Babolat Pure Storm Ltd. Racquets Customer feedback
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Comments: This racquet is good if you are used to a more wide racquet in the middle. Just got it about a week ago
and strung it with the free Hurricane Addiction. It hits well and I love it on the court. After playing everyday this week some of
the paint has started to come off from playing on hard court, hitting low balls. It seems kind of cheap paint, but hopefully I can
fix it, or I'll just buy another one at this great price!
Comments: This racquet is solid, and is honestly the most sturdy racquet I have ever swung. Volleys are rock solid,
and ground strokes are very accurate. On serve, this racquet does not produce many aces, however, it is accurate and allows the
server to cut angles with confidence. I suggest this to big hitters and those who serve and volley.
Comments: Finally my racquet search is over at long last! The dimensions of this racquet play exactly as you
expect. It's low-powered with plenty of room for tinkering with the SW and such, and it has amazing control. I strung this up with
VS Team gut. Never looking back.
Comments: So, I hit the court again after a long break. I used my 6 year old Wilson at first, and it was OK, but then
after few months I decided if I was improving I might as well improve my instrument! I knew nothing about the differences
between racquets, but I always wanted a French Babolat, so I found one on sale with a free pair of Babolat shoes, I
said why not, and bought it. Well don't just get a cheap racquet, that was lesson one! Anyways, long story short, I tried another
Babolat Roddick (as I wasn't getting the control and power I needed) and a couple of Prince racquets that were really good. All this
helped me to understand what I needed in a racquet. I learned I wanted a smaller racket (95 sq. inches was the optimum head
size with a little more weight to give you the power you need) that's head light (8 points in this case) which gives you more control
and a better way to concentrate on where you want to place the ball rather than just making it pass over the net! I also like a slim
frame for an even more control. Add Babolat Hurricane string to that with a lower tension to add some power to the control
and you got the perfect racquet for an intermediate to advanced player.
This is a racquet you will never regret buying!
Comments: Wow, this racquet is amazing. I couldn't be more pleased with any other
type of racquet. The way is designed is just perfect. For some reason, the head doesn't
seem so small after you start playing with it for a while. I got this racquet as my very first
racquet & I have to say, I made an amazing choice. Great buy.
Comments: I have been using this frame for over two years now. It is Babolat's answer to the Head
Prestige. Excellent control and feel while easy to swing and accelerate on your groundstrokes. After trying the said
Prestige mid and mid plus for over two weeks, I realize that the only advantage the Prestige has on this frame is the
plow. Nothing that anyone cannot fix with some lead tape at 6 o clock, without affecting the swing weight significantly.
After adding 4 layers of Gamma 1/4' lead tape at 6 o clock I had myself a Prestige MP clone for nearly $85 bucks less.
You will not notice the 3" difference in head size as the Storm's sweetspot is huge at lower 50's tension. Try it and you
will not be disappointed.
Comments: Update. I have been playing with a pair of these sticks for two years now, and am still very
pleased with this old school LTD. I am 6ft, 2, 200lbs, 47yo, and play hard courts all year and clay in the summer. The
control and ability to really swing at shots has improved my game. Ripping passing shots, drop shots and net play are
fantastic. Hit with confidence and consistency. If you play against really big hitters and play well behind the baseline,
this racquet might be underpowered for you. I do miss being able to bomb first serves, but the slight loss in power is
made up for in fewer double faults. This racquet has also helped reduce my tennis elbow. The best setup I have found
has been Tecnifibre Biphase 17 at 52m, 50c, lead at 9 and 3. A pleasure to hit with.
Comments: Love this racquet so much, I just ordered another one. The beautiful thing about this stick is
that the
specs. allow for room to customize with lead tape. I beefed up the swing weight, and lowered the HL balance with lead
(6 grams
total) at 3, 9, and 12 o'clock. The 18x20 string pattern is more open than most other sticks I've played with that
advertise the
same 18x20 configuration. Has everything that you would expect from a player's racquet, but what really stood out for
me were
comfort, feel, topspin, slice, and CONTROL. These factors were way above anything else I have ever experienced in a
stick. You
will need above average swing speed, and good technique to maximize this stick's performance. If you can afford it,
use gut in the
mains, you'll be glad you did. I've played with about every player's racquet out there, but I'll be taking most of these
out of my
bag to make room for this jewel.
Comments: I've been using this frame for a year now. It's a true gem of an "old school" type frame, a
pure
wonderful pleasure to hit with for 4.0+ big hitters who can supply their own power. If you have solid technique, you
can swing full
out on either side and the ball won't fly on you. I agree with some of the posters below that the frame specs probably
are best
suited to eastern grip flat ball or slice hitters. There are other lighter Babolat frames out there if you prefer heavy
topspin off a
semi-western grip. A couple of other hints: while the frame is a very very low powered frame, do not be afraid to string
the frame
just a couple of lbs below the lower tension range (even if you are not used to doing so) and use a string with some
added pop (TF
Biphase X-one) to get some added power. As with all low power frames, if you play with a string that loses
tension/playability
quickly, you will pay for it in on-court performance. Those who compete in weekend tournaments should consider
having a 2nd
backup frame or moving to a string rated more for endurance. As with most oval-form head sizes in the 90 - 95 square
inch
range, regardless of whether you hybrid string or not (and I've done both with this frame), if you string your crosses at
2 or 3 lbs
below the tension used on the mains you can increase the sweet spot a bit. Balls hit off the upper half of the string bed
(especially
off volleys)will have absolutely nothing on them. To combat this, add some lead tape to the 10 and 2 head positions.
