Tennis Warehouse Playtest: Babolat Pure Strike 2024 (98 16x19 and 100 16x20)

[Trip]

It is certainly switch-worthy, the slices have the same quality, the forehand lacks a tiny bit spin potential compared to pa98(Mayami Tour Hex to both racquets) , however I recently stringed polytourspin to strike98 and ll check it out on Thursday. Also, the strike98 has so much more feel compared to the Pa98, that enables me to smooth out my strokes and play with strategy. With the Pa98 and its somewhat sh1t feeling, I am always looking to dominate with forehand at full rhs, kinda going to destroy the ball everytime, the always go in though hehe, so much spin.

Makes enough sense. Babolat have done well by this flax-based layup update. I'm definitely going to get some time in with the 98 16x19 soon enough I think (current wrapping up my thoughts on the 100 16x20).

 

[Cowboy]

Remember me mentioning the guy who is better than me saying that the 16x20 had loads of power and explosive spin? He got a demo of the same racquet and doesn't like it as much. We switched for a few shots and agreed that the string / tension must be different. He isn't sure what the demo was strung with. The mains definitely appear to be RPM Blast Rough, but there is no marking at all on the crosses.

 

[Trip]

Remember me mentioning the guy who is better than me saying that the 16x20 had loads of power and explosive spin? He got a demo of the same racquet and doesn't like it as much. We switched for a few shots and agreed that the string / tension must be different. He isn't sure what the demo was strung with. The mains definitely appear to be RPM Blast Rough, but there is no marking at all on the crosses.

Individual tastes aside, I would have to chalk that up to 1) variable QC on the frames and 2) variable string beds, per your notes. It would be nice to get a measured strung spec of both, at a local pro shop or otherwise (obviously, easier said than done for most people).

 

[nyc]

Remember me mentioning the guy who is better than me saying that the 16x20 had loads of power and explosive spin? He got a demo of the same racquet and doesn't like it as much. We switched for a few shots and agreed that the string / tension must be different. He isn't sure what the demo was strung with. The mains definitely appear to be RPM Blast Rough, but there is no marking at all on the crosses.

The two I have are 10 points SW apart....different specs may be at play here as well

 

[Cowboy]

Individual tastes aside, I would have to chalk that up to 1) variable QC on the frames and 2) variable string beds, per your notes. It would be nice to get a measured strung spec of both, at a local pro shop or otherwise (obviously, easier said than done for most people).

The two I have are 10 points SW apart....different specs may be at play here as well

He has a scale. I asked him to measure the static weight of the racquet. His is a grip size 3 compared to my size 2...I doubt that would have much difference though. I'll report back if his static weight is significantly different. Depending on what he says, I may offer to check the SW.

I considered restringing his at the same tension as mine, but I plan to use that red RPMr for a full bed poly in mine next.

 

[netlets]

Remember me mentioning the guy who is better than me saying that the 16x20 had loads of power and explosive spin? He got a demo of the same racquet and doesn't like it as much. We switched for a few shots and agreed that the string / tension must be different. He isn't sure what the demo was strung with. The mains definitely appear to be RPM Blast Rough, but there is no marking at all on the crosses.

One seems to have a full bed of poly and the other is a hybrid of poly/multi based on fraying of the multi. Completely different feel and power. Most likely has very little to do with QC IMO.

 

[Cowboy]

One seems to have a full bed of poly and the other is a hybrid of poly/multi based on fraying of the multi. Completely different feel and power. Most likely has very little to do with QC IMO.

Both are hybrid with RPM rough mains. The one with the dampener is mine with Xcel in the crosses. The other is an unknown cross, but it is almost certainly a multi or a syn-gut. I didn't see any printing on it.

 

[2ndServe]

did they beef up the throat area? I think previous strikes had issues with cracks near the throat?

 

[Cowboy]

I played a set last night with some neighbors. Didn't stick with any one racquet for the entire set. My partner bought a relatively new but used Pure Aero for cheap and has been playing with it for the last year. Only problem is the grip size is 4 1/2. She was complaining about her hand hurting and thinks the grip is just too big, so asked if she could borrow one of my racquets. She immediately remarked how much she liked the grip size on my Blade. After a game, she said the strings (TF X-1 17) had too much power. So I traded her for the Pure Strike (both 4 1/4 grips) w/ RPMr/Xcel. She liked it better, but said something that indicated she was having difficulty adjusting to it. So I handed her my other Blade w/ a full bed of Xalt and I went back to the Pure Strike.

I realize this is not comparing apples to apples. Both Blades and the Pure Strike are 100sq.in. heads, but the 16x19 and 16x20 are obviously different string patterns. They also all have different strings (hybrid vs full bed multi). The launch angle on the PS was noticeably less than with the Blade. Shots that would go over the net with just the right amount of touch with one would slam the top of the net and drop on my side with the other. This is something I noticed during the playtest, but didn't really talk about in my review. I think I was blaming myself and my strokes for those that hit the net. This isn't a bad thing, and can obviously be corrected with more play time. Just something I noticed last night that I thought was relevant to this thread.

At this point, the mains in the hybrid have over 12 hours of play time on them. I'm thinking it's time to cut and restring. So, that leaves the question: what should I string in the PS next? Full bed Xcel or RPM Rough?

 

[tennisjunkie]

I played a set last night with some neighbors. Didn't stick with any one racquet for the entire set. My partner bought a relatively new but used Pure Aero for cheap and has been playing with it for the last year. Only problem is the grip size is 4 1/2. She was complaining about her hand hurting and thinks the grip is just too big, so asked if she could borrow one of my racquets. She immediately remarked how much she liked the grip size on my Blade. After a game, she said the strings (TF X-1 17) had too much power. So I traded her for the Pure Strike (both 4 1/4 grips) w/ RPMr/Xcel. She liked it better, but said something that indicated she was having difficulty adjusting to it. So I handed her my other Blade w/ a full bed of Xalt and I went back to the Pure Strike.

