stick where a running forehand can result in a cross court winner. The directional control is quite amazing. I was pulling off some quite remarkable shots which I would never even attempt with my Blade 98 or Radical. The PD elevates your game and allows you to be a better player than you actually are. I'm all for that! I'm picking up a new one today. I will string with Tecnifibre X-One Biphase at 54 lbs and lead it up.
From: Jonathan, 5/15

Comments: I'm disappointed in this demo. The higher sweetspot causes me to send balls way long when trying to topspin a low ball. And when I hit in the bottom 1/3 of the racquet during a volley, it's twisting. It could just be that the strings were too tight, but I'm sticking with the older model.
From: Michael, 5/15

Comments: I have been playing with this racquet for over a month now. I'm a serial racquet changer. But now I think it is time to stop. Wrote down the results of my sets. 54-5 win loss, and most of them in the early days. I was serving aces, I tamed my wild forehand with the great spin, backhand is as strong and consistent as it always is. Just terribly pleased at my choice -- previously I preferred flexible, feel oriented sticks, coming from the Wilson Blade 104, Yonex Ai 98, Yonex Ai 100, Head Youtek IG Prestige Pro. Those were all pretty good at many things, but with this Pure Drive I beat everyone I'm supposed to, sneak in a few wins against superior players, and even on my bad days, I can find enough to help me win, using this Pure Drive, unlike the Yonex or Head. I really pay on my bad days with those sticks. I am a 5.0 player, counter-puncher, string my racquets with Volkl Cyclone 16 at 45 lbs.
From: Mark, 3/15

Comments: Nice update to this racquet. You really can feel the difference with the higher sweet spot. I agree the grip size feels a little bit bigger than before.
From: David, 3/15

Comments: Great racquet -- the sweet spot is just so crisp when you hit it. I strung mine with Luxilon ALU Power at 53 lbs and is great the spin of the racquet and string bring every ball that I think is going to go out. I recommend going about one size down in grip size since the racquet feels a little bigger. It is good for volleys and on overheads it feels crisp. Very happy with the racquet and looking forward to buying another one.
From: Nathan, 3/15

Comments: Fantastic update. Best Pure Drive to date. The racquet has a really nice blend of power, comfort and control. Strung mine with Babolat RPM Blast in the crosses at 53 lbs and Prince synthetic gut with duraflex in the mains at 55 lbs and it plays like a dream.
From: Mark, 2/15

Comments: Really nice racquet. Tons of pop and good control. I mainly play doubles these days and it is a really nice racquet for serving, returns and volleying. After coming from a more control orientated racquet I am still learning to reel in the extra power on my groundies but after a month of hitting with it am getting more comfortable and my opponents have commented on my heavier ball. I can see why it is such a popular frame as really easy to use. I agree with Wayne though, the grip is slightly bigger and I swapped the standard 4 3/8 for a skin feel grip which brought it down to the right size.
From: Ross, 2/15

Comments: I find the grip size is slightly bigger than the 2010 model. I am a size 2 grip user. Now I need to go without the overgrip. Does anyone else find the same issue?
From: Wayne, 2/15

Comments: I just bought this racquet a week ago. This racquet was an excellent upgrade of the previous Pure Drive model. I am totally impressed with this new model. The most important thing about the racquet was its control. Thanks to the FSI technology. I can hit the ball with more power on both wings without being afraid the ball might fly compared to when using the Head Radical MP, my current racquet of choice. I serve with more power, spin and high confidence. My second serve has more spin and kick. I know the racquet is stiff, however I manage it most of the time hitting the ball right on the sweetspot. This makes me feel that the racquet is comfortable and has a nice feel on the ball. Now, I string it with Wilson Ripspin 16 at 55 lbs. As a hard hitter, I love this model. Thanks Babolat for making me confident with my game now. I also like the paint job!
From: Hashim, 2/15