The only
playability weakness of this frame is on the serve, probably the reason ATP touring pro's never took to it. Addition of
some lead
tape as noted above can add some mph to your first serve but no matter how good your form is (I've been playing and
instructing
for 30+ yrs now). It's tough to bomb first serves in at 120+ on a regular basis with this frame. Controlling slice or kick
serves will
be no problem, so if you play mostly on clay its likely not a big deal. As I'm almost 50, my days of big serving have
long since
gone, so the loss of pop on the serve is not a deal breaker to me. Control and depth are more important. However, for
the
younger hardcourt crew, losing some mph off your serve can be a decision point on using this frame for match play. In
summary,
this is one of the nicest, sweetest, playing "tour" frames out there for those comfortable with hefty but soft frames and
comfortable hitting with full strokes off both sides.
Comments: I won't go into much about the racket itself - most of what you've read so far is pretty
accurate. Only
thing I will add is that if you aren't putting your whole body into every groundstroke, they'll land at the service line if
you're lucky.
But onto why I wanted to comment - I strung mine with a hybrid string job of RPM and Babolat syn gut but I had my
stringer go
two pounds lighter than the lowest the racket is rated for. I tell ya - hits like a freaking dream! So much pop, so much
feel and a
lot more forgiving than you might think.
Comments: Agree with all of the positive comments below. Right now it is a toss up between my Pure
Storm Ltd and
Youtek Prestige Pro. The Pure Storm Ltd has the edge on all strokes over the Prestige Pro, except in serves.
Comments: Do not be afraid of this stick. It will improve your game if you are a solid 4.0 or plus. The
control
oriented specs make it a "go for your shots with confidence" racquet. Your transition game will improve and your
balance will be
in check for every shot. Serve is not booming, but consistent. Can not get lazy on volleys however, or you will pay for it.
Comments: I bought this racquet after having read the reviews here, without demoing it. Turns out it
was a good
move. My one handed backhand needed some initial adjustment due to the smaller head size than my previous
racquet, but after
that it's been a real joy to hit with. Remarkable plow through on both sides, with my flat forehand I can now hit winners
from
almost anywhere on the court. I've never played with a racquet that combines power and control so perfectly. On serve
I've lost
some power compared to my old Babolat Soft Control, but the precision is much, much higher. (I played for a set and a
half today
and committed zero double faults.) If you have good technique the PS Lmtd. will reward you greatly. Try it out!
Comments: It was a very good racquet but I prefer a heavier swingweight like with the Wilson 6.1 for
someone who
doesn't it's the perfect stick.
Comments: Tested this racket today for couple hours, and have to say I would have liked to play another
two hours
with this racket!!
I have been playing 6-7 years with pure drive team, but since I have destroyed maybe 3 or four. I have now just one
left so time
to get a new model cause they are no longer available. The Ltd. kind of felt right away good in hand, and when I took
first swings
in warming up little balling over the net, I could instantly feel that this one has GREAT feel and touch.
Then we moved to baseline, and I just couldn't help to make couple huge shot once in a while just to get taste of what
this racquet
is capable. I'm in pretty good shape now so making speed to game was really no issue.
I want this racquet! I had little bit problem with backhand earlier but somehow it felt also much better with this,
forehand-
incredible!!! Not to mention for serving and net game it felt also awesome. Definitely liked a lot, and probably I will get
this next
week
Comments: Update to my previous post. I have had this stick for a couple of years, and my gameplay has
plateaued
due to the power generation required for a winner. I am stuck at 4.0 because I cannot maintain hitting that hard for a
2-3 hour
match. This stick was awesome in improving my groundstrokes, but I will be demoing the Wilson blx series soon in an
attempt to
find more power. You have to be a strong dude with a lot of stamina to win matches at a 4.0+ level with this racquet.
I'm going to
say goodbye to this control freak and admit that I am not strong enough to stay consistent for a full 3 setter although I
loved the
improvement that I got from it. I am 6'2 175 skinny dude with long sweeping groundstrokes and volleys bad enough to
make
beginners laugh. I can now with confidence perform high speed passing shots down the line from both sides, but I
think that my
specialty shots suffer because I get so tired throughout my matches from being required to hit so hard (I won't come to
the net
unless I have to, run around my overhead opportunities, and often botch approach shots due to my legs being too tired
to scoop
them up).
Note that I am not in poor athletic shape, but my game has changed enough to justify a switch to a racquet that fits it
better. I
hope this helps anyone in a similar situation.
Comments: For the past year I have been playing with a PD Roddick GT and although my serves were big,
I never
felt good with the my groundstrokes or at the net. I demoed several racquets and this Pure Storm LTD felt right from
the first ball
strike and very different than all the other racquets, so I purchased one with X-one biphase at 57lbs. My consistency
has
skyrocketed and the touch for drop shots and lobs with this racquet is just amazing. The accuracy of this stick is
fantastic. And
as others have posted, it makes you a better player because you have to eye the ball, and take a proper swing, I know
basic stuff,
but I didn't seem to do it with the Pure Drive, and this one I do, so my strokes are better now. I played this morning
with a friend
that is similar in skill as me, and 14 years younger, and I 6-1, 6-0 him. The Pure Storm LTD just keeps the ball in, and
passing
shots, drops, lobs, etc. is just done with precision. It also hits a very heavy, low, deep ball. I have had surprisingly
good topspin
with the 18-20 pattern, actually better than I was getting with the PD GT. I have lost a few mph's on my serve but have
better
placement and fewer faults. I just ordered a second Pure Storm LTD with Black Code to see, which reel I'll buy. The X-
one has
been very good. Love this racquet!!!