I realize this is not comparing apples to apples. Both Blades and the Pure Strike are 100sq.in. heads, but the 16x19 and 16x20 are obviously different string patterns. They also all have different strings (hybrid vs full bed multi). The launch angle on the PS was noticeably less than with the Blade. Shots that would go over the net with just the right amount of touch with one would slam the top of the net and drop on my side with the other. This is something I noticed during the playtest, but didn't really talk about in my review. I think I was blaming myself and my strokes for those that hit the net. This isn't a bad thing, and can obviously be corrected with more play time. Just something I noticed last night that I thought was relevant to this thread.

At this point, the mains in the hybrid have over 12 hours of play time on them. I'm thinking it's time to cut and restring. So, that leaves the question: what should I string in the PS next? Full bed Xcel or RPM Rough?

It seems like you had a great tennis practice with your neighbors, trying out different racquets and string configurations to find the best combination. Grip size and string tension can significantly impact a player's comfort and performance on the court. It is critical to explore and determine what works best for each person's playing style and preferences.

Regarding string selection for the Pure Strike, both Xcel and RPM Rough have distinct playing characteristics. Xcel is noted for its comfort and feel, which results in a softer reaction and greater tension maintenance over time. RPM Rough, on the other hand, has a rougher surface and a stronger design, which allows for more spin and control.

Considering your previous experiences with the string setups, it might be worth trying Xcel if you're seeking a more forgiving and comfortable feel, especially if your partner has expressed concerns about power and adjustment issues. However, if you prioritize spin and control, RPM Rough could be a suitable choice, particularly if you're confident in your ability to adapt to its firmer feel and potentially lower launch angle.

Ultimately, the best string choice depends on your personal preferences, your playing style, and what you aim to prioritize in your game. It's always beneficial to experiment with different setups to find the perfect balance that maximizes your performance on the court.

 

[Cowboy]

It seems like you had a great tennis practice with your neighbors, trying out different racquets and string configurations to find the best combination. Grip size and string tension can significantly impact a player's comfort and performance on the court. It is critical to explore and determine what works best for each person's playing style and preferences.

Regarding string selection for the Pure Strike, both Xcel and RPM Rough have distinct playing characteristics. Xcel is noted for its comfort and feel, which results in a softer reaction and greater tension maintenance over time. RPM Rough, on the other hand, has a rougher surface and a stronger design, which allows for more spin and control.

Considering your previous experiences with the string setups, it might be worth trying Xcel if you're seeking a more forgiving and comfortable feel, especially if your partner has expressed concerns about power and adjustment issues. However, if you prioritize spin and control, RPM Rough could be a suitable choice, particularly if you're confident in your ability to adapt to its firmer feel and potentially lower launch angle.

Ultimately, the best string choice depends on your personal preferences, your playing style, and what you aim to prioritize in your game. It's always beneficial to experiment with different setups to find the perfect balance that maximizes your performance on the court.

The person I played with last night is not my normal partner. I normally pick a racquet at the start and use just that one for the entire time of play. Switching it up mid-set like that really emphasized the differences between the setups. I plan to put both Xcel and RPMr in this frame for testing purposes. I'm leaning toward RPM next since I don't expect to play with poly as long as I do with multi strings.

 

[tennisreflectslife]

Not on the playtest, but got the 98 16x19 out of curiosity. My recent few rackets for context: weighted up ultra pro 16x19, blade 16x19, blade pro 16x19, prince tt98, pure drive vs, rf97. Am mostly baseline guy, 4.5 ntrp.
It is an extremely solid racket (I felt even more than rf97). I do suspect I received an overspec model, as it feels hefty (sorry haven’t measured the swing weight, but 100% is north of 330). Great thing about the racket is the inherent control in the string bed given how much power it has while still maintaining a normal launch angle (meaning it’s not too low). The sweet spot is also quite big like others are mentioning. It’s definitely a good blend they have created here. Only con I have felt is slight arm discomfort after mishits. But it’s not to the point where I wanna give up on the racket yet, given how much easy depth I am getting with it and the huge benefits in defensive positions. It slices extremely well too. Will play some more to iron out my timing with it, and hopefully that resolves the minor arm discomfort issues.

 

[patrickluvsoj]

@tennisreflectslife what string was on the Strike 98 16x19? Can you compare with the blade 16x19 and prince tt98 (or one that you are most familiar with)? Thank you!

 

[tennisreflectslife]

@tennisreflectslife what string was on the Strike 98 16x19? Can you compare with the blade 16x19 and prince tt98 (or one that you are most familiar with)? Thank you!

Hi. I mostly use hyper g 16L in everything, same in the strike too, @50lbs. It’s much more powerful and stable than both blade 16x19 and tt98. One I have does have higher swing weight than the blade and tt98 I had, so that does play a role. But I would say even with exact same specs, strike will have these attributes. But usually for most rackets this leads to loss of control, not for strike somehow. Only thing which blade and tt98 might have over strike could be more potential for a very spiny and a loopy ball if someone wants to hit that and slightly softer feel for arm comfort. This can be bit subjective though, as i wouldn’t say strike lacks spin potential.

 

[Cowboy]

RPM Rough 17 installed at 47lbs in the mains and crosses. Static weight increased by 2g over the RPM Rough / Xcel hybrid. The red/orange color looks really good against the mostly white frame and matches the satin red Babolat stripes fairly well.

 

[Holic]

Hi. I mostly use hyper g 16L in everything, same in the strike too, @50lbs. It’s much more powerful and stable than both blade 16x19 and tt98. One I have does have higher swing weight than the blade and tt98 I had, so that does play a role. But I would say even with exact same specs, strike will have these attributes. But usually for most rackets this leads to loss of control, not for strike somehow. Only thing which blade and tt98 might have over strike could be more potential for a very spiny and a loopy ball if someone wants to hit that and slightly softer feel for arm comfort. This can be bit subjective though, as i wouldn’t say strike lacks spin potential.

Maybe its more difficult due to weight to have the same rhs to produce those very spiny loopy balls.

