In contrast to the many SPIN-friendly rackets we have seen lately, today we are reviewing a racket with a classic feel and a matching string pattern: the Babolat Pure Strike 18/20. With a somewhat narrower frame construction and an 18/20 string pattern, this is a racket for the player who finds feel and control most important, has a full, fast swing and generally takes the ball for the highest bounce point, the so-called 'first striker' as Babolat so nicely describes it. This racket is a welcome addition to the Babolat racket line and can be compared to the Wilson Blade 98 18/20, the Head Graphene Radical MP and the Prince Tour 98 and Tour Pro 98. The Yonex VCORE Tour F 97 310 is also in this range.
The X-Sider technology at 3 and 9 o'clock in the frame as well as the Evo beam frame construction ensure a slightly larger sweet spot in this racket with a relatively small blade, a little more feel and comfort with off-center hits compared to regular 98 sq/inch rackets. If we compare this Pure Strike family in general with the Pure Control (or before that the Pure Storm) series from Babolat, the Strike is a little more comfortable and forgiving with balls that are not hit perfectly in the sweet spot, but the racket still offers a lot of control and a solid feel, especially for net players. This compact 18/20 stringing pattern offers a little less spin, but there is also a 16/19 version of this frame with the same specifications.
Racket specifications:
Brand: Babolat
Model: Pure Strike 18/20
Blade size: 98 sq/inch
Weight: 305 gr
Balance: 32.0 cm
Stringing pattern: 18/20
Length: 27 inches RA: 66