Comments: I have played with this racquet several times a week for the past six months and LOVE IT...so
much that
I just bought another one. Amazing control and feel - I had it restrung last week and fell in love all over again. Yes,
you need to
bring your own power and full ground strokes, but if that's your game, this allows you to play your best.
Comments: A friend let me try this racquet out for a small hit. The ball came, and I swung. But I felt
nothing... This
was awesome... No shock absorber, either... I didn't feel the ball impact, but still felt like I could easily feel the ball,
without
vibration...
Comments: This is an amazing racket, I'm a big guy with long and fast swing, providing power is not an
issue,
control is amazing, my serve got more consistent and faster, sharp slices and killer volleys as well, playing sliced
approaches and
come to the net is a real pleasure...but if you get out of shape or on off days it's a real nightmare and you'll hate it, for
those days
I use a backup frame with tension on low 50's.
Comments: I was a long time Wilson 6.1 line user, but decided I wanted a racquet with some mass, but a
lower
swing weight. The PSL has been a great fit. Very good touch, feel, stability, control and maneuverability, everything I
was looking
for. I like the 19 mm beam and the leather grip. A great traditional players racquet, no matter what your playing level
is.
Comments: Had the racquet for about a year now. The paint does come off
easily but I don't really care. I was a 3.5 when I picked up this stick
and I knew that it would compliment my long ground strokes. If you
cannot generate a lot of power, stay away from this stick. On the other
hand, if you are a 3.5+ with long powerful strokes this is a must try.
Just by using this racquet, I was forced to improve my form, and I am now
easily a 4.0. Consistency has gone through the roof. I am so happy that
I finally found a racquet that fits me perfectly. I will be buying
another one now because it's on sale, also may try some lead tape
because of the light head.
Comments: I dare say that I think I've finally settled on this as my stick.
No other racquet has the same mass/stability PLUS a low swing weight that helps ensure that I'm not late on blistering
groundstrokes.
The 95 square inch head is big enough where I feel like there's good margin for error, but not so big where I feel like I
can't put
one away down the line or inside out when I have the opportunity.
The tight string pattern allows for outstanding control in all areas of the court, and spin production is as abundant as I
want it to
be.
The thin beam width encourages freedom to really cut through the air with slices, which translates to penetrating slices
rather
than floaters.
I've tried Volkl DNX Mid, Babolat Aero Pro Drive with Cortex, Dunlop Aerogel 300, Yondex RDS 003, Volkl DNX 9,
Becker 11, and
Head Youtek Prestige MP. None feel better than this Babolat Pure Storm Ltd.
The rest are put away for good, and rain or shine, I'm sticking with this one. Otherwise, my wife will be a smidge
upset.
Comments: Just to start off this racket is AMAZING. I would recommend it 4.0+ players who can supply
their own
power and have a full swing. Compared to the Babolat Pure Storm Tour, this racket is stiffer, which I'd prefer but just
enough flex,
which I like. If you hit it just right you can place it anywhere. It can't get anymore perfect. Though I had to adjust to the
new (light)
weight. This racket actually feels way lighter than the specs impose. My serves have gotten I mean GOTTEN WAY more
consistent,
more controlled, and along with that way more power. My fav. shot though was the 2HBH. Well thing is you should get
this racket
or at least demo it! I highly recommend it.
Comments: I've demoed several racquets lately, looking to replace my
Dunlop mfil-200 16x19. I'm very conservative and reluctant to change
frames, but this one stood out immediately and is a keeper. It is just
the right weight/balance for my strength. With it I can hit both heavy
flat through the ball and fast topspin over the ball and it is super
stable against big hitters--the biggest reason why I needed a new
frame. Its head-light and stability make it excellent at the net and
on serve as well. It actually has loads of power when you need it if
you swing efficiently. Definitely worth a look if you like the specs.
Comments: I love this Stick! I've had it for a couple months now and ts amazing. It did not fit my game
before I
started playing with it but because of the lack of power had to learn to make my own, which if anything, helped my
game for the
future. I use very heavy topspin on almost every shot and it is a godsend for that purpose!
Comments: At the start of my first semester at my University, I was playing with the prince exo graphite.
over xmas
break, I switched to the storm ltd. I cannot believe this racquet, it is amazing. Very solid from the base line. When at
the net, it
feels as though I can easily put it anywhere. I'm very happy with my switch and do not plan on switching anytime soon.
This is for
sure a good buy!
Comments: This is intended to help John and any others who have experienced the "squeaky" butt cap
but want to
continue to enjoy playing with the racquet. Unwrap the leather grip. Get something narrow to pry the staples on the
cap up a bit
(ice pick works ok). Once the staples get a little space under them use pliers to remove them and pull off the butt cap.
You won't
need the staples anymore. Take a toothpick and dab simple superglue on the inside walls of the butt cap where it will
rejoin the
handle. Do not use the expanding glues like gorilla glue because they will create too much seeping out effect. Place the
butt cap
back on handle and hand press it into place...work it for a few minutes applying hand held pressure at the contact
points. The
next day re-wrap the grip and you will be back in business. This fix has worked well for a year now on Ltd frames
receiving
frequent use in heavy competition w/o a tad of recurring squeak. It is annoying that the vendor never properly
addressed this
issue but the racquet plays too wonderfully for it to go to waste. Good luck!