 

[ChanterRacquet]

The launch angle on the PS was noticeably less than with the Blade. Shots that would go over the net with just the right amount of touch with one would slam the top of the net and drop on my side with the other. This is something I noticed during the playtest, but didn't really talk about in my review. I think I was blaming myself and my strokes for those that hit the net. This isn't a bad thing, and can obviously be corrected with more play time. Just something I noticed last night that I thought was relevant to this thread.

Coming from a Pure Aero Rafa, I noticed the same thing about the PS 1620. I'm used to feet of clearance and I was getting inches. I chalked it up to the Xalt string, but haven't put my money where my mouth is and bought one to string myself.

 

[tennisreflectslife]

Maybe its more difficult due to weight to have the same rhs to produce those very spiny loopy balls.

I think so too. At least that is main reason. And side reason could be the string pattern density (it kinda dense in the middle so doesn’t get the feeling of “grabbing” ball). But the ball it hits still has enough shape (at least for me), not linear like an 18x20.

 

[ulunxtns]

It is certainly switch-worthy, the slices have the same quality, the forehand lacks a tiny bit spin potential compared to pa98(Mayami Tour Hex to both racquets) , however I recently stringed polytourspin to strike98 and ll check it out on Thursday. Also, the strike98 has so much more feel compared to the Pa98, that enables me to smooth out my strokes and play with strategy. With the Pa98 and its somewhat sh1t feeling, I am always looking to dominate with forehand at full rhs, kinda going to destroy the ball everytime, the always go in though hehe, so much spin.

I made the switch from PA98 to Strike 98, extremely happy with it. Right now trying different string setups. It has a better feel, way more consistent, very stable(returns like a dream), really is nothing to complain about it.
I'm a chronic racquet switcher lol, I usually switch racquets during the match, but since I started playing the new strike, I couldn't put it down, just want to hit it more. When you are all out attacking, this stick is very rewarding.

 

[Trip]

2024 Pure Strike 100 16x20 Review
(Post 1 of 2)

First off, a big thank you to @TW Staff and Babolat for making this possible, and a repeat thanks to @TW Staff for granting me an extra week to complete my review (due to my playtest frame taking much longer to deliver). I'm going to try an outline format for this review, to cut down on the "text wall" factor and make it easier to navigate.

Preface

• Tennis experience/background
  • 41-yo male; 6'2" 200lbs; 4.0-4.5 NTRP; played heavily from 8-12, casually from 13-18, not much from 19-39, now a few times per week since COVID (39-yo to present)
  • Have hit >50 different racquet models over my lifetime, from from early-90's to present, player to tweener; tend to prefer medium-dense pleeners
  • USRSA member and stringer, primarily for myself, friends and local club players; probably 300 string jobs at this point
• Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley)
  • All-court attack; Eastern/Southwestern forehand; Eastern One-Handed Backhand; big flat first serve (100 mph+)
• Current racquet/string setups
  • Head Auxetic 1.0 Prestige MP-L - Customized - Strung Spec: 344g/31.8cm/336sw/173rw/20.6mgr/i - Strings: MSV Focus Hex Red 1.27 mains / Head Hawk Black 1.30 crosses @ 57/54.5 lockout
  • Prince Textreme Tour 100P - Customized - Strung Spec: 343g/31.1cm/327sw/174rw/20.7mgr/i - String: Grapplesnake Tour M8 1.25 full bed @ 48/46 lockout
  • Yonex VCore Pro 97D - Customized - Strung Spec: 348g/31.0cm/324sw/172rw/20.9mgr/i - Strings: Tourna Silver 7 Tour 1.25 mains / MSV Co-Focus Aqua 1.23 crosses @ 46/44 lockout
• Racquet Setup & Comparisons
  • Setup & Comparison Detail:
    

    Tennis Warehouse Playtest: Babolat Pure Strike 2024 (98 16x19 and 100 16x20)

    My shipping notification originally said that it would be here Friday. I was happy when it was updated to show yesterday by 7:00pm. UPS stopped by at 7:15....after I figured I wasn't going to get it yesterday. Now to get it strung! Looks like the mains skip 7 and 9. Without seeing it strung...

    tt.tennis-warehouse.com
  • Comparison photo of Prestige MP-L, Strike 100 16x20, Tour 100P and VCore Pro 97D (click to enlarge):

Playtest Setup - Spec, Strings & Usage

• Measured Spec & Customization
  
  • Stock
    
    • Unstrung Spec: 307g / 31.7cm (~8pts HL) / 304sw -- somewhat over-spec
    • Strung Spec (w/ full-bed RPM Rough 1.25): 325g / 32.75cm (~5pts HL) / 337sw
  • Customized
    
    • Customization: two Volkl V-Dry over grips at ~5.5g each, so 11g added to the handle
    • Strung with full-bed RPM Rough 1.25: 336g / 32.0cm / 337sw
    • Strung with AK Pro CX 1.24 mains / RPM Rough 1.25 crosses: 334g / 31.9cm / 332sw
• String and tension used for test
  • Full-Bed Poly: RPM Rough Fluo Red 1.25 full bed at 55/53 lbs lockout (so ~52/50 eCP/dropweight)
  • Syn Gut / Poly Hybrid: Gosen AK Pro CX Black Spiral 1.24 mains / RPM Rough Fluo Red 1.25 crosses, strung at 55/53 lbs lockout
• Usage: How many hours did you play with the racquet?
  • 4 hitting sessions; 9.5 hours

Stroke Proficiency
(each section should be 3-5 sentences minimum)

