PURE DRIVE STD vs. CORTEX vs. GT

[SHUNGO]

Anyone who has played already with these 3 models, can comment about differences, are they really different besides paint jobs?

I just have the standard model, have tested the cortex, and seems to me my oldie one plays better, but it might just be my feeling, so if anyone can have different opinions, I will thank you reading them, before thinking in spending money in the GT.

Thank you in advance.

 

[fortunecookiesjc]

I thought the GT played even stiffer than normal, imo not worth the money, the original was so much better. I hated the cortex, felt wayyyyyy to "off"

 

[SHUNGO]

Thank you fortune, it will be great help if someone else gives their opinion.

 

[delphi17]

I have the pure drive cortex (sold), and now use the GT.
There is a difference between the cortex and the cortex on the GT, they dont take away as much feel as the edition before.
Ground strokes are quiet solid, and volleys have improved from the cortex version too.

Over-all the GT is a better racquet than the cortex version.
Strongly recommend you to demo the GT, and see for yourself..

If anyone says that the gt isnt better than the cortex, then he/she hasn't tried it.
(btw, remember to add a vibration damper/rubberband when you demo it..)

 

[SHUNGO]

Thanks Delphi, how about the power of the frame, is it easy to keep it inside the court with a not so big top spin style?, I have a rather flat drive, so sometimes I switch to my Pure storms, which help me keep the ball inside the field.

 

[ayuname]

GT has alot more power and solidity than the previous versions.

 

[thursdayisgod]

I can't tell the different between cortex and non-cortex, I'm assuming GT is the same thing. I'd rather have the original PDs, all the technology is just paintjobs

 

[toptalent]

GT is awsome. Powerful ground strokes, solid return and volley, incredible serving, and yet surprisingly easy on the arm with a soft poly setup (considering its high stiffness).

 

[delphi17]

Thanks Delphi, how about the power of the frame, is it easy to keep it inside the court with a not so big top spin style?, I have a rather flat drive, so sometimes I switch to my Pure storms, which help me keep the ball inside the field.

keeping it inside the court is more about technique, and also maybe string it slightly tighter..
maybe you should take a lesson or two with a coach, just to work on your forehand and backhand,
what i am trying to say is that, the frame is not overpowering in any way, if you are over hitting it, it could be something with you using too much arm, and not enough body turn , and stiffing up too much..
a 30 min lesson is no more than a two hour court hire.
but you will learn more in those 30min than if you played for two hrs..
And the power you get from the frame is very useful when you are serving.

 

[trapped]

I still play with the Pure drive team std. racquet and i absolutely love it. I bought the cortex version and hate it. Like many other people have said its not solid, but I did like the new GT played more like the Pure drive team from a few years ago.

 

[jayserinos99]

I still have the Swirly PDs and I used the Cortex as well as the GT recently; all my PDs were spec'ed to 11.5oz, 5-6pt HL (strung with natural gut mains, Isospeed Pro 17 crosses at mid 50s tension). IMO spin and power differences were all negligible. The Swirly PDs to me had the most feedback, the Cortex was a bit muted, the GT is closer to the Swirly with good feedback and stability. I really enjoyed volleying with the GT.

 

[Marc The Shark]

I'm not going to get all scientific on it but I went from old PD Roddick w Cortex to the GT Roddick and I must say the GT felts much better to me.. More solid and more feel imo.

 

[goblueram]

I owned the standard and cortex. I liked the cortex infinitely better. I am currently demoing the GT and I really can't stand it. I am buying Head MicroGel Extreme instead..

 

[goblueram]

so rating wise 1 being the best..

1 Cortex
2 Standard
3 GT

 

[Infl8edEg0]

GT has alot more power and solidity than the previous versions.

Yes. Way more solid.

 

[Tofuspeedstar]

GT>Cortex.

 

[jayserinos99]

I still have the Swirly PDs and I used the Cortex as well as the GT recently; all my PDs were spec'ed to 11.5oz, 5-6pt HL (strung with natural gut mains, Isospeed Pro 17 crosses at mid 50s tension). IMO spin and power differences were all negligible. The Swirly PDs to me had the most feedback, the Cortex was a bit muted, the GT is closer to the Swirly with good feedback and stability. I really enjoyed volleying with the GT.

I forgot to mention something, the GT versions of the PD gave a more 'precise' feeling when I hit the ball. It can be described as more stable but that's what I noticed when I used it.

 

[Toxicmilk]

I keep forgetting that STD also means standard...>->...

So just a question here. Well, I use the Pure drive roddicks...a few of them.
Would it be worth it to just go ahead and buy some of the new PDR GTs? Is it really that much better?

 

[jayserinos99]

I say demo first if you can. IMO there was enough of a difference to make the switch but I don't know about what you consider enough of a difference.

 

[Toxicmilk]

I say demo first if you can. IMO there was enough of a difference to make the switch but I don't know about what you consider enough of a difference.

I duno, but people keep saying it's more "solid" which is definately tempting me to think seriously about it.

I'm just worried that its just in people's heads while they are on some honeymoon period <-</....thats all.
And I'll definately try to get a demo sometime.

 

[jayserinos99]

I don't know, for me I found the differences right away. Like I mentioned, the frame felt more 'precise'. The PDs were never short on power (especially since I string mid 50s with natural gut hybrid) but I was amazed at the control I was getting with the GT version. Is it as pinpoint as a mid? No, but comparatively speaking it's pretty good.

 

[Tofuspeedstar]

I duno, but people keep saying it's more "solid" which is definately tempting me to think seriously about it.

I'm just worried that its just in people's heads while they are on some honeymoon period <-</....thats all.
And I'll definately try to get a demo sometime.

Demo it first, you don't want to drop a few hundred bucks on new sticks to find that there wasn't enough of a noticeable difference.

 

[atennisrand]

The GT may feel a little more solid when hitting but often it is in your mind that forces you to decide weather a racquet is hitting differently to another based on this type of technology.

I would like to see an experiment conducted where a number of players of different styles tested all three of these racquets (or a similar match up, i.e. head racquets etc) and had to test each one without knowing which one was witch when they picked it up and hit with it. Then see which one they truly thought was the best or if there was in fact any difference at all.

 

[jasonmiller]

I liked the non-cortex PD the best. By the way, the swirly paintjob and the '03 paintjob were the exact same racquet with different paint, for anyone that might not be clear on that. I hated the cortex model. My old PD that I bought new cracked on me earlier this year though, and I was looking to try the new GT, so I ordered one. Just hitting with it for the first time, it feels pretty solid, stable, and stiff- closer to the original than the cortex in my opinion. It's alright, but I still like the non-cortex version the best. One plus is that this is easily the best looking paintjob since the swirly model; or at least to my eyes. Anyone else have any opinions?

 

[EtePras]

All 3 of them are excellent rackets, the best in the business.

 

[whereisz]

Standard and Cortex hurt my arm. GT didn't.

 

[Cengusiento]

The Pure Drive GT is a great improvement from its predecesors, no doubt about this for me.

Babolat has made this model more head-heavy and a little more flexy, and they have found the holy grail.

The new PD plays more solid, plenty of power, and it is easy on the arm (I agree with whereisz here).

I was one of those who thought this new version of the PD was only a paint job. I'm happy I was wrong...