Comments: When I first hit with this racquet I thought it was the holy grail...great plow through at the
perfect
weight that would allow you to generate great racquet head speed without sacrificing stability. I have used this racquet
for over a
year now and would probably use it forever if not for the poor handle design. I have gone through three in the past year
and every
one of them developed a "squeaky" buttcap that eventually came loose after only a few days of hitting. I tried removing
the cap,
but I hate the feel without it. There are remedies, but they are all temporary fixes. This stick is to expensive for that
problem to
arise. I haven't found my replacement yet, but I will certainly switch when I do.
Comments: This stick is very solid. If you hit the sweet spot that ball isn't coming back. The volleys feel
great on
this is probably the most astonishing shot you can hit with this although groundstrokes and serves still feel amazing.
You can hit
your serve with pin point accuracy on this stick. I love it and it's gonna be staying for awhile.
Comments: I love the control that this racquet offers. It made for really accurate forehands and touch
shots. Power
is compromised when serving unless you swing heavy. Overall it is a great stick if you value control over power.
Comments: One of the best frames available today, if you're in the market for a 4.0+ racquet. The grip
shape lends
itself to SW-W grips on the forehand and the flex makes for some nice, deep topspin shots. I've never hit my backhand
with such
precision before. The combination of low SW and thin beam make for a very smooth swing. Need to supply your own
pop at the
net unlike stiff Wilson frames. Plays best with thin gauge multi like nxt 17 at low 50s tension. Very impressed that
Babolat can
make such a frame (after their pure drive fame). 8.5/10 overall.
Comments: Thought I'd provide some additional feedback since I have hit with the PSL for about 20
hours now.
Also, the gentleman's post was a response to mine, and I can clarify my stance on the racquet. I still feel that the
racquet suits a
line-drive (inches off the net) type ground stroke game. I can't see it supporting the type of swing that hits the ball
high over the
net and uses heavy topspin to bring it in. Its just not that type of racquet in my opinion. That being said, if you do
have classic
ground strokes, its really fun to play with because the control it gives is major. As far as other aspects of my game, my
volleys are
better but my serve (particularly my kick serve) is not as good. I haven't been able to get the ball to kick up as much as
with my
other racquet. I do swing pretty aggressively...The main advantage as far as I can tell with an 18/20 closed string
pattern is that
its more durable and you won't have to get your racquet restrung as much. Other then that, I think an open pattern
provides
more power, spin and may potentially be more arm friendly. I will probably go back to a 16/19 or 16/20 racquet.
Comments: I respectfully disagree with the comment below mine. I have a severe semi-western
"windshield wiper"
forehand and love my PSL's. I've always loved 18X20 string patterns, even though I usually hit with good amounts of
topspin. I just
like the consistent feel of a tight stringbed. It also helps that I can go a month without breaking strings, instead of a
couple of
weeks. This is a racquet for someone who has sound technique, however. It will require you to focus consistently,
supply nearly all
of the power yourself, and nail the sweet spot. The good news is that you should be doing all of the above anyway.
Great stick,
with tons of feel and control, at least in my opinion.
Comments: This racquet is for an advanced level player who can handle the weight and who can swing
hard using
legs, hips, core and arm. Its not for an "arm swinger" or beginner player. It caters heavily towards someone who has a
"classic"
loopy swing, hitting line drive groundstrokes. It does not play as well for a player who relies on spin using a modern
type swing
(western/wiper forehand). That being said it is a lot of fun to hit with, loads of control and feel. The weight makes
volleys and
serving a challenge, and again if you use a lot of spin on your serve the string pattern on this racquet (18/20) may not
suit you.
But if you can handle the weight your volleys will go where you want them to, just not as maneuverable as a lighter
racquet.
Bottom line: if you have a classic swing and can handle the weight you will love it.
Comments: I love this stick. In the past I played the Babolat Pure Storm Team (orange frame that is about
10.3oz).
Well I got in better shape and needed a frame that was a bit heavier. This takes me back to the good ol' Prince Graphite.
Plays so
similar. This is just a rock solid stick of all sides. My ability to keep balls in play has gone way, way up. My style is to
swing big
and I have a big serve. This has made those bigger cuts hang in the court and really brought down my unforced errors.
Having
said that it did take a bit of the pop off my serve...but nothing really that noticeable. I am not having any trouble
holding my
serve with the new stick at all! Actually, I love how much spin I am getting on the ball right now. I can really get the
ball to move
and jump with this frame. The neat thing about this stick is the swingweight. You get all the benefits of a heavy frame
without
the feeling. It just does not feel heavy at all. I tried several sticks out...Prestige Pro, Wilson's, Prince's, etc. At the end
of the day
nothing was this solid all around. If you have a game where you like to take a rip at it, but the ball kinda gets away
from you...this
may be your stick.
Comments: Most 4.0 and down players are saying they don't like this stick. I'm 4ish and I like it a lot.
Lots of
control and spin! However, if you can't produce you own pace or are not good at taking advantage of your opponent's
pace, you
should not be using this racquet.
Comments: I just switched to this from PST and it is a dream come true I get more spin
due to headlightness. Serve is faster and more consistent backhand are a dream come true. I can even hit a one handed
volleys
stable. I could hit my opponent in the feet every time this racquet is the holy Grail of racquets.
Comments: I love this racquet! The look is hot! I have to admit, when I first demoed this racquet, I was
not a big fan
of it. But after getting through the initial warm-up period I was hooked! For starters, the forehand is spot on. I usually
play with a
hard hitter and I would have to find a heavier racquet to handle all that speed coming to me, but with this racquet, I
was able to
counter that speed. I agreed that this racquet is lacking on the power department, but the control is second to none,
very
predictable (which I like). I can fully swing with my forehand (with spin) and have the confident that it will land inside
the court.