• Groundstrokes - Overall: 8.25/10
  • Forehands - 8/10 - Forehands were solid, booming and pretty easily ranged, meaning I could execute on intended depth with a bit less strain than usually required from my normal frames (Prestige MP-L, Tour 100P, VCP 97D) at similar strung spec. That said, at a mid 330's strung swing weight, the frame did feel pretty hefty, and I did have to prep my takeback a bit earlier than normal, but presuming I had adequate time the results were usually pleasing. Launch angle was a nice middle ground as well. The one area where I found a bit of a challenge were low balls at the mid-court; the solidness of the Strike made it slightly less easy to get the racquet face down and then up and around on those low balls, to create the kind of shot shape I'm used to with my normal frames, but I'm sure it's nothing that I couldn't adjust to with enough play time.
  • Backhands (OHBH) - 8.5/10 - Backhands were one of the biggest positives of the frame for me. Playing a one-hander is hard enough in the modern game, so you ideally want your racquet to offer extra solidness and assistance for this shot, to help you during more heated exchanges, when defending and return serve, and the Strike offered some of the most potent bang for my collective effort buck of just about any frame I've experienced in the controlled pleener space. Coming through contact just felt very well guided, with minimal disturbance to the face (ie. very little wobble), which made shot placement and attaining requisite depth much easier with a bit less effort. Similar to the forehand side, at the strung spec my sample was at, I needed a bit earlier prep, but once I adjusted my timing, the racquet performed very well on this wing.
• Serves - Overall: 7.5/10
  • Flat - 7/10 - Flat serves were solid, had good pop and were pretty well controlled, albeit not quite as precise as my Tour 100P or VCP 97D, owing to the string bed being a bit less dense and locked-together and a bit more randomly flexy in the outer mains. Quite comparable to the Prestige MP-L in targeting ability. I will mention the overall added swing weight of my over-spec sample did make snapping the frame down overhead a bit more of a chore than I'm used to. I'd imagine a more on-spec frame with a 330-ish or less swing weight would perform much better in ease-of-snap and attainable racquet head speed here. Overall, a solid flat serving platform, just not quite the best I've ever experienced.
  • Kick - 8/10 - Kick serves were arguably the best type of serve from the Strike 16x20, owing to the good amount of ball bite afforded by the just-open-enough string spacing, coupled with high lateral and torsional rigidity of the frame. I was able to get some really nice action on both deuce and ad side kickers, especially on clay. The kick action and trajectory were also very repeatable.
  • Slice - 6.5/10 - Slice serves were definitely more than adequate, but the bit higher swing weight of my sample couple with the semi-open density of the string pattern made it harder to "katana" the entire frame through the ball with the requisite amount of controlled chop-through. When I managed to get it right, the results were almost as good as with my VCP 97D, but more often than not, accuracy was an issue on slice serves. Still, definitely a better slice-serving frame than not.
• Volleys - Overall: 8.25/10
  • Stab/Punch - 9/10 - Stab/punch volleys where I was looking to drive the ball back with pace were just excellent all around. The Strike's natural stability,16x20 pattern and high swing weight worked well to provide a solid blocking face from which to counter even the heaviest drives. Pinpoint accuracy was perhaps the only place where the frames could have been a tiny bit better, but overall, solid.
  • Drop/Touch - 7.5/10 - Drop/touch volleys were very good, owing primarily to the medium-soft flex, very good feel and controlled nature of the string bed. The main issues, if you could call them that, was the head size combined with the swing weight made it just a bit more cumbersome than I would have ideally liked, to get the perfect amount of touch or finesse. Still, a solid overall experience here as well.
• Serve Returns - 8/10 - Returning with the Strike was very solid, mainly due to how the beam geometry really seems to excel at absorbing and reflecting incoming pace, coupled with the composed 16x20 pattern. Challenges in returning primarily arose from having such a high-spec sample, which was usually fine on my forehand, but caused me to sometimes have to choke up on my backhand, in order to be quick enough to lever the racquet face when looking to hit a driving or topspin OHBH return (ie. anything besides your typical OHBH slice/chip). That said, on second-serve returns, the Strike really allowed me to crush most replies with good depth and consistency, especially on the forehand. Overall, a solid frame returning.

 

[Trip]

2024 Pure Strike 100 16x20 Review
(Post 2 of 2)

Performance Qualities
(should be 2-3 sentences minimum)

