Babolat Pure Drive 30th anniversary edition

Brand: Babolat
Model: Pure Drive 30th anniversary edition
Blade size: 100 sq/inch
Weight: 300 grams
Balance: 32.0 cm
Stringing pattern: 16x19
Length: 27 inches
RA: 71
Swingweight: 320
Beam: 23/26/23 mm

This racket is delivered free strung with a string of your choice from our webshop. Excluding cover.

Technology:

With a new version of a successful racket, the question always arises what is new, apart from the paint job. With this new Pure Drive, there are 2 striking things. What remains, is the familiar round casing around the heart piece. ThisElliptic Frameconstruction provides the stiffness for explosive power.FSI Power technologyhas also remained and provides a larger sweet spot and more freedom of movement of the strings through the open 16x19 stringing pattern and special 'diamond' grommets. New is theHTR System, where a new material construction provides a higher torsional stiffness, especially with balls at high speed. In practice: a more stable playing feeling.SWX Pure Feelis also new and provides better vibration damping, more ball feel and a characteristic sound at ball impact.

Playing features Babolat Pure Drive 30th anniversary edition:

Read Mike's full test report of the new Pure Drive here.

The Babolat Pure Drive performs rock solid from the baseline. Just like its predecessor, the racket continues to offer a nice portion of free power, only a bit more controlled. This update has clearly gained stability, that is noticeable. This improved stability of the racket is a big plus compared to its predecessor.

The spin potential is more than fine with this new Pure Drive. The rotation comes off easily, although not as extreme as with thePure Aero, but the spider is above average.

And then the comfort: Pure Drives are generally not really known as comfort frames. The rackets work with a fairly high RA and are therefore quite stiff. This (high) stiffness gives the racket the well-known dose of free power. The racket has an RA (stiffness) of 71, but this racket does not feel that stiff at all. I would rather say mid 60. Crazy how Babolat was able to make such a stiff frame so comfortable! On the occasion of the first release of the Pure Drive 30 years ago, a limited edition 30th anniversary version is now available. This is a one-off, so be quick.