The sweet spot is decent and with off hits, the racquet is still very stable.
My serves with this racquet is monster! The headlight characteristic of this racquet helps me generate more racquet
speed, which
helps my flat serves. My spin serves also benefit from the dense pattern of the strings. My spins seemed to be
bouncing higher
than with my old racquet. I look forward to my service game every time I'm out on the court. Net play is very good also.
Volleys
was solid. The only thing that I wish would be better was my 2HBH. It is not as solid as my old racquet and feels like I'm
popping
up the return. But after a few hitting session, it feels better. So I guess I just need to adjust to it. But my slice backhand
benefit
from more pace and spins. As you can tell, I LOVE THIS RACQUET! Demo it if you haven't, your game would thank you :)
p.s. It looks like the new STORM LTD is up at TW Europe, hope they have the same feel as this one :)
Comments: Tried it for a month. Incredible precision on volleys and increased power and precision on
the serves as
well. However, due to it's smaller head and dense string pattern, it's just not the racquet for me; my game is more
based on lots of
power and topspin from the baseline. If you like to serve and volley or play a lot of doubles, definitely give this racquet
a try!
Comments: See my first comment below. Here's the follow-up. Thin Babo VS Thermo Gut 17G string
broke after
14h, as expected. Put a slightly lower 16G of the same string into the racquet, at 23 kg. Now it is perfect, without the
added lead
(which I took off for good). One-handed backhand, topspin drive, serve, topspin forehand, topspin lobs are the
racquet's best
shots.
Comments: Very good racquet. In spite of the flexibility, the feel is crisp and precise. You get the type of
topspin
you usually get from small heads: fast and rather flat. You have to apply full and fast swings. No cheating possible.
With the
Wilson K90, e.g., you can block some serves back, you can reach out and get a wide ball back with the tip of the
racquet. Forget
this with this Babolat. Serves and one-handed backhand topspin drive are a treat. I put 4g lead on each side of the
hoop (Sampras
like 10:30 and 1:30). It's is a bit less demanding now without giving up too much of its characteristics, balance is 32cm
(8 points
head light).
Comments: Perfect racquet for those who have a complete game. It's light enough to take nice cuts but
stiff like a
Pro Staff. Amazing feel, played with the Tour 90 K-Factor and found myself a little limited when playing others on the
college
level. this stick game me about 15 mph more on my serve. Swing tempo doesn't change much when trying to get more
power on
groundstrokes, which is a plus. Ideal frame for those who want to take their game to the next level.
Comments: Ok everyone. Listen up. The reason paint comes off the racquet so easy I'd because of the
carbon
extreme technology. Carbon DOES NOT hold paint well. I've been playing with this since the day it came out and This
racquet is
excellent. No need to get angry cause of paint trouble. Also to Babolat. I want the original pure drive team back
Comments: I've been playing with the Head microgel prestige midplus for almost a year. I demo'd this
racquet
during a match today and I absolutely loved it. The light head gave me way more maneuverability, and there was only
one shot
that strayed from where I aimed. I'm a power hitter and this racquet practically completed my game. It took me a set to
get used
to it (7-5), and then I dominated from there (6-1). I highly recommend this racquet for power players.
Comments: BUTTER! This stick slices and dices. Definitely one of the most comfortable sticks I have
played with,
even more so than my Volkl T10 II's. Loads of control and feel from the baseline or the net. This racket was like an 80's
revival. I
felt confident going for all my shots, spin was easy to get even for an 18x20, slices were deadly, but BYOP (bring your
own power).
I was hitting big, flat ground strokes for days with no fear. I even found this racket a little light so there's plenty of
room to
customize. A very nice stick, a must demo for player's 5.0 and up.
Comments: I've been playing with it for about a month and I believe it's the best racquet I've ever played
with...and
I've been playing 20+ years. The control with the racquet is fantastic. For me this racquet has improved my return of
serve and
backhand the most. Returns that would spray off be Babolat pure control seem to stay in play with this racquet. The
swing weight
seems perfect for my one handed backhand. The racquet has enough weight to plow through the ball and create a
heavy ball for
your opponent to hit. It easy to place my serves, and the control on the forehand is tennis nirvana. The ball goes where
you want
it to go with as much spin as you want. I can't say enough good things about this racquet. Awesome. I will be buying a
2nd one.
Comments: I know this stick says that it is geared towards a 4.5+ level, but I am a 3.5 and found that
this may
easily be the best stick I've ever picked up. My serve was instantly easier to place, I really swung out on my forehand
and it stayed
inside the baseline, and volleys were smooth sailing, truly a great stick. I plan to re-string with Natural Gut soon
instead of the
sensation I have in there now to see how it plays. Overall, a great stick from a company that I was very close to
swearing off after
hating the pure drive, pure drive plus, and aeropro drive cortex.
Comments: The Pure Storm Ltd. is a fantastic racquet! I used a Wilson H-Tour for a long time and
couldn't find
anything with good feel, control and flexibility for a while. When Babolat came out with this one I was anxious to try it.
It's got the
feel of an '80s racquet with the precision to top it off. Had trouble generating power at first, but just strung it with a
little lower
tension and didn't have a problem.
Comments: Getting used to the flex but very smooth, buttery feel is worth it. Can bang hard flat serves
no problem.