• Power - 8/10 - For a 100" player's frame, the Strike 16x20 was definitely on the higher side of power return. This likely had a lot to do with the higher swing weight of my sample (304sw unstrung), but even so, the combo of the typical Babolat layup with that crisp/snappy power return, the composed but still-powerful string bed and just enough firmness of flex all come together to provide a higher-than-average power curve, definitely towards the top end of the control segment, that's for sure.
• Control - 8/10 - Again, for the segment, control was very solid, definitely on the higher end. I would attribute it mainly to the drill pattern and medium-soft flex. Compared to the Prestige MP-L, whose center mains are longer, the Strike definitely felt like its string bed had less string movement to it, which, combined with the very rigid and beefy frame feel, translated into a more reliable ball trajectory off the racquet each and every time. As far as shot precision goes, I'll put it like this: if a VCP 97D would allow you to hit a baseline forehand and into a 2'x2' target, the Strike 100 16x20 would let you do so into a 3.5'x3.5' target -- not too bad, considering the other performance qualities you're picking up in exchange. Very good marks for control overall.
• Top Spin - 8.5/10 - This one was a bit surprising to me, but the Strike showed surprisingly excellent spin -- both low-end RHS access and high-end ceiling at top RHS. I noticed this with both full-bed RPM Rough, but also with the AK Pro CX / RPM Rough hybrid as well. I think the combination of the medium-open/medium-dense drill pattern but also the relatively high level of lateral rigidity (as most Babolat frames and layups are know for these days) combined to create just about the most spin one could expect from an attacking control frame built more for through-the-court hitting. Extremely well done here by Babolat.
• Slice - 7.5/10 - Slice on the Strike was very good on average, but felt as though I had to work a bit harder to hunt for the required face angle to get the perfect trajectory each and ever time. When executed properly, the Strike sent slices hard in a straight line with solid spin, but there was a bit higher occurrence of upward floaters than I would have ideally preferred, I think in large part due to the semi-open string pattern combined with a beefier, kludgier handling of my over-spec sample unit. I would think a more on-spec frame would likely achieve a half-point higher grade here, just based on being a bit more easily-maneuvered.
• Comfort - 7/10 - These Gen 4 Strikes, including the 100 16x20, are definitely a notch softer in flex than their predecessors, but also a notch, or two, more vivid in feedback, feel and vibration transmission. So on one hand, you are getting a more comfortable Strike in the form of the low 60's RA flex of the 100 16x20, but you still are very much getting a certain portion of that crispy, direct layup with which Babolat have become synonymous. Overall, though, I would call the Strike 100 16x20 a mostly comfortable ride, but I would urge those with sensitive arms to err towards lower stiffness and/or lower tensions (50-ish lbs at most) if/when using any poly in the string bed.
• Feel - 8/10 - I had the chance the hit with the previous Gen 3 98 16x19 a fair amount, so I know the level of muted rubbery-ness that generation exhibits, and I'm pleased to say that Babolat have significantly improved the crispness, directness and overall transmissivity the Gen 4 Strikes, the 100 16x20 definitely included. You really do know what the ball is doing on the string bed, with all but the most muted of strings. On that note, I would still err towards more crisp strings, but either way, feel is much improved over Gen 3. I would liken it now to the Head Auxetic 1.0 layups -- mostly direct and raw but with a hint of solidly muted "thud" on contact. The addition of flax to the layup, as well as the scaling back of certain dampening/muting agents, has certainly done the silo some much needed improvements. Granted, they're not quite in Prestige, CX, Ultra Pro territory, but they're definitely way closer this time around. Kudos again to Babolat!
• Maneuverability - 6.5/10 - Again, I am commenting primarily from my sample frame, which was decently over-spec on swing weight and a couple points head-heavier than it should have been, so that, coupled with the more-laterally-beefy-than-normal feeling hoop, produced a stick that was undeterred in its movements (mostly a good thing), but one that took extra effort to get moving and/or rotating. I would chalk up about 40-50% of that lower score to the fact that it was so over-spec, and thus I can imagine that most any 100 16x2 that was at least half-again closer to the advertised spec would, in turn, get a better score on maneuverability that was at least half again closer to a perfect 10, so a 7.5 to 8 would not be a shocking result.
• Stability - 9/10 - Along side power potential and OHBH beefyness, stability was probably the hallmark quality of the Strike for me. The overall package of beam rigidity, mass distribution and composure of the string bed really combined to create a very stable-feeling frame. It's really apparent here how much Babolat is focused on a results-first approach to frame design, as the stability in almost every motion and shot type with this frame is never left to question. Across all the controlled 100's, I would have to say the Strikes are near the top here.

Overall General Reaction/Comments

Overall, putting aside losing the lottery a bit on the over-spec sample, my experience with the Strike 100 16x20 was largely positive. In this all-new iteration, Babolat managed to balance power, control, spin and comfort just about as well as any other 99-100" semi-controlled player/pleener frame that I've tested, which includes the Prestige MP-L (99" 21.5mm 16x19) and Prince Tour 100 and 100P. Where the Strike makes a name for itself is its uncanny level of stability and playability in stock form, with very little, if any, customization required, and also the amount of inherent power that still comes out of the relatively soft layup. As for performance, the frame scores solid 80%+ ratings almost everywhere, and in the places where it didn't, again I would chalk up a good bulk of those lower marks to my sample being so over-spec, less so any inherent limitations of the frame itself.

So, who is this frame for, ultimately? Strength and skill wise, I would say it has a high degree of usability, from a stronger junior to a stronger senior, and from a skill level of about 3.0 NTRP on up. The player type that I think would most fit this frame would be a baseline-centric attacking player who tends to like to hit through the court more so than spinning up/over it. At the same time, this frame would be almost equally as at home in a counterpunching/counter-attacking role, as it is just so good as absorbing and reflecting pace as well. Beyond the player type, we can also say that anyone whose mechanics align more with a frame optimized for linear hitting, with a large amount of consistency and feel.

One final note about this and all other Strikes: it's very clear that there's as wide a QC variance going on here as there is with most any other Babolat model (or Head/Dunlop/Tec/Wilson for that matter), so if you're at all serious about getting a sample(s) that adhere to a certain spec, whether that's "on-spec" or otherwise, then you really do owe it to yourself to order through a matching service, be it via TW or elsewhere. Embarrassing or not, it's still an issue industry-wide, and certainly an area where Babolat and peers could very much improve.

In closing, I would again like to thank @TW Staff and @Babolat Official for giving the Talk Tennis faithful the gift of being able to try these racquets and share our feedback in such a format, and also @TW Staff's leniency on allowing me to have more time to finish my review. On that note, while I would have loved to have gotten more time with the frame before issuing this feedback, I fully intend on playing more with it and issuing more updates to this thread, including amending this post with any further revelations or corrections.

So, thank you all. I hope you found this review to be of value. If anyone has any questions, please feel free and I'll try my best to answer them!

 

[SinneGOAT]

Question: is my frame distorted? The beam doesn’t look as flat around 8/4 up to 12

 

[Cowboy]

Question: is my frame distorted? The beam doesn’t look as flat around 8/4 up to 12

If it is, it isn't significantly. I took a similar picture of my frame, let photoshop sort of auto-select portions of your string along with your frame, and overlaid them. I think any perceived difference is just slight difference in the angle of the photo.

I think you're good! No worries, and happy hitting!

 

[ChanterRacquet]

Based on the question for the frame shape, I figured I'd getting around to posting the somewhat informative photos comparing string density, though the perspective leaves much to be desired.

PS 100 1620 overlaid on a Gravity MP (perspective makes the outside of the string beds look like they don't overlap but they do, it's almost exactly the same)

PS 100 1620 overlaid on a Prestige MP-L v2 (MP-L much tighter)

PS 100 1620 overlaid on a Wilson Shift 300 (Shift is tighter)

 

[Trip]

Another Strike 100 16x20 Update.

Played it again last night, still with a hybrid of AK Pro CX 1.24 mains / RPM Rough 1.25 crosses @ 55/50. Great tension and string choice for this frame. Touch and feel are solid, as are power and spin, and say what you will about RPM *anything* in terms of value/playability, but RPM Rough performs well as a cross, at least while it has its silicone coating still intact. As for the Strike, it more or less won the day versus a 2019 Tour 100P (with AKPCX 1.24 / G-Tour 3 1.23 @ 52/50) and a VCP 97D (with BHS7T 1.25 / Max Power 1.20 @ 47/44), and this is despite the Strike still feeling a fair bit too cumbersome.

