Stephan tested the new Babolat Pure Aero 2023 for us! Read his very extensive review here, including a comparison with the previous version and with the Pure Aero VS.

Tester:

Player name: Stephan Couzijn Level: 5/6 Player type: allcourter, eastern grip, one-handed backhand, fairly flat strokes Own racket: Yonex EZONE DR 98 , Wilson Clash 100 , Head Graphene 360+ Extreme Tour . Player's racket history: Wilson Pro Staff 6.0 95, Wilson Six-One 95, Head Radical, Dunlop Aerogel 300 Tour, Babolat Pure Storm Tour GT, Wilson Pro Staff 95, Wilson Juice Pro, Yonex EZONE DR 98, Wilson Clash 100, Head Gravity MP, Wilson Pro Staff 97 CV, Prince Synergy 98 . The new Pure Aero 2023 is now available in our webshop including free stringing of your choice.

Intro:

The trusted hitting iron of the king of clay Rafael Nadal has received a major update with the Pure Aero 2023. Not only the design of the paint job with "New Blast Graphic" and the return of the familiar fluorescent yellow (no longer banana color) has changed, but according to Babolat the string pattern has also become more compact. The stiffness of the frame has also gone down a bit or at least remained the same with the RA value of the Pure Aero 2019. I thought the 2019 version of the Babolat Pure Aero was already a huge improvement compared to its predecessor. Due to its slightly lower RA value, it came much closer in terms of playing feel to the Aero Pro Drive from 2013 (my personal favorite). Only I thought that this much improved 2019 version still had just a little too much power in it. I am very curious whether the more compact string pattern will help me with more control and whether I will even take a trip down memory lane to my beloved Babolat Aero Pro Drive.

Review:

Before I tell you how the new Babolat Pure Aero 2023 plays, I'll take a look at the biggest changes in terms of design and technology. As I've said in other reviews, I always find the "fancy" names of new technological applications a bit over the top (nobody understands what they mean). This is no different with this Pure Aero. Babolat has applied NF2 Tech Flax technology, which stands for "Natural fiber filtration". In plain language, Babolat has added material to various places in the frame to better dampen vibrations and noise. More striking is the glossy paint, as we also saw on the Babolat Pure Aero VS. Where we have been used to a matte finish for a long time, Babolat has now chosen to continue the line with glossy paint. I wonder if that also gives a different playing experience. Enough chatter about technological gadgets, high time to start hitting balls.

Baseline Babolat Pure Aero 2023:

As expected, the Pure Aero 2023 plays great from the baseline. Lots of spin potential and more than enough power. I can accelerate very easily with my forehand. Easier than with the Babolat Pure Aero VS that I recently tested. Of course, this is due to the slightly lower weight and the blade size of 100 instead of 98 sq/inch. In my opinion, the new Pure Aero 2023 has more controlled power. Don't get me wrong, it's still a power and spin monster, but I have far fewer swing-outs than with the previous version. Mainly due to the more compact string pattern. At the same time, I also immediately notice that the stiffness of the racket is also noticeable due to the denser string pattern. Not annoying because the new technology does its job, but something to take into account if you have a sensitive arm like me. That's why I recommend using a softer string or stringing the RPM Blast relatively low (for example 22 kilos). That will immediately provide relief and not be at the expense of performance. I can also easily hit through the ball with my one-handed backhand and give it rotation. I still find the Aero shape of the frame difficult for my one-handed backhand. The frame is thicker at the neck where I grip the racket to prepare for my backhand, but that will not be an issue for two-handed players. I can also produce slices and drop shots well and they feel the same as its predecessor. I do notice that the feeling is better than the previous version, which could feel a bit hollow and tinny. The Babolat Pure Aero 2023 has much less of that, which I think is a big plus. The shiny lacquer will also influence the playing feel. I can't quite figure out what it is exactly, but it feels good in any case. It is also noticeable that the launch angle is higher, which means that I have to put my grip more in the spin position to prevent the ball from leaving my blade too high. After this adjustment, the balls fly off my racket with a lot of rotation and I get them within the lines just fine. In short, only words of praise from the baseline. The improved control in particular will be a hit with players who previously found the Pure Aero too powerful.

Net game:

The Babolat Pure Aero 2023 is not a 'volley racket' by nature, but as Adrian Mannarino shows, you can hit great volleys with it. I notice that with the weight and balance of the frame, I can easily put away volleys. The Babolat Pure Aero 2023 is not as razor-sharp at the net as a Wilson Pro Staff or a Head Prestige MP or a Prince Tour, but those are also completely different rackets. The Babolat Pure Aero 2023 does what it is supposed to do at the net. Just put balls away. No subtle "no look" balls but just "no nonsense" solid volleys. The racket is heavy enough to be able to parry hard incoming balls and not too heavy to be able to keep moving quickly. In short, a solid pass at the net for this baseline monster. Compared to its predecessor, I notice little difference other than the more dampened feeling.

Serve:

Serving with a power racket like the Babolat Pure Aero 2023 is always a pleasure. You can literally ram it. In the past I played with the Babolat Pure Aero Tour with which I hit my hardest serve ever. With this Pure Aero 2023 you can serve just as well but with a little more control. The slice and spin serve also come off well. Due to the more compact string pattern I seem to have more control than with the previous version. As with all power frames you have to be careful not to hit them all just a little too long. Especially when it gets exciting during a match and you have to hit a second serve on set point, it can sometimes fly off. Then you notice that a Pure Aero is not a control frame in itself. Giving the ball a little more spin works wonders. With other more control-oriented frames I have more confidence that I can just hit the ball with sufficient speed. With the Pure Aero I have to slow down to stay consistent, but that is probably also due to my technique. In short: even with the Babolat Pure Aero 2023, your opponents will take a step back when you serve.

Conclusion:

The playing feel of the Babolat Pure Aero 2023 comes very close to the Aero Pro Drive of yesteryear. An absolute compliment to Babolat. Many Pure Aero fans from the very beginning will be very happy with this. To put it to the test, I took my old Aero Pro Drive and played both rackets side by side. If I ever had to replace my Aero Pro Drive, now is the time with the arrival of the Pure Aero 2023. The rackets play almost identically. You do notice that technology has not stood still: the Pure Aero 2023 is a much more refined version of the rough and direct Aero Pro Drive. This also means that the Babolat Pure Aero 2023 can be played by a much wider group of players. In short: this racket is a must demo for all Aero fans. Certainly players who have played with the old versions will not be disappointed and may consider switching to this beautiful new version. The new Pure Aero 2023 is now available in our webshop including free stringing of your choice.