Great directional control and low power is the way to go. Virtually impossible to hit the ball long. The backhand slice is
lethal
because the ball just dies in midcourt, forcing the opponent to move into no man's land and dink the ball up. Net play
is a
pleasure thanks to the very low swingweight, itself due to the extreme head-light balance. The drop volley, my favorite
shot, is a
beauty as a result of the buttery softness of the frame. Leather grip really helps you clearly feel the edges of the handle
so your
hand knows exactly where it is at all times. Surprised no pros use it.
Comments: I am a ranked junior and just switched from to this Storm limited. I am beating people I
have never
beaten with this. I say buy it now if you are advanced enough.
Comments: This racket is great it improves my all around play. From serve, baseline, volleys, and over
head. It
makes me so confident in my full swing solid hit.
Comments: I agree completely with Josh, Boston, USA. 12/08. I used to play with the Pro Staff Classic
7.5 and I've
finally found a racquet that plays just like it. I couldn't say it better: "beautiful feel of the Pro Staff without the not-so-
gracefulness". I love winding up for my forehand/backhand, or "wiggle" as Josh calls it. This racquet allows me to do
just that. I'm
never late for a shot anymore. With a Pro Staff Classic 6.1 or any of the newer Wilson racquets, I would always end up
hitting late.
My arm would also get tired after 30 minutes of my Agassi impressions. I played with this racquet for 2.5 hours and my
arm still
felt great. At last, I can love the game again. PS: don't think because this racquet is light, it plays like a newbie racquet.
The feel
upon contact is always solid, like a Pro Staff. It just gives you time to add a little show to your swing.
Comments:Ever since I played with the Dunlop 150G (and later Dunlop 200G) many many years ago I
have been
looking for a racket with the same feeling. I played about 1 year with Dunlop M-Fil 200 which was OK but not exactly
what I was
looking for. Today I played with my new Babolat Pure Storm Limited for the the first time. It took about an hour to get
used to the
sweet spot and lighter head, but after that I was able to hit the ball with power that even beat M-Fil 200, which
surprised me
because everyone says Babolat Pure Storm Limited is extremely low powered. I have full swing both on backhand and
forehand
which seems to be necessary, as others have written about too, to generate enough power. So far I am very happy with
this racket.
Comments:Great STICK. I've been using since its introduction in the US and my accuracy and consistency
has
improved. The low swing weight took a little bit of time getting use to but going to a 18x20 from 16x19 string pattern
brought on
added control without any loss in spin production. I like to rip forehands with a lot of spin. The lighter head helps my
timing/pace
and it's great for on-the-run defense too.
Comments:Wow, what can I say? Well done Babo. I've tried around 20+ sticks the past 6-8 weeks, some
winners
(Kblade tour, prestige pro, Dunlop 200ag) but nothing compared to this. For me this seemed to fill the gap between
the crisp
beautiful feel of the pro staff and the not-so-graceful 6.1 Wilson's--and it came from Babolat which typically has
clunky frames. I
loved this stick, I cannot find anything to be critical over--I even liked the paint job. Most tour frames you need to back
it up with
solid stroke work, this one gives you a really nice margin and some wiggle room if you're not Andre Agassi or the like.
Again, just
wow--if you're looking for new frames, worth a hit. Wouldn't be surprised to see these start to show up on the tour.
Comments: Well done, Babolat. I've been playing with this stick for about a month, and this stick is
great. Good
flex, 95 sq. head size is a perfect fit. However, I suggest using a higher gauge string such as 17 or 18 due to the tight
string
pattern. Great for serving, I am bombing serves 120+. Worth the demo, and give it a try.
Comments: I've been a loyal Wilson 6.1 user for a loooong time and have been disappointed with the K
Factor
series. So after demo-ing rackets for months, I played with the Babolat Pure Storm LTD today. W O W. What an amazing
feel. From
the first ball, I knew this was a special racket. Big sweet spot, flexible, enough power if you can create your own, and
very
maneuverable. Night and day difference from the Wilson K Factors. If anyone has tried the KBlade for example, that
thing is a 2 x
4 with strings. Stiff! The Pure Storm LTD is a winner (nice looking too); I'll test it again this weekend but it looks like I'll
be saying
goodbye to Wilson for a while. Switching to Babolat. Anyone on the tour playing with it? I'd like to see a review from a
tennis
warehouse staff member.
Comments: One word...LEAD. And lots of it. Yes this is a player's stick. It has the right head size/shape,
the right
string pattern, the right flex. It has the right stuff to be a good stick but without some customization, it isn't. It's like a
rolling
chassis that you might get from a kit car company. It has potential, but without the right motor, it's just a useless
bunch of steel.
Without about an ounce of lead tape to add swing weight to this frame, the Pure Storm Ltd. is just a bunch of worthless
graphite.
So if you like a raw lump of clay to work with, this is your frame. BTW, Message to Babolat: Get rid of that ridiculous
Cortex
nonsense. Rafa doesn't use a Cortex frame and you know it. Bring the old Aeropro Drive back. Now that's a nice stick.
Comments: I just bought this stick. I used to play with the k six one. This one is much better. Great
work, Babolat
(finally). It is very control oriented stick, the string pattern is so tight, I love it. I can put the ball wherever I want on the
court with
it. It has good maneuverability (low swingweight). Because of the low swingweight I added 20 grams of lead tape on 3
and 9
o'clock. Now it plays similar with the k six one, but with more power and much more control. It is a player's racquet,
you have to
generate your own power. But if you switch to this stick you'll improve your overall playing technique. There is much
more to say
about this one, but the best words won't compensate the feeling of using it. It is the best stick I ever played with, I'll
use it many
years to come.