Further observations:
- This over-spec sample (unstrung spec: 307g / 31.7cm (~8pts HL) / 304sw ) continues to be a bit too kludgy overall; anything requiring extra dexterity was challenging, with minimal ability to make any finer adjustments once I got the racquet face moving, producing a good amount of groundies that often sailed or dumped if I didn't prepare early and/or deliberately enough.
- Sweet spot is fairly concentrated, similar to the Prestige MP-L, while off-center hits are a bit more jarring (probably due to the crispier layup) and fractionally less precise than with the Prestige, although I would need to string and spec the two identically to be certain, and I haven't done either (yet).
- Power continues to impress, but I theorize it's mainly due to the high swing weight and resulting polarity of this over-spec sample -- great for baseline bashing and serves, not so hot for finesse and/or net play.

For the next string job, I may try a flipped hybrid (poly mains, non-poly crosses) and go even lighter on string bed weight, so maybe 1.20 gauge on both strings. We'll see about durability, but I want to try and get swing weight down as low as possible. If general playability continues to impress enough, I may even order a more on-spec sample (unstrung: low 290's SW, closer to 31.0cm balance) in hopes of enhanced maneuverability/finesse. We'll see about that...

More updates to come soon hopefully.

 

[tophersuwita]

Excited to possibly play test the pure strike. I have tested every pure strike since its original release. The 16x20 100 might be the end of my racquet journey hopefully!

Why is 16x20 so anticipated? Because of it's mix of power and control?

 

[Fighting phoenix]

Why is 16x20 so anticipated? Because of it's mix of power and control?

Yeah pretty much - a little more forgiving and maybe slightly more power than the 98, 7 pts head light balance, 61 RA, new specs for the Pure Strike line (with the 16x20 pattern as well of course). For me it's the holy grail middle ground between the Pure Aero and the Pure Strike 98.

I also really like the 16x19 98 Strike and the regular 100...the added control of the string bed plus the low RA tip the scales in favor of this racquet for me, especially since the stiffer Gen 2/3 98s gave me shoulder issues.

 

[tophersuwita]

It does seem to be a good in between. Not as powerful as the speed and more powerful than the blade. Happy hitting!

How about its feature/characteristics compared to VC 95 (my favorite 16x20)? Beside of higher power and more stiff feel, does it offer a unique experience like VC 95? VC 95 stock sometimes doesn't have plow even it's stable enough

 

[tophersuwita]

It is certainly switch-worthy, the slices have the same quality, the forehand lacks a tiny bit spin potential compared to pa98(Mayami Tour Hex to both racquets) , however I recently stringed polytourspin to strike98 and ll check it out on Thursday. Also, the strike98 has so much more feel compared to the Pa98, that enables me to smooth out my strokes and play with strategy. With the Pa98 and its somewhat sh1t feeling, I am always looking to dominate with forehand at full rhs, kinda going to destroy the ball everytime, the always go in though hehe, so much spin.

Will you consider 100 16x20? Imo the 98 will be a more all court player racket, won't it?

 

[ChanK]

I’m considering to buy among 1.Pure Strike 100 16x20, 2. Speed MP 3. Shift 300.
I think all of them will have quite similar playability, targeting in between of control rackets and power rackets with decent level of spin potential.
I’m ~45 years old guy using pure drive 2018 and I always feel pain in my arm these days so I want to go with the most arm friendly racket among them, and will there be meaningful difference in arm comfort level among those models? Or will there be any difference in other factors?

 

[SinneGOAT]

How about its feature/characteristics compared to VC 95 (my favorite 16x20)? Beside of higher power and more stiff feel, does it offer a unique experience like VC 95? VC 95 stock sometimes doesn't have plow even it's stable enough

I have never tried the vcore 95, nor the 100 16/20, but in terms of a “unique experience” I’d say it’s unique. It’s a 100 16/20, decent platform specs. I bet it could be a good frame, just need to modify.

 

[Fighting phoenix]

I’m considering to buy among 1.Pure Strike 100 16x20, 2. Speed MP 3. Shift 300.
I think all of them will have quite similar playability, targeting in between of control rackets and power rackets with decent level of spin potential.
I’m ~45 years old guy using pure drive 2018 and I always feel pain in my arm these days so I want to go with the most arm friendly racket among them, and will there be meaningful difference in arm comfort level among those models? Or will there be any difference in other factors?

I think they're all pretty arm friendly, so it really comes down to personal preference and what you're looking for in a racquet. PS is going to give you the most control, allow you to hit flatter, more penetrating balls. The Speed MP will sit between the three, while the Shift will be less control but definitely the most spin friendly. I think the Speed MP is okay on serving, while the Strike and Shift will be better. Strike will feel more direct, Speed and Shift more muted.

 

[tophersuwita]

I made the switch from PA98 to Strike 98, extremely happy with it. Right now trying different string setups. It has a better feel, way more consistent, very stable(returns like a dream), really is nothing to complain about it.
I'm a chronic racquet switcher lol, I usually switch racquets during the match, but since I started playing the new strike, I couldn't put it down, just want to hit it more. When you are all out attacking, this stick is very rewarding.

Can you elaborate between PA 98 vs PS 98? Aren't they very similar for all courter due to maneuverability and shaping shots capability?

 

[SinneGOAT]

Can you elaborate between PA 98 vs PS 98? Aren't they very similar for all courter due to maneuverability and shaping shots capability?

I’d say playability wise they differ. The aero 98 is more close to a tweener and not a traditional player frame, while the strike is more a player’s frame and will play similar to that style rather than a tweener.

 

[ChanterRacquet]

How about its feature/characteristics compared to VC 95 (my favorite 16x20)? Beside of higher power and more stiff feel, does it offer a unique experience like VC 95? VC 95 stock sometimes doesn't have plow even it's stable enough

PS 100 1620 is the same stiffness as VC 95. 5” extra does indeed give more power.

