


I spend my points looking for opportunities to dominate with my forehand, and I really felt like this racket gets the most out of this shot. You’ve got so much control with this racket considering it weighs just 305g, and when you combine this with such easy maneuverability, the results are some vicious groundstrokes. On the groundstrokes, it’s that feeling that I can swing as hard as I want and the ball is going to find it’s way into court. However, this Pure Strike still does more than enough to convince me I’m safe in the knowledge I’m playing with one of the best rackets out there. The Pure Strike has some tough competition with Wilson bringing out a new Blade 98 this year and Yonex the new VCore rackets. The Pure Strike is known for its precision but with RPM Blast, you take that to the next level with huge control, and access to tons of spin.Īs someone who was converted to the Church of Pure Strike a year or so back, I’m always quick to recommend these rackets (although I use the 18 x 20,) the question is, how much better than the old version are these new Pure Strikes? The new rackets are a little less stiff than the old ones, and Babolat has worked on making them more forgiving with C2 Pure Feel included in the frame, which does give you an extra bit of pocketing.įor this playtest we took the Pure Strike out with Babolat RPM Blast strung at 50lbs. However, if there’s one thing you did hear from time to time, it’s that they’re a little bit too stiff. The Pure Strikes are an extremely popular range of rackets, and you can’t find too many people with complaints about them. Its large, 107-square-inch face helped me ease into my shots again - more so than the 98-square-inch racket I’d used for years previously - and hitting with it felt effortless because of its generous sweet spot.We loved the old Pure Strike 16 x 19 for it’s easy playability, control, and spin, and all of those features have carried on with the 3rd generation. “Babolat has earned a reputation for making player-friendly rackets - beginners use them, a lot of the players on my team use them, as do major players.” After taking a hiatus from tennis, I played with the Pure Drive to shake off the cobwebs and work on my ground strokes. “The Pure Drive will grow with someone,” Choy says. But the real reason this racket shines, according to NYU head tennis coach Horace Choy and many of the people who recommend it, is because it’s versatile enough to use even as players get better. While the 107-square-inch model might be low in stock, we’ve found more in-stock Pure Drive models with smaller faces, like the 100-square-inch version.) Mark Mason calls the Pure Drive “powerful” and a solid choice for the beginner player. Babolat also makes a 110-square-inch model. (The 107 in its name refers to its face’s 107-square-inch surface area. “It’s lightweight at 10.6 ounces w ith a larger face size, making it a very comfortable racket if you don’t have much experience,” says Moriarty.
#NEW BABOLAT PURE STRIKE 2019 SERIES#
This racket from Babolat’s Pure Drive series got the most recommendations by far with six of our experts telling us it’s a fantastic choice. | Size: 107 square inches | Grip sizes: 1–5 Otherwise, read on for nine options that will suit all types of beginners. “I don’t want anyone to spend $100 then have to come back and spend $200 more shortly after.” If you already have an idea of what you want, skip directly to the type of racket you’re looking for in our table of contents to the left. “People who have decided to buy their own tennis racket are often buying for life,” explains Karen Moriarty, co-owner of the Tennis Professionals store in Rye Brook, New York. While oversize rackets are marketed to beginners, most experts do not recommend them because even those who play only semi-regularly will outgrow them quickly. To determine the best rackets for new players, we spoke to 11 experts including tennis pros, coaches, and retailers. “Manufacturers have made the rackets a lot more approachable, a lot more affordable, and geared for recreational players.” “It’s actually never been a better time to be a beginner tennis player,” she says. There are plenty of learning-curve-friendly options, according to Caitlin Thompson, co-founder of tennis magazine Racquet and a former University of Missouri coach and player. The kind of racket that works best depends on your skill level and body size. In fact, you might even disadvantage yourself by going with Roger Federer’s racket right off the bat.
#NEW BABOLAT PURE STRIKE 2019 PRO#
You may be tempted to select the same model your favorite pro uses, but this isn’t the wisest strategy. Open aspirations or hope to become the local club champ, you have to start somewhere. Best heavier racket for (serious) beginners.Best lighter racket for (serious) beginners.