Comments: Honestly, this is one of the best sticks I have ever hit with. I switched form the Babolat pure
drive
standard (100 sq. in) and I'm glad that I did. The smaller headsize on the Pure Drive ltd. forces me to focus even more
to
consistently hit the sweetspot. Although the 95 sq. in. head is good for now, I'd like to see Babolat come out with this
stick in a 90
sq. in. head.
Comments: Awesome stick! Very versatile and user-friendly. After a few times hitting, the stick is a
little on light
side, but a little lead tape at 3 and 9 o'clock help. Control oriented makes this stick lethal to players who know how to
play smart.
Overall, Babolat made a great midplus stick that I hope they'll continue to make.
Comments:Nice frame, but no one below 4.5/5.0 need apply. Demanding but rewarding racquet.
Probably more
flex than most players prefer, but with the right strings and tension, you'll find it to be a comfortable and arm-friendly
frame.
Specs say 11.8 oz strung weight, but it plays lighter in your hands. You'll need to supply all power, direction, and plow
with this
one. Even though it's an 18/20, spin was no problem. Most difficult shots to execute well were the stretch slice
backhand and the
serve return against big hitters. Leather grip somewhat gimmicky. Throw some wrap on it or replace it with a good
synthetic grip.
Comments: This is one of the best rackets I have ever used. However, the weight of this racket is too
light for its
dense string pattern. So I put lead tape on 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock position of the frame. This tuning-up is successful.
Strung
weight is 367grams.
Comments: Truly the best racquet for my game, I got a couple and once I started getting the sweetspot I
beat
players a level above me. It took about 3-4 hours of hitting to get the feel. Thanks Babolat for this amazing stick!
Comments: I've been using Wilson n-code 6.1 before, have played some with the K-factor, it was a little
too wild for
my taste. This racquet has outstanding control, feels extremely solid. I added lead tape at 9 and 3 and that really made
a big
difference since it was a little too light. I had surgery for tennis elbow 6 months ago, and now I can hit my one handed
backhand
with great comfort again. Give this one a try, I'm glad I did.
Comments: This racket is killer! I owned everyone I played with it including my older
brother who I had never beaten before I got this truly SICK racket! Go Babolat!!!!
Comments: This stick has the weight of the pure storm tour, which I like for returns, and the swing
weight of the
pure storm, which I like for my backhands (one hander). The leather grip is a plus. My serves were improved on
consistency and
power bumped up my mph from about 115 to 125 on average. Very spin friendly for kick serves you can find the
angles if you
know how. Volleys are a little weak on my game so I cant really critique that part but its a good stick to get you to net
and very
forgiving if your playing that heavy topspin player and you get a little to close to your shot and hit it a little flat. Overall
I give this
racket a 8 out of 10 since only because the small head size had me shank a set point when I stretched out for it and the
feelings a
little sour but overall a definite must demo at LEAST.
Comments: This frame is amazing. I said earlier that it had not enough power on the serve, but this
forced me to
improve my serve. Now it is the best part of my game. I purchased another frame and love it. It forced me to improve
my game,
and now is the only racquet I will ever use.
Comments: I was disappointed at first strike because it felt like I was playing with a 27 inch 2X4, but
after a couple
of sets, I grew to appreciate its attributes. Now, several matches later --I won't return to my previous racket, Gamma
Ipex 7.0. I
purchased this racket because I wanted to return to grass-roots groundstrokes-- heavy topspins on both wings. I grew
up playing
in the '80s with the Dunlop 200G as my favorite all-time racket. This Pure Storm Ltd. comes very close to replicating
that old-
school racket feel, not quite like the original Dunlop 200G but good enough. Like everyone else commenting here, this
is not a
racket for those with compact swings as the ball will likely end up in the net. Don't bother blocking a service return
because you'll
have better luck with plywood. Swing big and strike hard and you'll place it right where you want it. Cross-court
directional ball
changes are easier because the racket absorbs the ball and holds on to it long enough long for you to turn the ball and
send it
into a different direction. The dense string pattern is for control so my slice serves have been attenuated, however flat
serves are
amped up a bit. My volleys are softer not crisp but has allowed me to cut sharper angles. My backhand slices that
previously
landed at the service line have now become drop shots. Overall, a terrific hefty nostalgic powerless racket that will
reward big
swinging baseliners with precise placement.
Comments: I purchased after a 3 week demo, and love the racquet. It is extremely solid for the weight (<
12 oz). I
have the nCode 6.1 95 16x18, which I also think is a great racquet, but wanted a little less power and more control.
This racquet
has everything and more. Extremely good at the baseline, has great balance and is very maneuverable. I play a lot of
doubles and
this racquet is a perfect blend of serve & volley, with control. I have no issue creating spin or power with it; overall, it is
a very
solid racquet that I highly recommend.
Comments: Similar to Prince Speedport Tour. Two good things from this racket are 1)not too heavy,
2)control. A
little struggle at beginning but got used to it quickly. I got more winner shots to both corners. To those who want
more power,
just low down the tensions, use thinner string. Overall, it is not too bad.
Comments: A great racket. Spin friendly, maneuverable, and adds just enough power.