I’m considering to buy among 1.Pure Strike 100 16x20, 2. Speed MP 3. Shift 300.
I think all of them will have quite similar playability, targeting in between of control rackets and power rackets with decent level of spin potential.
I’m ~45 years old guy using pure drive 2018 and I always feel pain in my arm these days so I want to go with the most arm friendly racket among them, and will there be meaningful difference in arm comfort level among those models? Or will there be any difference in other factors?

The Shift is way stiffer than the other two. I’m not suggesting it’s less comfortable, just noting that rigid frames play differently than flexible frames. The flex of PS 100 1620 and Speed MP are very similar.

I don’t get on well with Speed MPs, their innate power and flexibility make it hard for me to control. I had no control issues with the PS 100 1620 but it still had sufficient power even with a muted string: Xalt. Haven’t had a chance to try a livelier string in the PS though.

So, the Shift may be more familiar to you given the stiffness. I’m keen on the PS 100 1620 personally, based on the demo and coming from my current racquet PAR 290.

 

[ulunxtns]

Can you elaborate between PA 98 vs PS 98? Aren't they very similar for all courter due to maneuverability and shaping shots capability?

PA 98 is more maneuverable and easier to shape the balls due to the better spin potential.

 

[ulunxtns]

I’m considering to buy among 1.Pure Strike 100 16x20, 2. Speed MP 3. Shift 300.
I think all of them will have quite similar playability, targeting in between of control rackets and power rackets with decent level of spin potential.
I’m ~45 years old guy using pure drive 2018 and I always feel pain in my arm these days so I want to go with the most arm friendly racket among them, and will there be meaningful difference in arm comfort level among those models? Or will there be any difference in other factors?

They are actually quite different racquets. If you're looking for the most arm-friendly, Speed MP.

 

[Trip]

Haven’t had a chance to try a livelier string in the PS though.

A hybrid of AK Pro CX 1.24 mains / RPM Rough 1.25 crosses at 55/50 lbs lockout (so ~52/47 eCP) has been nothing short of amazing for spin and pop, yet also control, with a good dab of durability (the CX fibers really help to keep RPM Rough from notching/sawing it too quickly).

 

[Fighting phoenix]

A hybrid of AK Pro CX 1.24 mains / RPM Rough 1.25 crosses at 55/50 lbs lockout (so ~52/47 eCP) has been nothing short of amazing for spin and pop, yet also control, with a good dab of durability (the CX fibers really help to keep RPM Rough from notching/sawing it too quickly).

Thanks Trip - sorry, what kind of string is AK Pro? I've never heard of that brand.

Edit - being the smart guy I am, I googled and see now that it's Gosen lol - I'm kind of like an unfrozen caveman being 52 now, but really coming back to tennis hard core the last few years and using mostly poly now, my main synthetic gut experiences were related to Gamma TNT (which I still love by the way) ;-)

 

[Freedom M.D.]

PA 98 is more maneuverable and easier to shape the balls due to the better spin potential.

Hi there, now I am considering to switch between PA98 and PS100 (16x20).

Ulunxtns, or would there be any TWers please compare these two rackets, in terms of maneuverability and feel/hitting sound?(!)

My current racket is Ezone Ai98 (yes that decades ago) and they are discontinued as y’all know.

 

[ulunxtns]

Hi there, now I am considering to switch between PA98 and PS100 (16x20).

Ulunxtns, or would there be any TWers please compare these two rackets, in terms of maneuverability and feel/hitting sound?(!)

My current racket is Ezone Ai98 (yes that decades ago) and they are discontinued as y’all know.

I'm not familiar with Ezone Ai98, but Ezone 98 current gen is always in my bag. I would say PS100 (16x20) is more close to Ezone 98. I demo-ed 100 16x20 and 98 16x19 together and eventually switched to 98. To me, PA98 is more maneuverable, feels stiffer, and has more hollow sound than PS.

Compared to PS98, PS100 16x20 is not that special to me, it's more controlled than PS98. It didn't give me the 'exciting' factor that PA98 and PS98 gave to me. It's an all-around solid racquet tho. I consider Ezone 98 sits in between PA98 and PS100 (16x20), it's more controlled than PA98, but whipper and more power than PS100 16x20.

PA98 and PS98 are more of the 'inspirational' racquets than PS100 (16x20) to me, they kinda inspire you to go for the shots and take risks.

 

[Freedom M.D.]

I'm not familiar with Ezone Ai98, but Ezone 98 current gen is always in my bag. I would say PS100 (16x20) is more close to Ezone 98. I demo-ed 100 16x20 and 98 16x19 together and eventually switched to 98. To me, PA98 is more maneuverable, feels stiffer, and has more hollow sound than PS.

Compared to PS98, PS100 16x20 is not that special to me, it's more controlled than PS98. It didn't give me the 'exciting' factor that PA98 and PS98 gave to me. It's an all-around solid racquet tho. I consider Ezone 98 sits in between PA98 and PS100 (16x20), it's more controlled than PA98, but whipper and more power than PS100 16x20.

PA98 and PS98 are more of the 'inspirational' racquets than PS100 (16x20) to me, they kinda inspire you to go for the shots and take risks.

ulunxtns I really appreciate your insightful comment. Think I should go between PA98 and PS98. Meanwhile I’ve been thru lots of reviews and PA98 is notorious for its high SW, and PS98 seems to be either (also PS100 16x20?).

Well then is PA98 swings whippier like EZONE 98? I hardly trust ‘numbers’ in swingweight specs from TW website but anyway PA98 has quite high SW (327) according to TW.

 

[ulunxtns]

ulunxtns I really appreciate your insightful comment. Think I should go between PA98 and PS98. Meanwhile I’ve been thru lots of reviews and PA98 is notorious for its high SW, and PS98 seems to be either (also PS100 16x20?).

