Mike has already been testing the new Babolat Pure Drive 2025 for the past two weeks! This update to the Pure Drive retains its impressive power, while upgrading its feel and vibration-dampening technology in particular.

Specifications:

Brand: Babolat
Model: Pure Drive 2025
Head size: 100 sq/inch
Weight: 300 g
Balance: 32.0 cm
String pattern: 16×19
Length: 27 inches
RA: approx. 70
Beam: 23mm / 26mm / 23mm
Swingweight: 314 (our demo racket)
Stringing: Babolat RPM Team 1.25 Blue at 23/23 kg

The Babolat Pure Drive 2025 racket line is now available in our webshop.

Introduction:

At Babolat, every racket line gets an update after three years. Last summer, a 30th anniversary Pure Drive was released, but that was a limited-edition version of the 2021 model. So now we have a completely new version! New to this update is NF2 Tech 2.0, a new vibration-dampening technology in the material layup. This technology had already been successfully used in the Pure Aero line.

Apart from the sleek new paint job, a lot remains the same. The familiar elliptical construction around the throat delivers the well-known Pure Drive power, while the frame is flatter and wider at the head for stability. At the time of writing, I didn't yet know the RA (stiffness), but the racket feels comparable to its predecessor in that respect. That model had an RA of around 70.

Baseline:

From the baseline, it's classic blasting with this Pure Drive 2025! The racket is very easy to play with and delivers a generous dose of free power. Recently, I tested the new Head Gravity Tour 2025, so switching to this racket was quite an adjustment. The Gravity Tour offers more feel and precision, while the Pure Drive is easier to accelerate. Groundstrokes were therefore effortless, with plenty of depth and pace. The solid power was particularly noticeable on returns, too. I had a great time returning with this racket! The swingweight (at least on our demo racket) is a moderate 314, making it quick to swing.

I found it a little lacking in mass and stability when put under pressure, but adding a small amount of lead at 3 and 9 o'clock would make a big difference. Its spin potential is good—you can easily generate spin and slice with this racket. Of course, not as easily as with a Pure Aero, but still above average.

Serve:

As you'd expect when serving, you can fire off some real rockets with this Pure Drive 2025. This racket simply has a lot of power. Players who like an aggressive, dominant style—think a powerful serve followed by a dominant forehand, for example—will find it a great tool. As is typical of the Pure Drive, the racket is a little stiff. I did find it somewhat lacking in kick or slice. With this racket, you need to give your targets a little more margin, including on your serves.

At the net:

At the net, this Pure Drive update feels solid and stable. I found the racket quick and maneuverable enough for all straightforward volleys and smashes. For delicate shots, such as drop volleys, I prefer the Head Gravity Tour 2025. It's a little more refined in that respect. But for straightforward play, this Pure Drive is a great, solid racket.

Power/control Babolat Pure Drive 2025:

I'd rate this racket's power/control balance at 65/35, perhaps even 70/30. So it's clearly more about power than control. You often need to add a little spin to give the ball more margin and maintain control. Still, the racket's stability is a really nice advantage. For example, it isn't as soft as a Wilson Clash, which can feel a little unstable and unpredictable when the pace picks up. It will be interesting to see how the Wilson Clash V3 performs when it comes out in January 2025.

Comfort/arm-friendliness:

The Pure Drive remains a true power racket. That means it also has a fairly high RA. The stiffer the racket, the more power it delivers. The downside is that off-center hits can be tougher on your arm. That's inherent to a racket of this kind. The same applies, for example, to the Wilson Ultra 100 V4. Fortunately, Babolat has once again improved the Pure Drive's vibration-dampening properties.

The string setup can also make a big difference, of course. I tested this racket with Babolat RPM Team 1.25 Blue at 23/23 kg. RPM Team is the slightly softer, more user-friendly sibling of the well-known RPM Blast. But it's still a robust monofilament string. A softer poly, a hybrid setup, or—for players who don't break strings often and have flatter strokes—a multifilament or natural gut string would make this racket even more comfortable. It's a good idea to work with a specialist to find the ideal string setup for you and this racket. That's true of every racket, of course, but getting it right may be even more important with this one.

The Babolat Pure Drive 2025 racket line is now available in our webshop.

The bottom line on the Babolat Pure Drive 2025:

The Pure Drive remains an iconic racket, and thankfully Babolat has stuck with its familiar playing characteristics, making a few small tweaks to the feel. The racket delivers the promised power effortlessly in a very solid package. I do think the stiffness is still on the high side. Personally, I'd be very curious to try a Pure Drive with an RA in the mid-60s or lower, like the Pure Drive Soft of years ago. Still, this is an absolute cannon for players who like to play aggressively and directly, with powerful serves followed by hard-hitting groundstrokes. And the racket's new look is really sharp. All in all, anyone who plays with a Pure Drive will feel right at home with this updated 2025 version!