Comments: I really love this racket. I have old school strokes. Good on the slice, flat, and topspin
forehand. Good
on the slice, flat, and topspin backhand. Power and touch volleys were off the chart. It didn't take long for me to get
used to
serving all varieties of serves and locations. It would probably feel and play a lot better with VS 16 in the mains
@45lbs, Luxilon
Fluoro 17 Fluoro in the crosses @58lbs. Give and take a few pounds either way. Depending on what you're looking for.
I play
with the Dunlop Maxply McEnroe with the same set up. I don't need power. I love a dead racket. I would switch in a
heartbeat.
Comments: This is the best racquet I've ever hit with. It took about two hours to really start to hit it
sweet, but this
is an amazing stick, and trust me folks I've played with just about every player's frame ever made.
Comments: I love the feel. Plenty of spin on both topspin forehand and two-handed backhand. Crisp at
the net.
Serves work on both kick and flat. I like the idea of being able to swing either fast or slow and have confidence in the
racquet that
the ball will do as expected. Perfect power with losing control.
Comments: So many comments from lower level players who say "disappointing." No
wonder; this amazing racquet is not meant for you! Even though it's touted as 4.5+, I would not recommend this
racquet to
anybody under 5.0 unless you have tremendous swing speed. Players who cannot generate consistent power
- forget it. Weekend warriors who are habitually late - forget it. 5.0+ and tourney players - give this racquet a decent
demo (over
15 hours) and crank it up. 17g strings or thinner are a must with the string pattern/head size, and keep it under 60lbs.
Consider
the stock frame a starting point and customize to your preference. Well done, Babolat. Finally a stick that feels like you
had
players in mind.
Comments: Very disappointed with this frame, it looks good on paper, but in reality plays and feels very
similar to
Pure Storm Tour if it were about 50 flex and less stable. My main racket is ProKennex Redondo Mid, which is rated at
56 flex. At
the same weight, Redondo felt a lot more crispy, powerful, stable and controlled than this frame. Even with some lead
tape around
the top half of the loop, PS Ltd. really couldn't pick up the ball unless you swing all out, the feel is muted, serves and
strokes are
pretty gutless unless you hit almost completely flat.
Comments: Amazing stick if you have developed and powerful strokes. It is very accurate and spin is
readily
available. I'm getting one of them even though my strokes are not quite what this racquet requires. It is just too much
fun to play
with, especially the backhand slice.
Comments: Love this edition! Have been playing with the Babolat Pure Control Plus series for 3 years.
Have two of
the original (97 sq in) lava-lamp paint jobs that weigh in at 12.8 oz/8 pts HL and 13 oz/8 pts head-light with minimal
lead (just
for balance). Great at groundies but tiring on the serve. The "red head" 2nd edition PC+ (97 sq in) weighs in at 12.2
oz/8 pts HL
with lead at noon, 3 and 9. And the last, short-lived, "all black head" "MP" (100 sq in) had been my favorite up until now
(had the
most flex). This latest Pure Storm Ltd version (June 2008) is, unmodified, very close to my doctored-up PC+ "MP" I have
been
trying to replace. The "MP" version (so-called because it was stamped 100 sq. in. instead of 97 or 98!!) began life at 11
oz
(unstrung) and 4-1/2 grips, but grew in weight with shrink-wrap to 4-5/8ths grip, lead at noon, 3 and 9 -- and after I
added a VS
overgrip, RVS dampener and head tape (3/10ths oz for all three items) -- ended up (strung) at 12 ounces and 12 pts
HL. After the
same VS/RVS/head tape combo (but no lead) added to this PS Ltd, it weighs in at 12.1 oz and 10 pts HL. Big cigar! Ditto
on the
other comments about volley control and crisp response! Spin is improved, and power (even without any lead) is just as
big as the
heavily modified "MP". Strings now have less "ring" at impact, maybe because of the "Carbon X". Have been attending
competitors'
racquet demo sessions and also have tried and liked racquets such as the Head MicroGel Prestige mid and the Prince
O3
Speedport Tour. My other racquets include two Head i.prestige XLs (98 sq in -- both 12.2 oz but 8pts and 9pt HL --
lead added at
noon 3 and 9 on one..and at 10 and 2 on the other) which are also 18x20s but which feel more stiff..and two Volkl
C10-Pros (98
sq in/20mm beam/27-1/4" long -- 13.2/9pts HL and 12.7/7pts HL..blt-up and weighted). The Volkls are great for
strengthening
my arm and back, but too heavy for me during a match. Kudos to Babolat for introducing this stick. I will be adding a
few more to
my bag ASAP! Curious to see if they introduce a 27-1/2 inch version with same 19 mm beam, etc. According to the
specs, a lot
less swing weight: very tempting to add some lead at noon, but like the 10 pts HL I have now. FYI: I like Babolat VS
Team 17 gut
and played it for a couple of years, but can't afford it anymore (need the money to pay for gas to the matches!!). I have
never
broken the TNT+ 18, and find it an acceptable substitute for 17 gauge gut. Play in four singles leagues, plus one.
Comments: I have had this racquet for a while.I love it. I have access to a lot of spin and power that I did
not have
before my serve has never been better and it is going to continue. It is all thanks to this racquet. I have to say that this
racquet is
a must for any serious players.
Comments: I normally use a Dunlop Aerogel 200, and I just got this in the mail the other day. While
playing with it,
I noticed it had great spin on groundstrokes and a solid feel on volleys and overheads. The only thing it lacked was
power on the
serve. It provided nearly no pace on the ball, but was good for slice serves/kick serves. I personally am better at
doubles and love
playing it, so I will continue using this racquet and see how it performs with my game. I play 6-7 hours a day, 5 days a
week.
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