Well then is PA98 swings whippier like EZONE 98? I hardly trust ‘numbers’ in swingweight specs from TW website but anyway PA98 has quite high SW (327) according to TW.

PA98 is whipper than Ezone 98, but not by far. The current-gen Ezone 98 is very fast, I don't think I need it to be faster. Regarding the SW, My PA98 is at 327 and Ezone 98 is at 325, very similar. Both racquets are super fast.

PS98 is noticeably slower or less whippy, you need MRT service to get a lower swingweight one, most PS98 are at 335 range.

 

[Fighting phoenix]

PA98 is whipper than Ezone 98, but not by far. The current-gen Ezone 98 is very fast, I don't think I need it to be faster. Regarding the SW, My PA98 is at 327 and Ezone 98 is at 325, very similar. Both racquets are super fast.

PS98 is noticeably slower or less whippy, you need MRT service to get a lower swingweight one, most PS98 are at 335 range.

Interesting - why would you say the 100 16x20 is more controlled than the 98? Also the 100 is 7 pts headlight stock, whereas the ezone and ps98 are like 4 pts I believe. I find it to be fairly maneuverable, especially since it’s 100 vs 98.

My racquet choice came down to the PA98 and the PS100 16x20 after a fairly lengthy racquet journey - I found it to be a better compromise for my game, with a normal launch angle, good flex/comfort, more traditional/solid feel, more forgiving, more controlled than the pure Aeros, but I definitely see the pros and cons of each depending on your playing style and what feels right. That said, I was tempted by the PS98, and I think the tie breaker was slightly more forgiving and more comfortable (prev gen ps98 caused shoulder issues for me)

 

[Freedom M.D.]

Interesting - why would you say the 100 16x20 is more controlled than the 98? Also the 100 is 7 pts headlight stock, whereas the ezone and ps98 are like 4 pts I believe. I find it to be fairly maneuverable, especially since it’s 100 vs 98.

My racquet choice came down to the PA98 and the PS100 16x20 after a fairly lengthy racquet journey - I found it to be a better compromise for my game, with a normal launch angle, good flex/comfort, more traditional/solid feel, more forgiving, more controlled than the pure Aeros, but I definitely see the pros and cons of each depending on your playing style and what feels right. That said, I was tempted by the PS98, and I think the tie breaker was slightly more forgiving and more comfortable (prev gen ps98 caused shoulder issues for me)

Thankyou for your comment. You believe 100 sq inch PS 16x20 would swing lighter and whippier than PS98 or PA98 due to more HL balance? There are lots of experiences in this thread that PS (both 100 and 98) comes with heavier SW than their spec says and there must be a QC problem with Babolat..

 

[gino]

Thankyou for your comment. You believe 100 sq inch PS 16x20 would swing lighter and whippier than PS98 or PA98 due to more HL balance? There are lots of experiences in this thread that PS (both 100 and 98) comes with heavier SW than their spec says and there must be a QC problem with Babolat..

PA98 is a chunky beam, its going to swing slower than the PS98 or PS100 despite balance and SW figures

I would say if you want something whippy look at a Wilson blade or the Gravity Pro, thin beams

 

[Cowboy]

I normally play with a Blade 100L and did not find the PS100_16x20 to be any less maneuverable than my Blade. If I needed to make the switch, I would have no problem doing so. The biggest difference, to me, was the launch angle. It took me a few times out to adjust to the racquet. I probably wouldn't interchange them during a match, but could absolutely use either one.

 

[ChanterRacquet]

Thankyou for your comment. You believe 100 sq inch PS 16x20 would swing lighter and whippier than PS98 or PA98 due to more HL balance? There are lots of experiences in this thread that PS (both 100 and 98) comes with heavier SW than their spec says and there must be a QC problem with Babolat..

I’ve only demoed the PS1620 and measured its sw at 330, I couldn’t really tell and I’m used to 315-320 so it’s pretty whippy.

 

[Fighting phoenix]

Thankyou for your comment. You believe 100 sq inch PS 16x20 would swing lighter and whippier than PS98 or PA98 due to more HL balance? There are lots of experiences in this thread that PS (both 100 and 98) comes with heavier SW than their spec says and there must be a QC problem with Babolat..

I was just trying to say its headlight balance makes it feel pretty maneuverable, especially for a 100.

QC is a concern, which was why I went with a matching service and got racquets @ 295sw unstrung.

 

[ulunxtns]

Interesting - why would you say the 100 16x20 is more controlled than the 98? Also the 100 is 7 pts headlight stock, whereas the ezone and ps98 are like 4 pts I believe. I find it to be fairly maneuverable, especially since it’s 100 vs 98.

My racquet choice came down to the PA98 and the PS100 16x20 after a fairly lengthy racquet journey - I found it to be a better compromise for my game, with a normal launch angle, good flex/comfort, more traditional/solid feel, more forgiving, more controlled than the pure Aeros, but I definitely see the pros and cons of each depending on your playing style and what feels right. That said, I was tempted by the PS98, and I think the tie breaker was slightly more forgiving and more comfortable (prev gen ps98 caused shoulder issues for me)

It's my personal experience, so YMMV. I found 100 16x20 is less powerful than PS98, that's why I said it's more controlled. Ezone and PA98 have a more aerodynamic beam design and Ezone has a 19.5mm throat, which is very thin. They swing faster to me at least for my stroke. But I understand everyone has different strokes, they might not work for you.

Personally, I always feel box beams swing slower than aero beams, the only exception to me is the Blades, they're quite fast. But I definitely feel Strikes swing slower than my PA98 and Ezone 98. I also find once the balance point passes 32.5cm, the more HL balance does increase the maneuverability but not much on my swing speed, the racquets that are more than 7 pts headlight can throw off my swings, especially on my backhand (2HBH). That also could be the reason I like PS98 more than PS100. I can't feel the head of the PS100. My current PS98 specs are 326g, 32.4cm, 332sw. It feels natural to my strokes.

Again, these are all personal experiences, PS100 16x20 might suit you better, that's beauty of the sports, we all have different styles. Otherwise, everyone would just use the same racquet.