Comments: I switched to this racquet after playing for years with a Head Microgel Radical MP. Having hit my 60s, I thought I needed some help generating the pace I used to be able to. The new Radical does that, but I also demoed this racquet. I got all the pace I wanted, enhanced spin, and no loss in control. I have now been playing with it for about a month, and couldn't be more pleased with the results. I'm serving out games easily, hitting penetrating groundstrokes with heavy balls, tossing up lobs that take off after bouncing, putting shots away at the net, and hitting overheads with authority. It took a bit of time to get touch at the net, but that appears to be happening. No elbow pain, even though I've had that issue in the past. I've got Klip Legend Natural Gut in the mains and ALU Power Rough in the cross, both strung at 55 lbs. Very happy with the racquet.
From: R, 1/15

Comments: I have played with the 2008 PD for 6 years strung with Babolat RPM Team 17 gauge and Technifibre Multifeel 17 gauge at 59 lbs. Loved it and never had arm issues. I demoed the 2012 version but didn't like how it felt so stayed with my 2008 version. Four weeks ago I started playing with the 2015 model and initially it felt great! I stayed with the same string but brought the tension down to 57 lbs. The new PD improved my overall game, and my down the line shots tremendously. After playing a rigorous tournament play this past weekend, I have elbow pain for the very first time. I am going to drop the tension to 55 lbs, but I am unsure if I can keep this racquet. So frustrating! I am a 17 year old female playing national and regional junior tennis.
From: T, 1/15

Comments: Really enjoying the new Pure Drive. I played with the original Cortex and GT versions, but didn't really care for the 2012 model which felt stiff, caused elbow pain, and played too light. Even though the 2015 version feels slightly stiffer than previous models, interestingly enough the vibrations are far less. I have experienced no elbow discomfort at all. I strung it with Double AR Twice Shark in the mains at 47 lbs and Gamma Revelation 16 in the crosses at 52 lbs. This combination has softened up the bed without sacrificing power or control. So far so good!
From: B, 1/15

Comments: Easy effortless stick, very easy to swing on serve, which is maybe the racquet's best stroke. Slice and volleys are not that good because the racquet needs some mass. Groundstrokes are ok. I believe its an excellent racquet to help you evolve your strokes, especially your serve.
From: K, 1/15

Comments: Received this racquet as a Christmas gift. It feels pretty much as I expected which is stiff and jarring with the same old lack of feel common in the PD line. It is no better or worse than any of the other stiff 100 square inch tweeners available on the market today from the other major manufacturers.
From: Jeff, 1/15

Comments: I previously used the 2012 version of this racquet and noticed it was very similar. It's the perfect stick for aggressive players looking for power, spin, and control. Groundstrokes and serves were notably better and volleys were easy to put away due to its maneuverability. The only downsides are its stiffness and lack of touch. Overall, the new Pure Drive is an excellent choice for intermediate to advanced players who want a good combination of control and power. I'm a 4.5 singles player and my racquet is strung with Rpm Blast/VS gut hybrid.
From: Anon, 1/15

Comments: The perfect stick for aggressive baseliners. A bigger sweetspot than the 2012 version. A must buy fro aggressive players.
From: John, 12/14

Comments: I played with the 2012 version then switched due to a small bit of wrist pain. I missed the controlled power so I bought one of these. So glad I did! Plays similar to the 2012. I felt a tad more connected to the ball, had a bit more control. No wrist pain as of yet and served better than I did with the 2012. Glad I gave it a second look. Strung with Volkl Cyclone Tour 17G at 53 lbs. I'm a 4.5 singles player, 42 years old.
From: Billy, 12/14

Comments: Pretty much as advertised. I played 3 sets yesterday and the new Pure Drive was great. Able to serve big, hit confidently from the baseline from both wings and had good, not great results at net. Overall a very good hit and I am happy with the racquet. One weird thing is that the grip began separating midway up the handle after I had played only one set. Not really a big deal to re-wrap the grip, but makes me a bit nervous about quality control in general. I'm a 4.5 player, strung with RPM Blast 17g at 54lbs.
From: Mike, 12/14